Every person who works in care has
their why. For Jojo (Joanne), House Lead at Sundial Care Home, a career in care
was never just about finding a job, It was about giving something back to her
community. Inspired by her two grandmothers, who both worked as auxiliary
nurses at the local hospital in Ottery St Mary, caring has always been part of
her life. This is her story.
Jojo joined Sundial more than
nine years ago after almost leaving the care sector altogether.
"My previous care home
closed after a change in ownership, and it wasn't being run well. Despite staff
raising concerns, nothing changed, and I nearly decided that care wasn't for me
anymore…. then I found Sundial."
"I was welcomed with open
arms from my very first day. Although I already had qualifications, including
my NVQ, BTEC and Diploma in Care, I wanted to start again as a Care Assistant
and learn the Evolve Care Group way of caring."
Evolve Care Group offers every
team member the opportunity to take part in its bespoke Evolve Care Academy.
Designed to support ongoing learning and development, the programme equips team
members with the skills and confidence to grow in their role and progress their
career.
Since then, Jojo has progressed
from Care Assistant to House Lead, later becoming a Care Practitioner and now
Induction Lead, while remaining someone her team know they can rely on.
"I'll happily step into
any role if I'm needed, whether that's supporting the care team or even helping
with the odd maintenance job. We're all here to support each other."
Looking back, Jojo says training
has shaped not only the way she provides care, but also the way she understands
herself.
"One thing that has
always stayed with me from the training is being asked, 'Who am I?' Learning
about yourself first, through ideas like Thomas
Kitwood's Flower and
understanding your own values, helps you understand the people you support even
better."
Like Jojo, many team members at Sundial
Care Home have been supported to progress through the Evolve Care Academy.
When asked what a typical day
looks like, Jojo shared:
“There really isn't one. Of
course we support family members (residents) with their daily needs, but we
also have time to sit together, laugh together and simply spend time with
people. Sometimes it's a group activity, sometimes it's supporting an
individual to do something they enjoy, and sometimes it's just offering
reassurance when someone isn't feeling themselves."
She also shared:
"That's what makes
Sundial special. It's warm, homely and compassionate. We genuinely care about
one another. The team feels like an extended family, and Liz, our Home Manager,
has always believed in us and helped me become more confident over the
years."
For Jojo, the most rewarding part of working in care has
always been the relationships she builds with family members. Looking back over
her nine years at Sundial, one relationship in particular continues to stay
with her.
Marilyn first came to Sundial for respite care before later
moving into the home permanently. Over time, Jojo and Marilyn developed a close
bond.
"I had an amazing bond
with Marilyn. She didn't always communicate with words, but through smiles,
holding hands and simply being together. We laughed together, smiled together
and sometimes cried together, especially after her beloved husband passed
away."
Jojo supported Marilyn through one
of the most difficult periods of her life, building a close relationship not
only with Marilyn but also with her daughter, who often said Jojo was her mum's
special person.
As Marilyn's health sadly
declined, Jojo became one of the few people she would still accept food and
drink from.
"Towards the end, she
often wouldn't accept food or drinks from anyone else, but she would from me.
She wasn't just someone I cared for; she became one of my closest friends."
The pair spent many evenings
watching The Chase, sharing stories about their families and holidays,
and looking through photographs. They even discovered they had both visited the
same place in Portugal and had each swum with dolphins there.
When Marilyn passed away
peacefully, Jojo later returned to that same place during a family holiday.
"I knew Marilyn would
never be able to go back because of her health, so seeing the dolphins again
felt like something I could do for her. It was my final goodbye."
Looking back on more than nine
years at Sundial Care Home, Jojo says it's the relationships she has built that
have made her career so rewarding.
"Seeing people happy,
sharing laughter and knowing you've made a difference, those memories stay with
you forever."
For Jojo, caring for Marilyn is
just one of many moments that she will carry with her. Whether it's encouraging
someone to continue doing the things they love, sharing moments of laughter, or
simply being there when someone needs support, it's the privilege of becoming
part of people's lives that continues to remind her why she chose a career in
care, and why she stayed.
Finally, when asked to describe
Sundial Care Home in just a few words, without hesitation Jojo shared:
“Rewarding. Extended family.
Love and compassion.”
If you would like to
learn more about a career at Sundial Care Home near Sidmouth, visit https://www.sundialcare.com/join-our-team/
