Making Space care worker takes the voice of social care to the House of Lords
Published 24 September 2026
From supporting people through some of life’s toughest moments to rocking out to Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, Senior Support Worker Annie Alexander shared what working in social care really means during a special event at the House of Lords.
We’re incredibly proud of Annie Alexander, Senior Support Worker at our Rivacre House residential service in Ellesmere Port, who was invited to the House of Lords to share her experiences of working on the frontline of social care.
Annie attended The Care Workers’ Charity Afternoon Tea on Wednesday 23 September, held in the Cholmondeley Room and Terrace at the House of Lords and hosted by Baroness Kay Andrews OBE.
The event brought together care workers and representatives from across the sector to celebrate the vital work carried out by care workers across the UK, while raising funds for The Care Workers’ Charity and its work providing crisis grants, mental health support and advocacy.
But Annie wasn’t simply there as a guest, she was invited to give a speech sharing her positive experiences of working in social care, the realities of the role and what she would like to see for the future of the sector.
Annie also had the opportunity to speak with Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State for Social Care and Mental Health, sharing her perspective as someone working directly in care.
In her speech, Annie gave guests an honest, funny and moving insight into a career that encompasses far more than many people realise, telling guests:
Care is supporting others through big and small life events.
For Annie, that can mean holding someone’s hand while they grieve the loss of a loved one, making countless cups of tea and being there with the tissues – then taking some of those emotions home at the end of the day because caring requires genuine empathy.
But care is also about joy, fun and helping people make memories.
Annie recalled “rocking out to Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath at a tribute concert” because attending one had been included on the wish list of a person she supports.
She also shared how care means trying new things and finding creative ways for people to have fun – including sourcing a plastic axe-throwing game as part of a festival that took months to prepare for residents at Rivacre.
As Annie joked in her speech, real axes might have made the risk assessment slightly more difficult!
Alongside those memorable moments, Annie wanted her audience to understand the knowledge, skill and responsibility involved in being a care worker.
She spoke about writing person-centred care plans, identifying and managing potential risks, understanding legislation, policies and procedures, administering medication and monitoring health conditions.
Care workers can also carry out delegated healthcare tasks that may previously have been undertaken by nurses, including catheter and wound care, supported by ongoing learning and professional development.
Annie’s own commitment to learning was recognised earlier this year when she was named Learner of the Year at the 2026 Making Space Colleague Awards.
The award recognised Annie’s exceptional commitment to continuous learning and professional development, and the way she puts that knowledge into practice – inspiring colleagues, mentoring new apprentices and continually enhancing the quality of care and support provided at Rivacre House.
At the heart of all of this is a careful balance: protecting people from harm while respecting their rights, choices and independence and enabling them to live the lives they want.
Annie also highlighted the importance of teamwork and having colleagues and managers who support one another, particularly when challenging situations arise.
And she spoke candidly about the pressures care workers can face outside work too – from caring responsibilities and school runs to financial pressures and the continuing impact of the cost of living.
Her message was clear: social care is skilled, demanding and enormously valuable work.
Annie said:
Care is not easy. It is not a job that ‘anyone can do’, it requires patience, empathy, kindness and a sense of humour can certainly help. It can be an incredibly rewarding career but it is also a career path that can be at times very stressful. It is also not fairly recognised for the many different aspects it involves.
Looking to the future, Annie spoke about the importance of greater recognition for the social care workforce, fair funding for the sector and her hopes for the impact of the Fair Pay Agreement.
The House of Lords event was just one part of an exceptionally busy day for Annie, she had also attended a roundtable at the Department of Health and Social Care, where she contributed to discussions around the care pathway and Fair Pay Agreement.
Together, the two opportunities enabled Annie to bring the perspective of someone working directly in social care into conversations about its future.
Reflecting on the experience, Annie said:
It went really well, chatting to the Minister was a bit daunting, but she was lovely! I was also at a roundtable at the DHSC to talk about the care pathway and Fair Pay Agreement – it’s been a busy day!
For Annie, the opportunity is another example of her commitment not only to providing high-quality support at Rivacre House, but to learning, sharing her experience and helping to strengthen the wider social care profession.
We’re incredibly proud to see Annie representing Rivacre House and Making Space, and helping to ensure that the knowledge, skills and experiences of people working on the frontline of social care are heard at a national level.
Congratulations Annie – our Learner of the Year and a fantastic ambassador for Rivacre House, Making Space and the wider social care workforce.