Kenneth Stirling

My name is Kenneth Stirling and I’m the Director of Enterprising Transition Care Ayrshire (ETCA). I established the business in 2022, based in Kilmarnock focusing on supporting young people with a learning disability in their transition into adulthood. ETCA is registered with the Care Inspectorate to deliver support services and provides supported employment opportunities.

I started my career straight from school, having few qualifications and little interest in education. Leaving school without a job wasn’t an option and I was given the opportunity to start a government training programme supporting adults with learning and/or physical disabilities in a day centre. My main interests in school were woodwork and art and the career advisor thought I could use these to help others. Once I started the training, I realised this was good advice as I really enjoyed sharing my interests with others. My mother had also befriended a lady with disabilities, often spending time in the family home, so the opportunity to support other people felt natural.

I operate a community café, primarily offering tailored supported employment opportunities to 16-18 year olds from local Additional Support Needs (ASN) schools. I am working in partnership, directly with pupils, parents and carers, education professionals, and the local Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP). ETCA offers seamless support to pupils into their adulthood and our staff are registered with the SSSC. I’ve worked in social work services and social care for the past 35 years in a variety of positions including providing direct care and support, managing children and adult services, as well as leading day services for older people (which is where I learned how to be a bingo caller).

Social service employers look for a range of qualities in new staff. Having the right values and attitude is the most important attribute; training and gaining a qualification follows on. I’ve enjoyed my whole career to date and have enjoyed completing a range of work-based and academic qualifications including at MSc level.

The things I like most about my job are being able to create the right environment for the young trainees to develop and flourish into confident adults believing ‘anything’ is possible. The positive experiences of the young people, in turn, reinforces and motivates our staff to constantly push the boundaries of social norms, creating a positive working environment and becoming confident social care professionals.

Whilst I’m passionate and excited about my job, I do however need to remain focused on the basics of the business, ensuring all legislative, regulatory and commissioning reports are complete, staff are paid correctly and on time, and ensuring we have sustainable funding to continue delivering person-centred ‘enterprising’ services.

I feel privileged, using my career experience to establish local person-centred services building on previously managed services operating to a high standard; recognised by the Care Inspectorate with high grades including ‘Excellent’. We share best practice with other professionals and our staff are registered and work to the standards of the SSSC.

There will always be budget constraints in providing high quality care and support, which can be frustrating, but this offers an opportunity to be innovative which excites me.

The job is not just a career – it’s a lifestyle. To know you’ve personally changed someone’s life for the better makes you feel proud.