Jo Cleary, Learning & Development Manager at Unique Senior Care
Setting the standard for training and development so every Carer feels confident, capable and proud of the difference they make.
With nearly three decades in health and social care, Jo Cleary leads the Learning & Development function at Unique Senior Care. She is responsible for the design, delivery and evaluation of all staff training across the organisation, ensuring compliance with national care standards set by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and following Skills for Care guidance on workforce development.
Jo joined Unique Senior Care in 2011 after a long career in nursing, bringing experience from mental health, children’s disabilities and older-people’s services. Her clinical background and operational experience give her a broad understanding of workforce needs and how training translates into safe, high-quality care.
Over the years, she has progressed through multiple roles, building systems that support professional development and quality assurance across the business. Under her leadership, the Learning & Development team has introduced structured induction programmes, specialist dementia care pathways, and competency-based assessments to support continuous improvement.
Jo continues to align training content with external best practice and legislative standards, ensuring all programmes meet the CQC's requirements and reflect current national frameworks such as the Care Certificate and Leadership Qualities Framework.
Expertise and training
Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and active participant in Skills for Care networks, ensuring alignment with national leadership standards.
Follows the Dementia Training Standards Framework and integrates its principles into all dementia-related learning.
Holds additional certifications through accredited providers such as IOSH for Health and Safety and City & Guilds for training delivery.
Has developed deep expertise across care delivery, leadership and workforce development.
Transitioned from a nursing background into social care and has now worked in the sector for more than 25 years.
Completed advanced training in people handling, risk assessment, safeguarding, basic life support, first aid, health and safety, and dementia care.
Holds a Level 5 Diploma in Learning and Development and is a qualified Coach.
Regularly completes workshops and CPD through the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), including courses on co-production and evidence-based training.
Instrumental in shaping how Unique Senior Care upskills and supports its teams, leading to the company’s recognition with the Princess Royal Training Awards in 2021 and 2024 for its approach to leadership and development.
Led the design and delivery of the company’s live-in Caregiver induction, recognised with the Princess Royal Training Award in 2025 for excellence in live-in care training.
How Jo supports colleagues and clients
Jo leads the Learning & Development team with a clear focus on professional excellence. She ensures every Carer and colleague receives high-quality, practical training that builds knowledge, competence and confidence. Her team oversees induction, specialist training in dementia and older-people’s care, and ongoing professional development aligned with Skills for Care’s workforce development guidance and the Core Skills Training Framework.
She works closely with managers and field teams to embed a culture of learning across all areas of care delivery. Through regular evaluation and reflective practice, Jo ensures that learning outcomes translate directly into improved care quality and client satisfaction.
Beyond internal programmes, Jo represents Unique Senior Care at sector events and professional forums, sharing best practice on workforce development and contributing to national discussions on training standards. Her leadership reflects Unique Senior Care’s former recognition as a Skills for Care Centre of Excellence for internal training and professional development, which the company held until the scheme closed in 2025, when Skills for Care transitioned to a new endorsement model. This recognition demonstrated a sustained commitment to high standards across the sector.
In Jo's words..
My insights on learning and development
“Over the years I’ve learned that great training isn’t about ticking boxes, it’s about giving people the skills and self-belief to do their jobs well. When Carers feel prepared and supported, it changes how they approach each day and strengthens the standards of care we deliver.
Our role in Learning and Development is to make sure training doesn’t just meet compliance but sets the benchmark for quality and professionalism. By linking every session to national frameworks and best practice, we’re helping to raise expectations across the industry and ensure our approach remains at the forefront of care excellence.”
How I got into my role
“My background in nursing and mental health taught me the importance of calm, capable care. When I joined Unique Senior Care in 2011, I found an organisation that valued learning as much as I did. I began mentoring new Carers and discovered how rewarding it was to help people grow in their roles.
That experience led me into Learning and Development, where I now lead the team that shapes how we support and develop everyone who joins us. Seeing people flourish in their roles and provide excellent care is what continues to drive me every day.”
More from Jo
If you’d like to discuss how Jo and the Learning and Development team support colleagues and clients across Unique Senior Care, you can:
Connect on LinkedIn
Book a call
Read Jo's articles
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Page written by:
Jo joined Unique Senior Care as a Carer in 2011, transitioning from a nursing background. With 25 years of experience in health and social care, including mental health and children with disabilities, Jo has embraced numerous growth opportunities within the company.
Passionate about learning and development, Jo earned a Level 5 Diploma in this field and is committed to equipping teams with the skills needed for outstanding care.
Jo’s qualifications include advanced training in people handling, risk assessment, safeguarding, basic life support, first aid, health and safety, and dementia care. Jo has also completed numerous workshops and CPD courses, such as the SCIE’s Co-Production webinar.
These accomplishments reflect Jo’s dedication to fostering a culture of safety and excellence in care.