Jesmond Care Home Celebrates Long-Serving Staff As It Turns 15 Years Old

Bride of Don care home, Jesmond, is celebrating 15 years of operations by recognising the achievements of the home’s long-serving staff.

Five members of staff have worked within the home since the property first opened in 2009, marking an impressive 75 years of combined service between them. Sue Hazzard, team Leader, Babu Thomas, care assistant and Jade McGowan, activities coordinator at Jesmond have shared their fondest memories of their time at the home.

Sue joined the Jesmond team in 2008 after a two-year stint at Renaissance Care’s nearby Wyndwell Care Home in Peterhead. Originally joining as a senior carer, Sue quickly moved through the ranks to become a team leader.

Reflecting on her time at Renaissance, she said: “I have loved every second of my time at Jesmond. It’s not often that you see a care home that still has some members of its original staff 15 years later, but I think it is a credit to the working environment here.

“We are a great team with the common goal of ensuring our residents receive the best quality of life possible. My favourite memories at Jesmond come from our annual bus trip. It’s always a great day out for residents and staff, getting to explore the local area and bond together.

“It feels like we’re all one big Jesmond family.”

Like Sue, Jesmond’s activities coordinator, Jade McGowan joined back in 2008 as a care assistant after working at Renaissance Care’s Persley Castle Care Home in Aberdeen, a sister home of Jesmond.

Looking back on the start of her career in care, Jade said: “After leaving school, I was stuck on what I wanted to do for a career. At the time I was helping look after an elderly neighbour which helped me realise that I wanted to peruse a career in care. I joined the team at Persley Castle in 2000 and spent eight years there – it was a fantastic experience.”

Jade’s move to Jesmond came after a short career break where she was able to focus on her young family. On moving back into work as a mother of two, Jade added: “I loved my time with my family, however, I also really missed working in a care home environment.

“After a year off I got in touch with the Renaissance Care team to see if there were any roles available in the newly built Jesmond Care Home, which was right around the corner from my house. Fortunately, there were, and I’ve been there ever since.

“One of the best things about my role at Jesmond has been how accommodating they are for people with children. My husband works offshore and with two children to look after, flexibility has aways been very important to me. I’ve always been able to schedule my shifts around the school drop off and pick up, meaning I can be there for my kids in the moments that count.”

Babu Thomas, 57, joined the Jesmond team 15 years ago as a domestic worker before moving onto the care team. Babu said: “It is always exciting to meet residents and their families and get to know them over the course of years that I care for them.

“The last 15 years have not been without challenge. I think working in a care home during the COVID-19 pandemic is an experience that will stay with me forever. One positive takeaway from this time, however, was seeing the local community and families of our residents give so much support in a time that forced us to stay apart.  It is in the hardest of times that people show their best self.

“My favourite part of working at Jesmond is entertaining the residents, holding parties for the various milestones in their lives and celebrating the holidays together. This is truly their home, and it is a pleasure to support them in it.”

Dawn Gardiner, Care Home Manager at Jesmond said: “Thank you to all the incredible staff who are celebrating their 15-year anniversary at Jesmond. Your loyalty and dedication to Jesmond's residents has been truly outstanding, setting the bar for the level of service that we continuously strive to achieve.”

Jesmond Care Home is a purpose-built care home in the Bridge of Don area of Aberdeen, offering 65 spaces for residential and nursing care residents. The home offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with authentic and mutually caring relationships formed between residents that fosters a nurturing environment that encourages people to live and thrive during their time at the home.

For further information visit: Jesmond Care Home in Bridge of Don, Aberdeen | Renaissance Care (renaissance-care.co.uk)