31

Mar

Care is a rewarding career say our young team members

Abigail Hudson, 21, Kirstyn Williams, 20 and 19 year old Chloe Beardmore, are all healthcare assistants here at Barrowhill Hall.

Abigail, from Rocester, has been working in the care sector since she was 18 and has been a private carer and a community carer in Staffordshire before she began working at Barrowhill Hall. She says,

“I enjoyed community work but the travel was a lot. I was driving everywhere from Kings Bromley to Tamworth and all the travel was affecting my mental health.

“My boyfriend’s mum and sister work at Barrowhill Hall and they encouraged me to apply for a job here. I would definitely recommend care work to other young people. The best part of the job is the satisfaction you get from helping others.”

Kirstyn, from Tean, is currently in her second year of a Psychology degree at Keele University. And works part-time at the home. She wants to go and study medicine and says her role as a carer has taught her invaluable resident care skills.

“With the hands-on skills, I’ve learnt so much about resident care, more than I ever could learn from books. It’s an incredible experience. For me a huge part of the role is learning how to interact with different levels of resident care. All residents are completely different and what works for one doesn’t work for the other, we have to always tailor our care to the individual.

“I love meeting people. Meeting the families is a big part of the job and we have to work as a team otherwise nothing would get done!

“My favourite bit of the day though is seeing the residents in their happy element and the satisfaction you get from it.”

For Chloe, from Cheadle, it was her grandad, Ken, who motivated her to take on a role caring for and helping elderly residents.

“My grandad is my favourite person!,” she says. “He really inspired me to work in the care sector. Seeing the residents happy and giving them the care they need makes me happy. It’s such a rewarding job and it’s fun too; we are always doing all sorts of activities from painting the residents’ nails to drawing with them.

“You get really close relationships with the residents, we’re like a family.”

Care home manager, Dania Meadows, says, “

“It’s brilliant to see young people in care roles and we would love to have more on our team. I think there’s something in the bond they create with the residents, having had a more recent relationship with grandparents. Our residents certainly love them!

“I’m very committed to all the staff here and if they want to progress, we will help them. This doesn’t just have to be a job, it can be a career, there’s no end to where it could lead.”

 

31

Mar

My grandad inspired me to become a carer says 19-year-old Chloe

19 year old Chloe Beardmore is a healthcare assistant here at Barrowhill Hall and she says working in care is hugely rewarding and recommends other young people consider it as a career.

She says there are many reasons why someone should consider a career in care but for her, it was her grandad, Ken, who was her motivation in taking on a role caring for and helping elderly residents.

“My grandad is my favourite person!” she says. “He really inspired me to work in the care sector. I used to look after him a lot and he just lives around the corner.

“Seeing the residents happy and giving them the care they need makes me happy. It’s such a rewarding job and it’s fun too; we are always doing all sorts of activities from painting the residents’ nails to drawing with them.

“You get really close relationships with the residents, we’re like a family.”

Prior to working at the care home Chloe was a qualified lifeguard and swimming teacher at Cheadle Leisure Centre and she wanted to continue working a role where she was able to help people. She says;

“The great thing about being a carer is that I didn’t need to have qualifications. I have been able to train on the job and the home is going to help me to do my NVQ qualifications whilst I work here. When you first start you are always working with someone experienced so you can shadow them and learn the ropes. It’s very hands on and there’s a lot of team work involved.

“It’s also great because I’ve been able to continue the swimming lessons and I teach 2-3 days per week alongside my role here.”

Care home manager, Dania Meadows, says;

“It’s brilliant to see young people in care roles and we would love to have more on our team.  Qualifications aren’t always necessary – those can be studied for – but what you can’t teach is care and compassion, and Chloe has that in spades.

“You can see her bonding with the residents, no doubt because of that special relationship she has with her grandad. Younger carers often have that due to their more recent relationships with their grandparents. Our residents certainly love Chloe!

“I’m very committed to all the staff here and if they want to progress, we will help them. This doesn’t just have to be a job, it can be a career, there’s no end to where it could lead.”

07

May

Staff share their love of caring as they celebrate more than 60 years’ service

Staff have shared their love of the care profession as they celebrate a combined total of more than 60 years’ service.

Five of our 78 strong team at Barrowhill Hall have worked here for more than 10 years, with housekeeper Christine Rigby chalking up 18 years of dedication and loyalty.

We are bucking the national trend which has seen care homes struggle to recruit and retain staff.

“I started in the laundry team here in 2001 after I was made redundant from Staffordshire Tableware,” remembered Christine.

“The management joked that I was ‘too chatty’ to work in laundry – they saw it as a talent that should be used to the benefit of the residents – so I became a cleaner where I could have more contact with the people living here.

“I’ve since taken qualifications in care and as head of housekeeping I know all the residents. You’ll often find me having a dance with someone when a singer is in, or stopping for a chat. I just love coming every day.”

Senior night care assistant, Sheila Thornley, have reached her 15th anniversary with us and senior care assistant, Andrew Docherty, has made 12 years.

“Care started out as a job for me but it’s become a career,” said Andrew. “I’ve had the opportunity to progress since I’ve been here, and that’s ongoing.

“It’s rewarding, the residents always make my day, and it’s a beautiful place to work – nothing compares to the view from up here!”

Head of Laundry, Rosie Naylor, is close behind them with 11 years’ service as is Christine’s daughter, Lucy Dale, a cleaner.

More than 10% of the staff at Barrowhill Hall have worked at the home for five years or more.

“We are extremely proud of our team and their dedication,” said Dion Meechan, Director of MOP Healthcare which owns Barrowhill Hall.

“The staff turnover rate for the adult residential care sector currently stands at around 27% so to be celebrating 13% of our staff being here for more than five years is quite something.

“We offer training and development opportunities to all of our staff, and everyone has a role in our residents’ care whether they work in the kitchens or as a registered nurse.”

The home also recognises effort and achievements in monthly staff awards.

“We hope those things help to make this a great place to work,” said Ashley, “but we also have a beautiful grade II listed home, as well as a modern unit for those in the earlier stages of dementia.  And we have the best view in Staffordshire.”

“It’s never boring here, every day is different,” said Christine. “I’m part of people’s lives and I love it. I plan to stay – I’ve already picked out my room!”