247: A Day in the Life of Helen O’Grady: Coaching in Health, Social Care and Education

In this inspiring episode of our ‘Day in the Life of’ podcast series, host Maxine Bell sits down with Helen O’Grady, an experienced coach and supervisor who brings her background in paediatric nursing into her coaching work within the health, social care, and education sectors. Helen shares her powerful journey from healthcare to coaching, shedding light on the unique challenges and opportunities in supporting professionals working on the front lines. Maxine and Helen explore how coaching can transform leadership and client care in health and social care, the emotional toll of frontline work, and how coaching supports burnout prevention and emotional wellbeing. They also discuss the persistent funding challenges and why coaching should be prioritised in high-impact environments like the NHS, social work and education.

 

Helen also discusses the importance of supervision for coaches and the evolving conversation around professional regulation in the coaching field. She shares honest reflections on the mindset shifts required in helping professions—from "rescuing" to empowering clients—and why self-trust and community support are vital for sustainable coaching practices.

 

Full of insights and tips, Helen’s passion and care for coaching and supervision light up the conversation. If you are feeling uncertain about coaching in any way or seeking a new perspective and purpose in your practice, this podcast episode is for you!

 

 

·       Discover the value and impact of coaching in the health, social care, and education sector

·       Learn how to shift from a "rescue" mindset to one that supports agency and empowerment

·       Understand the critical role of supervision in sustaining ethical, reflective, and resilient coaching

 

 

"From the moment I discovered coaching, I was like, wow, this is fantastic. I still get so much joy from all aspects of it; I feel very blessed to have found it."

 

Tune in next week as Helen hosts a new 11-part podcast series: Coaching Supervision Uncovered!

 

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For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit:

https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_day-in-the-life-of-coaches-supervision-frontline-professionals-inspirational