Care in the community that’s just a bit different
Jodie Scott [Nee: Airey} of Wessex Care believes small is beautiful and says they’re small enough to care
To most people Wessex Care is synonymous with the five nursing and residential care homes that we have in Salisbury. But, uniquely within the city, we also provide community support, with a comprehensive range of services to help people retain their independence and continue living in their own community, as safely and as comfortably as possible.
We help with virtually every aspect of daily life, from washing and dressing to shopping and decorating. We provide freshly prepared meals and do the laundry, even taking the dog for a walk and helping older people use the internet, tidying the garden, filling in forms and generally taking the strain away that is associated with day to day living tasks. Wessex Care is also able to provide specialist support for those recently diagnosed with dementia and who may require additional support and help while coming to terms with their diagnosis.
However, we pride ourselves on doing things very differently from what, sadly, is the norm. Because all of our staff are salaried – not on zero hours contracts that seem to becoming increasingly the case elsewhere – they’re not rushing from one appointment to the next, not rationing their time once they arrive, and our customers don’t have a different, unfamiliar face every time they call.
They are a small and very close team ably lead by their Head of Care Agnes Atras, who believe very strongly in working together to support one another in order to provide the very best level of care. The staff are professionals with the time and the inclination to really get to know the person they’re helping; able to call in when they’re needed most and, importantly, have the time to do that bit more when needed.
Because we are the only care home provider in Salisbury (and for quite a distance around) to also have a domiciliary care division, it allows us to offer our customers a unique extra option: at any time they, or their family carers want, they can use the facilities of our homes, whether it’s popping in for lunch, spending time with other people or just enjoying a few day’s break to give family carers a well-earned rest. In the long term, if permanent residential care ever become necessary, they won’t be faced with interminable waiting lists, but will go straight to the front of the queue for a place in one of our own homes.
Our philosophy is to involve families and customers as much as possible so, right from the start, we sit down with everyone involved and work out precisely what’s needed in the way of help and support. And we go on doing that month in, month out to make sure that however circumstances change, life will always be as simple and enjoyable as possible for those we care for.
Jodie Scott is the Operations Director at Wessex Care, based in Salisbury.
“Domiciliary care companies are not all the same. We believe that small is beautiful: small means consistent high standards from people you know; small means the team gets properly salaried so they have the time to care. The ethos of Wessex Care’s homes are the true ethics of care and these drive me and my team to be the vest every day.”
