Over 300 Years of Care Experience in One Home

One third of staff at Thornton Hall & Lodge care home in Thornton, Liverpool, have worked in the home for over seven years, practically the lifetime of the home, which opened in 2007. More impressively, 25 members of staff at the home have over three hundred years combined care experience under their belts, with individuals including both managers, Gaynor Wardle and Tammy Isherwood, both working in care for over 20 years. Comments Tammy Isherwood, Home Manager; “We knew that we had a good number of staff who had been here for some time, but this is quite overwhelming really when you write it all down. We feel that we create a bright and caring environment here and there is a great team spirit and connection amongst the staff and between the staff and the residents. The fact that so many of our staff have worked here together for such a long time must be testament to that.” The 96-bed home provides 24-hour quality residential care for 48 residents at the Hall, with the Lodge giving additional round the clock dementia care for 48 residents. Additional long-serving staff members include cook Terry Rimmer and laundry assistant Debbie Leadbetter. The attraction of the home also extends outside, mobile hairdresser Kathy Ellery has been visiting the home for seven years, keeping the female residents of the home looking their best. A relationship that is enjoyed and appreciated on all sides. The home is consistently open to new ideas and activities. A new Barber, Tony is a recent addition, setting up a men’s session, which incorporates a beer, a haircut and a chat. Residents also attend a weekly luncheon club in the local King’s Church in Thornton. This is extremely popular, with members of the community regularly returning to enjoy afternoon tea in the home. Exciting news for the spring is that the home is researching the opportunity of embracing the innovative HenPower, an award winning national project run by older people’s charity, Equal Arts. HenPower establishes a brood of hens in care home settings and has been successful in other Orchard Care Homes across the country. The hens will live in the extensive gardens of the home and the residents will become ‘henshioners’, hen keepers and carers, more details soon...