Welcome to Lilibet Manor, where friends become family.
Leanne Jones put that sign up not long after she started at working at the home and it’s a good summary of how she feels about Lilibet Manor.
Leanne is our Wellbeing Lead, which means she is responsible for devising and delivering our daily activities.
This is her first full-time role in care (she had a short stint as a part-time Care Assistant in another home) but the experience she gained in her previous role has definitely stood her in great stead.
“I worked in the pub trade for around eight years running various pubs, so you need to be outgoing and patient in that and I have certainly transferred those skills here,” she explains.
“Basically, I think I was still waiting for THE job and I know I have now found that here at Lilibet Manor.”
Due to the complexity of many of our residents’ needs, Leanne says this is a job where no one day is the same.
She explains: “I joke when people ask me what I do for work that I do what I want when I want, but there is actually some truth in that.
“I can have care plans for a full week and not one of them is followed because the residents have requested something completely different and, we are guided by, and follow, their wishes.
“It can be challenging of course given we work with people with complex needs so one day I can be having a chat and a laugh with a resident and the next day they don’t want to talk to me, but I think that adds to the beauty of what I do because it’s so fulfilling and rewarding when you say or do something which really makes them tick.”
When things do go to plan, Leanne tends to put on an activity in the morning and afternoon and she tries to involve everyone, even those residents who like to stay in their rooms.
She adds: We have something called Bedside Manor where I set aside a morning to visit residents in their room where we can have some 1-1 time chatting, reading, listening to music or watching the television together.
“We also have the Lilibet walkers where we walk around the grounds getting some fresh air and count our steps using a pedometer.
“Then we have traditional activities like arts and crafts and more unusual activities such as motor club which has involved the police bringing a car in for the residents to sit in or watching a programme about car restoration in our cinema room.
“It’s very varied and lots of fun, as you can see!”
Leanne is currently busy putting together the programme for our first ever summer get together on 12th July which will include live entertainment, face painting, raffles and games, with the money raised going to the Alzheimer’s Society.
She is also busy preparing for a 26-mile hike in the Yorkshire Dales to also raise money for the Society.
“It’s something very close to our hearts here at Lilibet Manor given dementia is one of the many complex needs we cater for,” Leanne adds.
“Ultimately, the sign I put up when I first got here sums up everything about the home; we’re all one big happy family!”
