Help someone like Anne get her life back on track

You could help someone like Anne get their life back on track by finding out more about the work at a recruitment day this week.

When Anne (not her real name) moved into Hightown’s extra care housing scheme in Aylesbury she hadn’t been coping well with life following her son’s death in 2007. She didn’t want to go out, was feeling suicidal and was drinking heavily.

Anne, 62, who wasn’t looking after herself properly and didn’t have a lot of contact with her family, was admitted to the Tindal Centre in Aylesbury for treatment.

Since moving into The Elms last May she has received all the encouragement she has needed to transform her life, given up drinking, goes out shopping, looks after her own flat and prepares her meals.

She said as soon as she moved into The Elms, an extra care facility with 28 self-contained flats for people aged over 55 who are eligible for adult social care, she had a warm welcome from managers Sharon Hobbs and Dawn Mayhew.

Anne said: “All the carers are very helpful and supportive. I’m encouraged to attend to my own personal care, and if I need to know anything I can talk to any member of staff.”

She particularly enjoys the creation group – a regular arts and crafts session, which has included making a ‘Welcome to the Elms’ canvas, which is in the centre’s reception, as well as bird boxes, insect boxes, pin cushions and party decorations.

Other activities offered to residents include gardening, gentle exercise classes, bingo, healthy eating sessions and a knitting group run by volunteers. A number of over-55s living in the local community also participate in the activities.

All the residents in The Elms have the independence of living in their own homes, but there are Personal Care Assistants working as part of a team to offer the reassurance of 24-hour on-site care and support.

You could be part of the caring and enthusiastic team helping people like Anne, as Hightown Housing Association has vacancies for two full-time and two-part time roles as personal care assistants at The Elms. It is also looking for bank staff to work alongside its permanent employees.

Hightown, a charitable organisation providing a range of care and supported housing services, is holding a recruitment day for potential staff at The Elms in Elmhurst Road on Thursday, February 11.

Applicants do not need specific experience, as full training will be offered. But Hightown is seeking people with the desire to make a difference and who have the ability to recognise the needs of vulnerable adults and older people.

Alyson Stapleton, Hightown’s care and supported housing manager for Buckinghamshire, said: “We’re looking for people who will support our residents to live a good quality of life which is as independent as possible. We want to recruit those with a ‘can do’ attitude who are willing to help and want to get really involved.”

The roles will include creating a welcoming environment for residents, and Anne added: “I can’t thank staff enough for the warm and friendly environment. It makes me feel good and I feel great within myself now. My family also say they’ve seen a lot of positive changes in me.”

To find out more about working at The Elms and the recruitment day on February 11, email [email protected]