I’ve been a Senior Supervisor at Melrose Court in Poundbury for two and a half years. Melrose is a really special place as an Extra Care Scheme with 75 residents in 63 flats.
The first thing I do at the start of my day is make sure everyone is accounted for, and we fill in a log to keep track of this. We review individual wellbeing pathways, alarm checks and complete person-centred risk assessments.
My colleagues and I are always on-hand to support residents and ensure they’re safe and well, as well as sign-post to services they might need. I usually take time during the day to visit residents too, depending on their needs. This has changed since COVID-19, and I make sure that the safety of my co-workers and residents is at the forefront of my mind at all times.
I work alongside two main care agencies at Melrose who I liaise with daily, as well as support providers. These include social workers, doctors and district nurses. A big part of my day is maintaining contact with these people to ensure everyone is up-to-speed on residents and their care needs.
I also work with different departments within our business to ensure we are meeting customer needs and achieving high satisfaction rates. We want our residents to feel happy, safe and secure, so I liaise with Financial Responsibility, Customer Experience and Asset Management to ensure this.
Inevitably I will face some challenges in my day – we all do! From leaks to surprise alarm activation, we deal with the general day-to-day issues of most homes. I overcome these challenges by thinking of the customer first and staying positive. In the event of an issue arising I maintain contact with my team, and I don’t leave the scheme until it’s resolved. There is a fantastic ‘in it together’ mentality in supported housing.
COVID-19 totally changed the way we worked, but the sense of togetherness at Melrose Court didn’t go away. We are all getting used to wearing masks, but there is a real comradery that means we all – residents too – play our part. With August has come a small sense of normality, with many residents now able to socialise in support bubbles and see family.
I’m taking each day as it comes and look forward to the time when we can get activities back up and running and really spend time together, as one small, supported community.
– Hannah Wilson, Senior Supervisor – Independent Living