The Staff team comprise many skills. To find out more about particular skills click on
the appropriate link
the appropriate link
Residents and staff enjoy Comic Relief day
All of the members of staff at College Fields have one priority the physical and emotional well being of our residents. Each member of staff plays an important role in achieving this end. To help achieve this aim, discussions and training sessions are held regularly and frequently and these may take the form of discussing and analysing particular resident’s needs, or the needs of a group of residents. It can take the form of developing new skills, refreshing ways of looking at established skills or indeed sharing learnt skills.
Teamwork is the key to successful care of residents and that team comprises members of staff, volunteers and families themselves. At the home everyone is prepared to share their learning and help each other to the common goal.
All members of staff when they join are checked with the criminal records bureau and protection of vulnerable adults register. These checks are renewed every three years to ensure that every safeguard that can be put in place for residents’ peace of mind has been taken.
So what team members are there?
1. Qualified registered nurses. These nurses are experienced in the skills they need to care for residents needs. From time to time residents with extremely complex needs come to College Fields and specialist skills for the individual are needed. In these cases some of the most senior nurses will attend instruction courses possibly in a specialist hospital as these sorts of skills would not be found at general wards. This knowledge is then passed on to more members of the teams and sometimes the nurses will be able to instruct and supervise senior qualified care assistants to undertake tasks. To help nurses free up as much time as possible we have developed our own specialist computer program to comply with stringent criteria that enables the nurses to make essential notes and records about every resident in the minimum of time. This frees up their time to spend more time with residents and improve further their ability to give personal care. Back to top
2. Care assistants. These dedicated people support the nurses in all manner of ways. They spend almost all their time with residents either looking after their essential day to day needs or giving emotional support. They also spend time giving quality of life time to residents in all manner of ways. Nationally there are minimum standards of qualifications for care staff. We believe that the standards we want for our staff are way above those standards. We not only believe that they will have received induction training before working fully, but within a few months of joining us they will have completed their NVQ 2 qualification. Many members of staff have gone on to complete their level 3. All care staff learn so much more than this essential knowledge. The list seems endless but to give you a flavour of courses they will attend they will learn about health and safety, food hygiene, use of lifting aids, palliation, supporting relatives and much more. Back to top
3. Catering. The kitchen staff provide nutritional meals suitable for everyone irrespective of their dietary limitations. At any one time there are usually residents who need a pureed diet to assist them to eat their meals. We believe that these meals, like all other meals at the home should be attractive and tasty. A great deal of effort is put into making such meals look appetising and are the meals we all eat but pureed individually, not out of a bland packet. The meals that are prepared are tailored to the wishes of residents. Whilst it is not possible to prepare 65 different meals, four times a day for residents, the meals prepared will have been discussed with residents to discover their likes and dislikes so that at any one time a meal that they fancy will be available. Sometimes someone has chosen a dinner and when it arrives they would prefer something else. If they were in their family home then what would happen? They would see what else was on offer and if nothing else tickled their palate then they would have an egg perhaps. Well that is what we do too. Preparing the meals to high standards is one thing but they have to get to each resident in good condition so we have a fleet of heated ‘bain maries’ to transport the food so it arrives as it should. This is then served to residents on a tray in a dignified manner. Those residents who need assistance to eat their food are given that help with members of staff who have been trained able to help. This is also an opportunity to make the meal time a social occasion and it is normal for the staff to share news and opinions and listen to things that interest each resident. The kitchen equipment is specialist and is described in the section on ‘equipment’. But you may be pleased to learn that the College Fields kitchen was awarded 5* rating by the Food Standards Agency for its hygiene. Back to top
4. Domestic staff. Hygiene is of paramount importance. Infection control is necessary to ensure that residents are not exposed unnecessarily to risks that can be avoided. Naturally, not all risks can be eliminated but they can be reduced to a minimum. To eliminate all risk would mean an unreasonable regime that would prevent visitors and families coming into the home and this is obviously not in the best interests of any resident. Members of the domestic staff have been taught how to make our home as safe as can be. Management do all they can to assist with the correct equipment and surfaces that are capable of being cleaned easily but at the end of the day the members of staff know which cleansers to use in all areas. The domestic staff also use their time in residents rooms to converse with residents and at meal times will share with carers the opportunities to help those who need it to enjoy their meals. Back to top
5. Laundry staff. Hygiene of residents bedding and clothing runs parallel with ensuring that everything looks at its best and in so doing making sure the residents look at their best. The members of the laundry staff have undergone specialist training to ensure the washing is separated into appropriate washes to make certain there is no cross infection. There will be a broad breadth of washing treatments available to the laundry and the knowledge to use the appropriate methods for all eventualities has been gleaned by them. Whilst they work in the laundry where residents are encouraged not to venture for safety reasons this does not mean the laundry staff are not encouraged to meet residents as they frequently do. Back to top
6. Administration team. This team is there to ensure that all the vast amount of paperwork is in apple pie order and that everyone is welcomed to the home. The team is made up of administrator who is in overall charge and deals with invoicing, accounts, residents’ savings, staff wages, insurances etc. The administrator has an assistant who deals with all criminal record checks, staff files, maintenance and record keeping generally. There are to receptionists whose primary duties are to assist visitors and visiting doctors. In addition they do valuable work supporting the administrators. Back to top
7. Activities organiser. Someone is needed to co-ordinate quality of life events and this falls to the activities organiser. Whether it is planning a programme of activities or entertainment, organising trips out or preparing for events that residents attend and submit works of art, the activities organiser is central to ensure it all goes as planned. The rest of the staff are also part of the large team that delivers the end result. Back to top
8. Handymen. The handyman’s work is never done! With a building as large and complex as College Fields there is so much day to day maintenance work that it keeps two members of staff fully occupied. Everything from aerials in residents rooms to assembling and moving furniture, non stop painting it seems to make good when for example a wheelchair user (or should we say driver) manages to catch doors or frames. Also they double up as minibus driver for the essential trips and hospital outpatients services. Back to top
9. Management. Matron and her assistant orchestrate the team to ensure the right number and experience of staff is on duty at all times. They have ultimate responsibility to make sure that the seemingly endless requirements of Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales, Health and Safety Executive, public health, contract monitors from the local health board and local authority are all complied with. They also are responsible for the ongoing training and much of this is given personally by them. On other occasions they have to source specialist trainers for particular subjects. To enable them to undertake these tasks they have to attend many sessions and conferences themselves so that they are in a position to cascade the training. They also have to report to the board of directors and are responsible for putting forward a case for the acquisition of various pieces of equipment. Matron is now lead nurse for the independent sector across Wales. Back to top
10. Joining the team. We are proud that so many members of our staff have been with us for so long. Many in this industry have a problem with recruiting and retaining staff. This is not a real problem at College Fields but from time to time we need to recruit new members of staff to fill vacancies when existing staff retire or have to move due to other circumstances. New members of staff are selected on their abilities and their enthusiasm to care for others both residents and other members of staff. They have to be able to work in a team with clear goals towards excellence. Initially, full induction training is given to new staff and once they have become proficient at basic skills they will be enrolled on the first of their professional qualifications the CQF level 2. If this would be of interest to you or someone you know then please ring on (01446) 74 77 78 and go to extension 207 for Joan or 202 for Ann. If there are suitable vacancies that are of interest you may then download the application form from this link. Back to top