In this edition of Compass Conversations, we catch up with Steven McLellan, Home Manager at Craigielea, part of Holmes Care Group. Steven talks about what drew him to the home, turning his age into an advantage as a younger manager, and his honest advice for anyone stepping into their first Home Manager role.
Steven joined Holmes Care Group in November 2025 through Compass Associates, having previously managed Craigend Gardens in Glasgow’s East End. He has spent the last four years in management positions, following earlier roles as a Deputy and Clinical Lead.
“Wow, you can do so much to get people involved in the community and actually use my youth and my age as an advantage, as opposed to being a hindrance.”
How long have you been Home Manager and what drew you to Holmes Care Group?
I’ve been here since the start of November 2025. It’s my second role as a Home Manager. Prior to here, I was in the East End managing a home called Craigend Gardens. I’ve been in management positions for the last four years now, and prior to that I was in support and management roles such as Deputy and Clinical Lead.
This home, in particular, appealed to me because it had a young physically disabled unit. Something that I did in the past was working in YPD, and I enjoyed it, but my experience in the past was a negative one. When I saw it here, I remember thinking about a time when I wasn’t able to do anything about the negatives as a staff nurse, but I also remember thinking, “Wow, you can do so much to get people involved in the community and actually use my youth and my age as an advantage, as opposed to being a hindrance.”
Sometimes people look at younger managers as maybe not being well connected with the service users because “we don’t know about the life experience”. The ethos of the company was what drew me to Holmes Care Group.
How did you find Compass Associates as a recruitment company?
The process was incredibly straightforward. I contacted Compass, and Dominic called me back to arrange a time that suited us both.
After just one telephone call and an email, he was already working on my behalf. He arranged the interview and supported me throughout the entire process with pre-interview preparation, post-interview feedback, and regular check-ins. He also handled all of the salary negotiations for me when it came to the package I received. I think discussing salary and expectations can be uncomfortable, so having Dominic manage those conversations made the process much easier.
Overall, the experience was seamless. All I had to do was send my CV, explain what I was looking for, and Dominic took care of the rest.
What are you most proud of at Craigielea?
Being a source of stability. Since being here, I’ve had an open-door policy to make sure I’m visible. All the families know who I am and know they can come to me. So, yes, I’m most proud of being that person for the families.
What advice would you give someone taking on their first Home Manager role?
Consider whether it’s something you genuinely want to do. Don’t just think about the positives; think about the challenges as well and whether it’s something you really want to commit to. It may be a 40-hour contract, but sometimes it feels like a 100-hour working week. While you might think it’s a 9-5 role, it’s often 9-5, Monday to Friday, with on-call responsibilities at weekends, and if there’s an emergency, you’re the person who has to be there.
Once you’ve considered all of that, then go for it. I also think that, if you’re a nurse, don’t lose your clinical skills. They’ll serve you throughout your career, no matter what role you’re in.
If you could change one thing about the care sector tomorrow, what would it be?
If I could change one thing, it would probably be the funding and resources available to care services from external MDTs. Everybody wants to deliver the best care possible, but sometimes your hands are tied by NHS budgets.
I’d also love to change people’s perceptions of social care. It’s such a rewarding sector, with so many dedicated people doing amazing work, but I don’t think it always gets the recognition or respect it deserves.
Finally, what are you hoping to achieve in the next 12 months?
In the short term, I want to improve the grades here in the home and keep building on the progress we’ve already made for the residents and families. Longer term, I’d like Craigielea to be a legacy home that people associate with me, somewhere I’ve left my stamp on. I also look up to the likes of Michelle who is a regional manager and Jamie who is our operations director and how they’ve progressed in their roles.
Thinking about your next Home Manager role?
At Compass Associates, our nursing home recruitment specialists support Home Managers, Deputies and Clinical Leads at every stage of their move, from finding the right home and preparing for interview to negotiating the package. If you are a provider looking for your next Home Manager, we can help you find someone who fits your culture as well as the role. For more on how the role is changing, read why we believe your Home Manager role is about to get clearer.
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