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Setting: Residential care home with nursing.
To sit with residents and chat and see that they enjoy themselves, and their interaction with me. Also, of course when my staff excel - for example two carers have completed their nursing associate qualification recently. All the humour we have is very good for us all because we laugh a lot and enjoy our work. When times become difficult, we, as a team motivate ourselves with the Mum’s Test – "Treat the older people how you would wish for your own Mum or Dad).
Paula
Residential care home with nursing
Overview of current role
I’m the registered manager of a residential care home with nursing for older people and the named individual for the service registered with CQC and oversee the quality of care.
I attend morning briefings every day to get an update on the residents and any new admissions and throughout the day I'll be having conversations with residents, their families and other healthcare professionals. I'm responsible for:
- ensuring the rota is covered and up to date
- taking part in discussions around quality, audits and research projects
- supporting staff to operate a caring and nurturing approach to the care home workforce
- working with local health education institutes to offer student placements and apprenticeships.
I also work alongside many national organisations and our local ICB to navigate and advocate for social care and our residents. I’m always looking for ways to improve the quality of care in my nursing home as well as trying to improve the image of nursing homes and social care.
How did I get here
When I first qualified I worked as a registered nurse in South Africa, I worked in several hospitals building my confidence and competence and then in the community. After this I became a university lecturer in South Africa which I did for several years before deciding to nurse in England.
When I was looking for a job I saw this role in social care and it felt like exactly what I was looking for, I chose to work in social care and became a registered manager in 2003. My plan was originally to return but I love my role and have brought up my family here and they too now work in the care sector.
Qualifications and education
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registered nurse -adult nurse and teacher (NMC)
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entry level requirements of a nursing degree programme
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registered manager qualification NVQ level 4
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masters degree - research quality care in nursing homes
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PhD in nursing education.
Knowledge and skills
- registered nursing knowledge and skills with a focus on person centred care and caring for people in a place they call home
- working with older people and frailty
- end of life care
- management Knowledge and skills such as leading a leam, delegation, policy development and governance
- respect and compassion
- excellent communication skills
- an understanding of legistation and CQC regulation to become a registered manager
- mentorship training
- management training.