In this series of blog posts, we introduce members of our passionate and hard-working Fulford team and give you an insight into their roles and backgrounds.
To kick things off, meet Jo Smith, our invaluable Wellbeing Coordinator.
What is a well-being coordinator in a nursing home?
A care home well-being coordinator is the person responsible for planning and running enjoyable, engaging, and stimulating activities for the residents.
These activities incorporate social, physical, and emotional wellness, helping to give residents a sense of purpose while improving their mental health and building friendships.
Jo has stepped into this role seamlessly, having first joined the team way back in 2002. After spending 18 months working as a home carer, she met then-manager Donna Crockford, who told her about an opportunity at Fulford Nursing Home. Jo has been with us on and off since, leaving briefly to work with adults with learning difficulties and to have her son.
Career development and job satisfaction
While working here, Jo has successfully gained her NVQ 2 & 3 in Care, and a year ago, she passed her NVQ 5 in Business Management.
Before taking the well-being coordinator role, Jo worked in all areas of the nursing home over the years, learning the ropes and forging relationships. She enjoys spending time with the residents and learning more about them. Seeing them happy and engaged brings her a great deal of job satisfaction.
“Each person has their own life story, and I enjoy listening to them and getting to know every one of them,” explains Jo. “We’ve had many characters over the years, each with their own little quirks and personalities. We’ve had residents from all walks of life with incredible stories and personal achievements. No one ever ceases to amaze me, and that’s why my job is so different and amazing.”
Making things happen
If we could boil Jo’s job down to one simple description, she makes things happen. If a resident wants to do or see something, she tries to make it possible for them.
“I recently watched a live chat on Facebook with a resident who loves a singer. I managed to get him to send her a personal message, and he even blew her a kiss! The resident was so happy she cried. To see somebody so happy makes my day.”
Jo enjoys delivering activities with residents, both one-on-one and in groups. Working in a small nursing home means she gets to know the residents’ families and friends, which is vital to her role as they can share more about an individual’s likes and dislikes.
With this information, she can help form meaningful relationships between staff and residents. For example, discovering a resident enjoys gardening means she can introduce them to other residents with shared interests. This can be especially important if someone is joining us for the first time.
Outside of Fulford
A good work/life balance is a significant part of working in care, and Jo makes the most of her time away from the home.
“In my free time, I enjoy going to the coast for walks with my partner Dave,” says Jo. “I like going in autumn/winter, as it’s quieter. I also love going away in our campervan and spending time with my family.”
Looking to start a career in care?
A well-being coordinator is just one of several roles that add tremendous value to a nursing home and a resident’s quality of life. If you’d like to make the leap into a career in care, here’s what Jo has to say:
“If anyone is thinking of working as a carer, I would say it’s hard work but very rewarding. You meet some amazing people, and every day is different, so you’ll never get bored.”
There are no academic requirements to start a career with Fulford. A skill set undervalued in school is highly valued in care, so we believe in value-based recruitment. It’s important to us that all members of our team have strong values of respect, honesty, and trust.
If you’re interested in joining the team, simply email your CV to fulfordnursing@gmail.com, call us on 01904 654269, or fill out the contact form on our Careers Page.