Super-mum, business director and graduate – you can achieve anything with Calderdale College
Calderdale College graduate fights for better opportunities for care workers
Health and Social Care graduate Lubna Khan set up her own business, Curantis Healthcare, in 2015 to provide home care in her local area of Burnley.
After her grandmother suffered a stroke and heart attack, Lubna witnessed first-hand the dedication, attitude and commitment required by carers to look after their patients.
She explains: “I knew a lot about the care sector after my grandma was ill and myself and my now business partner were inspired to set something up to give people the best care service possible.
“Because we both had family members with home carers, we quickly realised these people seen as ‘low skilled workers’ were the opposite of that.
“To be a carer you have to be a superstar.
“It’s a matter of life and death, so it’s the biggest act of kindness you can show. We saw that and recognised we wanted to acknowledge that in our business.
“Now, we balance an excellent, unique care service to anyone who needs it, but we also help our staff, the carers, with better paid job opportunities and working conditions.”
Shortly after setting up her business, Lubna enrolled to study the Health and Social Care Foundation Degree at Calderdale College in 2019 to understand more about this sector.
She adds: “If you set up a business, you need to have the technical skills and knowledge that goes with it, so we enrolled on the Foundation Degree.
“I started the course while I was pregnant with my second child and completed it two years later, just after welcoming my third baby.
“Because I had babies or I was expecting, I completed most of my written work at night. I would complete my university work from midnight to 5am, sleep for a few hours, then get up and go to work full time.
“I also support over 4,000 residents in the Burnley ward as a local councillor, so most of my evenings I would be at council meetings. It was tough. Physically it was challenging and mentally it was draining.
“But if you’ve got a positive mind set and a clear goal, you will get it done. I also have an amazing support system.My husband left work and became a stay-at-home dad so I could pursue my dream.
“However, I absolutely couldn’t have done it without the amazing support of the college. My tutor Sue was amazing. The course was exactly what I needed to have an understanding of my company and how to successfully run a business in this sector.
“It included management and partnership units, but also gave me an insight into the day-to-day, values and ethics. Often Sue would visit me at work for module discussions, meetings and reviews. Flexibility doesn’t get any better than that!
“With help from the college’s tutors, it’s all at your fingertips and you can achieve anything.”
Lubna graduated in September and celebrated with her husband and children. But she’s not planning to slow down anytime soon, as she’s now enrolled on a Senior Leadership MBA and hopes “to join the Chartered Management Institute.
Curantis Healthcare is also planning to expand in a bid to be the leading provider of quality at home care in the North West.
Lubna summarises: “It’s our mission to give carers the opportunity to be upskilled, unlock better pay and enjoy great working conditions as they deliver outstanding care in the community.”
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