It’s a privilege to do my job
Vicki meets… Jackie Cridlin, home admissions advisor, Lakeview Grange
Howdidyoucometoyour current role?
I have always been a ‘Mother Hen’, but when I left school I worked as a Girl Friday on a South London newspaper.
Then I was an advertising manager on a magazine for seventeen years. When I was pregnant I wanted to do fewer hours and less travelling, so I became a scheme manager for a housing programme for the elderly.
Promoted to regional manager, that’s when I started to understandaboutcarehomes. One of the directors for Cinnamon (care homes) told me that they were building a new home close to where I then lived. I helped open the home, but then along came the pandemic.
This was such a difficult time for us. Many people left care work, and I don’t blame them – it was awful for care homes. It’s taken the industry a long time to come back from Covid.
I knew Cinnamon was building a new home in Chichester. My husband and I were looking at property here, so we drove past the home, which was really near where wewerelookingatbuying.the next thing I knew I was heading down here!
There has to be trust and continuity with care, so I am the face of Lakeview Grange and the go-to person for resicommission’s dents and their families.
I go on a journey with them from the moment that they make an enquiry. It’s important that people know that I’m passionate about what I do, and that they feel reassured that I will hold their hand every step of the way. I love that we have such positive feedback and reviews – that says it all to me.
And I love what I do. It is a privilege to work with such wonderful people.
Do you support residents with particular needs?
Supporting residents through this next part of their lives, we enable hobbies and companionship and offer dayto-day support. We also care for those who have a diagnosis of dementia.
Doeslakeviewgrangeinteract with the community?
We like to bring the outside in. We have various volunteer schemes and we also do a lot of intergenerational work. Local schoolchildren come in to visit residents, which is really lovely experience for them all.
What advice do you have for anyone considering a care home?
Check the Care Quality inspection rating for the home. When you visit, observe everything – do the residents look happy and well cared for? Are the carers interacting with residents?
Ask questions directly to residents and carers. And do make sure that you understand what is included in the fees and when costs might escalate.
Any particularly memorable moments during your career?
I once worked with a very exclusive care home. A new resident asked if she could bring a favourite painting and I said yes; of course. I was surprised when it arrived in a security van. And then I discovered that it was an original Constable!
www.cinnamoncc.com/carehomes/lakeview-grange