This month is Good Carers Month, and we know that Country Lodge is the amazing place it is because of our care team. They will always go above and beyond for our residents and nothing is too much trouble for them.
So, we sat down with one of our Senior Care Assistants, Kelly, to hear what life is like at Country Lodge as a carer and how she got into caring.
How long have you been at Country Lodge?
“I have been working at Country Lodge for 5 years and 4 months.”
What is your role with us?
“My job title is Senior Care Assistant. This means I do everything a care assistant does, but I lead the shifts I am on; providing guidance and support to the other Care Assistants on the shift with me.
I am also in charge of doing the moving and handling risk assessments – this ensures any manual handling involved in the care of a resident is done safely and without injury to them or the carers – and keeping them up-to-date on NOURISH (our care plan system where we record everything).
When I’m not out around the home providing care to our amazing residents, I am likely to be found in an office, ordering the continence pads for all the residents or completing monthly audits.”
How did you come to work in care?
“I wasn’t too sure what I wanted to do when I left school, so I had a break for a bit. When I was 18 I was fortunate enough to get accepted for an apprenticeship in care. Once I started doing the job, I found a passion for looking after people and realised that a career in care was what I wanted.
I now have a level 3 in health and social care and am loving my job caring for all the wonderful and witty residents that call Country Lodge their home.”
What do you love about the job?
“Knowing that I can help and care for those that need it makes it a really rewarding job. To come away from the job at the end of every shift knowing I have, at least, made someone smile is incredibly gratifying.”
What makes Country Lodge unique?
“The people; the staff and the residents truly make it feel like working with one big family.
When we have the opportunity, the staff will bring in their families and we will all celebrate and take part in activities, just like a family would at home. This just adds to that family feeling because it feels like we are just an extended part of the resident’s families, and we view they are as extensions of ours too.”
Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Country Lodge so far?
“I think one of my favourite memories is getting the opportunity to start working at Country Lodge. The day I started will forever stay with me; I will always remember meeting some of the staff for the first time, and it makes me so proud and grateful as they have become good friends.
Following that memory would be getting promoted to Senior Carer as I had to work hard and prove myself to get to that point. It was a relief to achieve the promotion, but most of all the sense of pride I felt, and still feel, when doing my job is second to none as I know that what I am doing is making a difference to the residents here.
If I am completely honest though, every day is a memory. Just walking in and seeing the smiling faces of the residents creates a new memory that I will cherish.”
What do you like to do outside of work to relax?
“In my spare time, you will often see me having fun with my son. When I can, I like to play tennis, and I will always make time to see friends and family on my days off too.”
What’s one thing people don’t know about you that they would be surprised to find out?
“I am like an open book so there’s not much to be surprised about. As a carer, you talk a lot with those you are caring for and their families. That means that you share a lot of information about yourself so there isn’t much that is kept back for anyone to be surprised about.”
Meet Kelly and the rest of the care team
At Country Lodge, we pride ourselves in the care we give. Kelly and our team show compassion, patience and empathy on a daily basis.
Come and meet some of the team and get a feel for our home on a visit. Book your viewing by calling our Registered Care Manager, Debbie, on 01903 830600, or emailing manager@countrylodgenursing.co.uk.