At Ashlea Court, our dedicated team is at the heart of everything we do. From experienced nurses and carers to our activities coordinators, chefs, and housekeeping staff, every member of our team plays a vital role in creating a warm, supportive, and homely environment for our residents.
With over 13 years care home management experience, Jacqui started her training at nursing college before progressing to gain her registration qualification in Adult Nursing, SVQ 4 in Management in Health and Social Care and a BA Nursing Studies.
Jacqui has always had a vocation to care for people, coupled with a commitment to continually improve, being the best, she can be to offer the highest standards of care possible.
Jacqui explains: “As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a nurse. I love caring for people and trying to make someone’s day better. It was a massive personal achievement for me going back to university to gain my degree and this has enabled me to pursue a career in management – something I have worked incredibly hard to achieve and I’m immensely proud of.
“The team at Ashlea Court are fantastic and work around the clock to make a positive difference for our residents. We are a friendly and sociable group of individuals who strive to make every day special, assisting residents to fulfil their aspirations.”
A typical day for Jacqui starts at 7am so she can maintain her good relationship with all the night staff and attend the handover of report from shift to shift.
Jacqui checks if any of the units require assistance – for example, escort arrangements for hospital appointments, if they have any issues or concerns or need any equipment. An open door-policy at the home means residents, families and staff are always welcome to discuss any concerns they may have or just have a chat.
Other duties are varied and include organising staff rotas, carrying out pre-assessments of residents, attending meetings and reviews, updating policies, carrying out audits, staff appraisals, training/clinical supervisions and writing reports to name a few.
Jacqui talks more about her aims and objectives for Ashlea Court: “My main priority is
to provide exceptional levels of care and therefore the best possible quality of life for residents. We strive to meet the Care Inspectorate Health and Social Care Standards, with a view of increasing our grades.
“As a team, we aim to offer a diverse programme of activities, which encourage resident participation. We are here to facilitate residents to exercise their rights and to make choices in relation to their care, and daily lives.
“It’s important my staff are the best they can be which is why they are encouraged to receive ongoing training and understanding about medical conditions such as dementia, and other debilitating and acute illnesses.
“I’d always encourage both current residents and any potential residents to ask questions if they have any concerns. There is no such thing as a silly question and having a quick can often alleviate any initial worries and provide some much-needed reassurance.
“Although a lot of things have changed owing to the global pandemic of COVID-19, providing high quality care remains at the heart of what we offer. We appreciate just how difficult it is for families when they can’t visit residents in person but we are able to facilitate a range of online options so regular contact can continue regardless of any physical restrictions that may be in place. Keeping the lines of communication open has never been more important and we will do whatever we can to make this possible.
