The Old Vicarage

Please detail any relevant education/training

All mandatory training – Level 2, 3 & 4 Health and Social Care. Level 5 Leadership and Management. D32/D33 Vocational assessor

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

1998

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Home

Good reputation for delivering high standards of care

What role did you carry out before you came to Healthcare Homes

Care Assistant

What do you think a person needs to do to be good in your role?

Good leadership skills, good communication skills, compassion, listening skills, be multi-skilled, patient, strong in mind and have a sense of humour!

What’s your favourite part of your working day and why?

Working with a fantastic, supportive team. Going around the home and speaking to the residents on a daily basis and getting feedback from them.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Manager registration. Getting to the final of the National Care Awards 2017 for Best Care Home. Being rated as Outstanding by CQC

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

Supporting and valuing staff. Dedication and good organisational skills

What are your interests outside of work/how do you unwind?

Spending time with my family and going on holiday, cooking and a large glass of gin and tonic!

What do you enjoy/are you looking forward to the most about working at this care home?

Continuing to deliver outstanding care. I enjoy working with the team, family and residents. It’s a lovely, happy home. I also enjoy doing hands on care and even cooking for residents when needed. Very important to be multi-skilled.

Please detail any relevant education/training

Health and Social Care level 3. Leadership and Management level 3. Health & Safety, Infection Control, First Aid, Medication

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

2018

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Home

Progression in career

What role did you carry out before you came to Healthcare Homes

Senior carer at another home

What do you think a person needs to do to be good in your role?

Good leader, good manager, good listener, be able to motivate

What’s your favourite part of your working day and why?

I enjoy all my day

What’s been your biggest professional challenge in your current role, or in your career to date?

Learning how to do the medication ordering

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Progressing in my career, going forward and doing a level 4 in Health and Social Care.

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

Someone who can motivate, encourage, teach. Someone who can bring out the best in a team, also thanking the staff for their hard work.

What are your interests outside of work/how do you unwind?

Reading, swimming, spending time with family.

What do you enjoy/are you looking forward to the most about working at this care home?

I enjoy all aspects of the job and I enjoy working with the team.

Please detail any relevant education/training

School. Training at The Old Vicarage

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

1999

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Home

Near home

What role did you carry out before you came to Healthcare Homes

Youth club worker. Pub working – cooking, hotels, waitress.

What do you think a person needs to do to be good in your role?

Knowledge of cooking. Patience, sense of humour, multi skilled

What’s your favourite part of your working day and why?

Watching the residents enjoy our home cooked meals and clean plates.

What’s been your biggest professional challenge in your current role, or in your career to date?

Organisation of menus and delivering a high standard of food/meals

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Kitchen manager. Going to London for the awards ceremony for Best Care Home 2017

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

Good listener, valuing staff, hands on when need help, multi skilled

What are your interests outside of work/how do you unwind?

Grandchildren, holidays, decorating and DIY

What do you enjoy/are you looking forward to the most about working at this care home?

Retiring! To remain outstanding! Enjoy talking to the residents

Please detail any relevant education/training

School of life! All mandatory training – Diploma 2, 3 & 4 Registered Managers Award. SAGE

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

1997

What role did you carry out before you came to Healthcare Homes

Shelf filler in Somerfields

What do you think a person needs to do to be good in your role?

To be patient, understanding, tolerant and have broad shoulders and a good sense of humour.

What’s your favourite part of your working day and why?

All of it. I like the busy times in the morning and I like the teamwork when we all pull together.

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

Being professional. Being fair but not a pushover. Sense of humour. Caring and compassionate

What are your interests outside of work/how do you unwind?

My gorgeous grandson Bobby. My granddaughter (due in July). Reading crime series novels e.g. Peter James & Robert Bryznda. I love Everton football team.

What do you enjoy/are you looking forward to the most about working at this care home?

I enjoy my role and the liveliness of the home. I enjoy positive feedback from residents and their families. I like that I am multi skilled and can help out where needed in the kitchen, laundry and care, working days and nights. After 21 years, I feel that I know the place inside out.

Please detail any relevant education/training

City & Guilds exam in hotel reception. Various Customer Service Courses (B.A/Sussex Police). Various different roles working as a receptionist

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

2018

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Home

I originally worked for The Old Vicarage from Nov 2017, we were then taken over by Healthcare Homes in March 2018.

What role did you carry out before you came to Healthcare Homes

Legal Receptionist

What do you think a person needs to do to be good in your role?

Be customer focused, polite, patient, a good listener, a good telephone manner, good communication and I.T skills

What’s your favourite part of your working day and why?

Mid-morning, when residents are ‘out and about’, so I can converse with them if they attend reception.

What’s been your biggest professional challenge in your current role, or in your career to date?

Learning the ‘in-house’ computer systems (care plans, Nourish system etc.), familiarising myself with all the residents and their room numbers.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Going on the various trips with the residents!

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

Organisational skills, being able to liaise with staff members and also residents alike.

What are your interests outside of work/how do you unwind?

I am a member of the gym and enjoy going to various classes. I also enjoy swimming and playing badminton. I am a member of the W.I which I enjoy.

What do you enjoy/are you looking forward to the most about working at this care home?

Continuing to enjoy working on reception and dealing with the residents queries/appointments etc. and interacting with other staff members.