Expanding Horizons is full of incredible people. Zoe Evans is one of them!

The Expanding Horizons team makes us proud every day! Across our 13 services, our caring staff provide first class supported living services, to those with mental health issues and disabilities in a safe, secure and comfortable setting, around the clock. Our incredible staff make it possible for Expanding Horizons to make a significant difference to those who need it and allow our service users to live a fulfilled life. 

To represent the fine work our staff does, we are going to be shining the spotlight on the wonderful work of one of team members at Essendene Bungalow, Service Manager – Zoe Evans. Essendene Bungalow is in Brynmawr and supports women with schizophrenia.  

Zoe, 45, from Rogerstone in Newport, has worked in a care setting for nine years but has been with Expanding Horizons for four of them. After eight months as a Support Worker at our Ty Bryn Bach service, Zoe moved onto our Oak View Service to fulfil a Team Leader role for further 18 months. Then gaining another promotion, Zoe started a new challenge as a Service Manager at Essendene Bungalow. As with many of our members of staff, Zoe has also covered many shifts in all of our other services!  

Tim Jenkins, Managing Director said: “Zoe first worked with Expanding Horizons through an agency placement at our Ty Bryn Bach service, we could see that Zoe was a great addition to the team, so we gladly brought her into the Expanding Horizons full-time.” 

“In every role Zoe has taken on within Expanding Horizons, she has impressed us, and her progression through the company is a testament to how hard she has worked, and the high levels of care and management she has displayed. Zoe has done a consistently fantastic job through a very difficult period with the pandemic and recruitment issues in social care, and we thank you!” 

Discussing this difficult period, Zoe said: “I worked in two Expanding Horizons services during the pandemic, with both groups of service users having quite different needs. However, we did what everyone else had to do, and adapted how we lived. We did our food shopping online, we stayed local on our community trips as the buses weren’t running! We played loads of games and made it a priority that our service users stayed connected with their families via video and phone calls. - It was a testing time, but most importantly we all got through it together safely.”  

“The amazing staff and management team at Expanding Horizons helped us through this difficult time, management were fabulous, they were always there when we needed them. They understood how difficult it was for us and really helped us.” 

Since joining Expanding Horizons, we have been able to support Zoe in achieving qualifications such as Team Leading QCF 2, an EATS Course and Autism Awareness Training – with the view of training others in the company.   

Zoe said “I have built up great trust with both service users and staff/management in my time at Expanding Horizons, they are one of the best companies I have worked for. I want to work here until I retire! They have supported me to achieve further qualifications and given me opportunities to pursue a career in something I care deeply about.”  

“I love my job; I like to go home with knowing I have done a good job and made a difference in at least one person’s life. I spend most of my day, being daft and making the staff and service users laugh!” 

Roan Davies, Support Worker and colleague of Zoe said: “I have worked with Zoe for six months, she is understanding and calm which is great influence on us all, especially during the pandemic. You can tell she really cares! She is a team player, who is always there to talk to for both service users and staff.” 

We asked Zoe what she thought was most important when working in supported living setting:  

“Compassion is the key, whilst focusing on promoting a fulfilled life of our service users. We are here to care, but also support our service users to find their own independence. Always be kind, respectful and thoughtful.” 

Our incredible staff members make it possible to transform people’s lives. A huge thank you to all staff for your continued hard work and compassion.