Paul reflects on working in a care home compared to a hospital | Meet the team
Meet the team
We employ around 170 staff across our care homes, housing schemes and support office. With so many diverse roles, we would like to introduce you to some of our team. Just click on the roles below to find out more.
Care Assistant
Care Home Administrator
I support the Care Home Manager with all the administration at the home. This includes for example completing forms for new residents and staff, collating the residents’ activity calendar, paying invoices, helping to manage the budget, completing and submitting payroll and liaising with support services in Seaford.
I’m the first point of contact for everyone who walks through the door so I welcome friends and families of residents, doctors, nurses, tradesmen and I take care of all the telephone calls. Some of my colleagues say “I’m the glue that holds the home together!”
This is a very busy role and I have the freedom to complete my work, be with the residents and interact with staff. We’re a good team here.
Jessica at Oakwood Court care home, Haywards Heath.
Maintenance
I take care of the day to day maintenance of the building making sure all the checks have been done, including fire and gas safety and electrical testing. My role also includes tasks such as unblocking shower wells, checking light bulbs and cleaning the bins. There is generally a lot of cleaning involved and ensuring everything is in working order. I also decorate rooms when they become vacant.
I enjoy spending time talking to residents when I’m working in their rooms and supporting the care team. I may have my week planned out but sometimes my work can be very reactive, you never really know what you’re going to walk into in the morning, this is why I love working here.
I have enjoy the opportunity to do activities with residents such as gardening, indoor play and dancing. Outside of work, DIY is my main hobby.
Allan Manalo at Oakwood Court care home, Haywards Heath.
Scheme Manager
I love working with older people and hearing their life’s experiences. I enjoy enriching their golden years - making them easier and more pleasurable.
I've worked in a variety of care settings for many years. Care in the Community with profoundly physically disabled people and some with brain acquired injuries, before I started at Sussex Housing & Care.
Since working here I have been a manager at Saxonwood Care Home and then moved to become a Scheme Manager.
I enjoy providing a high standard of service to residents."
Fiona, Scheme Manager for Ashleigh Glegg House and Falfield in Seaford.
Paul reflects on working in a care home compared to a hospital
“I started working at Saxonwood in November as a Domestic Assistant and came from working at the Conquest Hospital as a House Keeper.
Working at Saxonwood is a lovely environment and I get to socialise with the residents and the team is a lot smaller, so I get to know people better.
As a domestic I help to keep the home presentable and up to standard. I enjoy going out of my way to help the residents and do little tasks they ask me to do, it helps brighten their day and I enjoy the chat and hearing about their lives and what they’re up to for the day ahead.
I work part time, which gives me time to spend with my one year old and time at home. It’s a good balance for me and I pick up extra shifts when I can which is always handy.
I’m also a Bank Kitchen Assistant and do a half day or a long day when they need me. I have experience in the kitchen too as I studied catering and hospitality at college and worked in a pub, so I’m familiar with what’s required and enjoy the variety.
I hadn’t worked in a care home before so it was a new environment for me, it’s a homely atmosphere at Saxonwood and so is quite different from a hospital, residents are happy to be here and it’s comforting and friendly.
I’d definitely recommend working in a care home. If you hadn’t thought about it before, there are different opportunities and you can find a role that suits what you enjoy.”
Thanks to Paul for sharing his thoughts about his job and what it's like to work in a care home. If you're interested to learn about the opportunities we have, please click here to see our current vacancies.