Saffron Walden

Please detail any relevant education/training

History BA, Level 5 in Leadership and Management in Health & Social Care

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

2018

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Home

I was relocating South having lived in Leeds for the past 7 years.  I began speaking with my now Regional Meeting and set up an interview.  The interview turned out to be really good and I left feeling Manorcourt Homecare was the right place for me.

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

Registered Manager for a different provider in Leeds.

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

I recently read a post on Linked In which said that the role of a registered manager is the most challenging in adult social care and the ideal manager needs to be:

1. The business skills of Richard Branson
2. Oprah Winfrey’s ability to connect and empathise with people
3. Churchill’s leadership qualities
4. Margaret Thatcher’s determination
5. Nelson Mandela’s vision
6. Gandhi’s wisdom
7. Dynamo’s ability to create magic

I am not saying I have mastered all of the above but I think it’s a pretty good description of the demands of the role

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

I always get in to the office super early, between 7am-7.30am as I like to get a head start on the day.  I check my emails, catch up with whoever was on call to see what has happened overnight and have a coffee whilst it is nice and peaceful!  I enjoy having this time to get prepared for the day.  Everyday is so different in this job so the start of each day is exciting.  The highlight of the week at the branch is kebab Friday.  At lunchtime we all order a kebab and take 30 minutes to relax and enjoy.  It’s become a popular tradition!

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

My biggest challenge was in my first role as Registered Manager.  It was a very large service spread over multiple locations and a big project as my first experience performing this role.  The first six months were incredibly stressful and challenging, but I came through it and looking back it taught me a huge amount that I have been able to utilise since then.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

My biggest highlight was overseeing the introduction of a fully electronic system in my previous role.  It completely revolutionised the way we worked and it was fantastic to see the positive difference it made to the quality of service that could be provided.

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

Patient, organised and above all have a good sense of humour.  What we do is a serious business so I think it is important that we have a relaxed, easy-going attitude amongst the team and to keep morale high.

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

I like all sport and in the past been a keen runner, completing a number of marathons.  However since suffering from sciatica in 2016 I had to scale down my running.  I now enjoy cycling and walking my two dogs.  I am an avid reader and regularly take part in quizzes as I love learning new things!

The best thing about working at the Saffron Walden branch is the team; both the team in the office and the carers out in the field.  They are an amazing bunch and it is a pleasure to spend my days with them.

Please detail any relevant education/training

Bachelor of Science (Hons) in management and marketing, NVQ Level 3 in Social Care and undertaking Level 5 LMC.

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

2015

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Home

Manorcourt Homecare have a good reputation, a good rating and is a reliable company providing also, good working hours

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

Field Care Supervisor

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

Have a good knowledge, experience, people skills and management skills.  Be a good listener, reliable and easy to approach.

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

To be able to help carers/customers and provide with helpful information. Be part of the team that works well together.  It is important to work as a team and to support the team with good knowledge.

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

My biggest challenge was to master my skills in medication to be able to support carers and customers, become a medication officer and later a medication supervisor in order to train new medication officers.  To also support other branches with medication queries.   In March, to be appointed as Duty Manager.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Making a Difference – Finalist 2018 – Star Awards

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

Good management skills, well organised person, have an exceptional knowledge, a team player and have a good sense of humour.

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

DIY and cooking

Saffron Walden is a lovely branch with a brilliant team.  I enjoy all of my duties, especially training carers in medication and manual handling.

Please detail any relevant education/training

Level 3 NVQ

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

2013

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Home

I heard about the company through a friend who worked for Manorcourt Homecare as a manager.  I wanted to try something new and felt being a care worker would be a very rewarding role.

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

Hairdressing but commenced at Manorcourt Homecare when I was 18 as a care worker.  After a year in my role, I then went on to be a team leader before becoming a care co-ordinator.

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

As a care co-ordinator you need to have good communication skills with care workers and service users.  Be professional and well spoken on the telephone.  You always have to be good at planning and be calm under pressure.

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

The Saffron Walden team and I enjoy kebab Fridays!  Joking aside, it is lovely to work with a fantastic team!

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

When I started my role as care co-ordinator, care workers schedules were not in place.  Continuity is very important for service users and care staff this helps to improve the quality of care being provided.  This has also allowed the business to grow.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Our recent CQC report was very positive and fantastic to hear all the lovely comments from the care workers and service users.

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

A manager must have excellent communication skills with their employees and service users.  Oraganised and work well under pressure.

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

On Saturdays, I help my Mum as the role of a dog groomer.  I like to socialist with family and friends.  My interests are fashion and hair/make up.

I really enjoy working for Manorcourt Homecare. I feel I have come a long way since starting my role as a care worker in 2013. I am looking forward to completing my NVQ level 3.