From Local Beginnings to Leadership: Rob Agrawal’s 25-Year Journey at PLUS

Starting as a support worker in 2000, Rob’s story is one of growth, resilience, and a passion for improving lives through Positive Behaviour Support and Active Support.

Rob gets stuck into his role as 'cocktail maker extraordinaire' at the PLUS Summer Party

When you meet Rob Agrawal, Head of Service at PLUS, you quickly sense the passion and commitment that have shaped his remarkable career. Today, Rob oversees three service managers, guiding and supporting them to deliver the highest quality care. But his journey began over two decades ago in a very different role.

Starting Out

“I joined PLUS back in 2000 as a support worker for what was then called LINC,” Rob recalls. “I originally planned to train as a social worker, but I was promoted to deputy manager and decided to stay.”

His early days were full of learning opportunities. “I had a manager who believed in me and wanted me to progress. He encouraged me to learn to drive so I could support people out more and gave me responsibilities like writing reports for the council. I even attended review meetings in Southwark with a notoriously strict Care Manager—terrifying at the time, but invaluable experience.”

Why PLUS?

The decision to join PLUS was as much about community as career. “I was living locally and had friends who were support workers. The job sounded amazing. I know it isn’t always easy, but there were enough good moments to know it was the right choice. I walked into the Belmont Hill office, asked if there were any jobs, got an application, and started less than two months later.”

Climbing the Ladder

Rob’s progression through the organisation reflects both ambition and dedication. “I moved from Hindmans Road as a deputy to Liverpool Grove, then became a manager around 2004. In 2005, after LINC merged with Providence Project, we became PLUS. Later, I managed Springbank Road before stepping into a senior role deputising for Ron and Hayley (both Heads of Service.”

Along the way, Rob embraced professional development. “A lot of contracts now require someone at senior level to have a postgraduate qualification in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). I was lucky enough to be chosen for this and completed my MSc in PBS in 2022. I also became really interested in Active Support—a method that increases meaningful activities for people we support—and now deliver training to staff teams.”

Milestones and Achievements

Promotions were “daunting but rewarding,” and there were unforgettable moments. “Supporting people on holiday for the first time—exhausting but wonderful! Seeing people progress in their skills and reduce behaviours that challenge. It’s never about changing a person, but changing how we support them and working as a team. Completing my MSc was a huge personal achievement.”

He’s also proud of creating the Active Support Community of Practice. “Some staff became so enthused by the method. I supported a staff member to give a presentation alongside a service user at an NDTI conference about social inclusion. They led a project to clean up the local area—it was amazing.”

Overcoming Challenges

The sector has changed dramatically since Rob started. “Where once we had one-to-one support for many people, that’s reduced due to government cuts. The hardest challenge is maintaining quality with fewer resources. We overcome this by working smarter—training staff in Active Support and PBS. It’s not always about more hours, but making the most of the time we have.”

Culture and Support

PLUS has always felt like home. “It’s diverse and supportive. I’ve always felt nurtured here. Over the years, I’ve learned from so many colleagues. My old manager, Pat McCann, gave me management tasks that prepared me for the future—mainly because he was quite lazy!” Rob laughs. “I’ve worked with people who knew our service users when they lived in Grove Park Hospital before community care. That history shaped my understanding.”

Today, Rob values his team deeply. “The three managers I support all care so much about the people we serve. They believe in PBS and Active Support, and I trust them completely.”

Advice for Future PLUS Team Members

His advice is simple: “Learn about Active Support and PBS. Use that knowledge to improve your practice. Ask for extra responsibilities—be a keyworker, take on more roles. That’s how you grow.”

Looking Ahead

The future? “Always uncertain in this sector,” Rob admits. “I just hope I stay in a job!” But one thing is clear—his passion for helping people thrive remains as strong as ever.

What He Loves Most

“Feeling that together we can help people learn skills and improve their quality of life. That’s what makes it all worthwhile.”