A care professional who has turned down opportunities to move into regional management because her "heart and soul is made for caring" has been appointed to lead a new care home in York.
Clare Erskine has been named Home Manager at Acomb Manor, a new 66-bed care home in Acomb which is preparing to welcome its first residents.
A Career in Care
Clare has spent more than 30 years working in care, beginning her career as a Care Assistant before progressing through a variety of roles and qualifying as a Registered Adult Nurse.
She has spent more than 11 years managing care homes and Acomb Manor will be the fourth new home she has helped to commission, with her previous commissioning home going on to achieve an Outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Despite opportunities to progress into regional management, Clare has chosen to remain at home level, where she believes managers can have the greatest impact on residents, families and the culture of a home.
Clare said:
My heart and soul is made for caring and there is simply no other role that I would want to do.
As a Home Manager, we have a powerful impact on setting the ethos and values within the home and building a culture of kindness, compassion and care, with residents at the centre of everything we do.
I understand the trust families place in the whole team when caring for their loved ones and how difficult choosing a care home can be. Building supportive relationships from the very first enquiry, through moving into the home and well beyond, is incredibly important.
Building the Team
Building the team and culture at Acomb Manor has been a particular focus ahead of opening, with Clare and her colleagues taking time to recruit people who combine the right skills with a genuine passion for care.
Clare added:
Acomb Manor is a truly beautiful home, but that needs to be matched by a team who are equally strong and committed to caring.
We've had a huge amount of interest from people wanting to join us, but we've taken our time to select people who not only have the skills and knowledge for their roles, but something you can't teach or train: a genuine passion to care for our residents and for each other.
Links With the Community
The Acomb Manor team is also building links within the local community, including with Dementia Forward, The Gateway Centre and Acomb Explore Library, with the aim of giving residents opportunities to remain active and connected with community life.
Clare said:
Acomb is incredibly community focused and we've been welcomed with open arms. We want our residents to remain very much part of that community, while also opening our own doors and inviting local people into Acomb Manor.
We've already started building some fantastic relationships and we want Acomb Manor to have a real place at the heart of the Acomb community.
Kate Desmond, Managing Director of Acomb Manor Care Home, said:
We're delighted to welcome Clare to Acomb Manor. She brings a huge amount of experience to the role, but just as importantly, she shares our commitment to creating a warm and welcoming home where residents are at the heart of everything we do.
Clare will be a fantastic leader for the team as we prepare to open our doors and welcome our first residents.
Open Day
Acomb Manor is operated by St Mary's Care Homes and will create around 75 jobs once fully operational.
Local people can meet Clare and the team and tour the new home at an open day from 11 am to 2 pm on Saturday 24th October. The event will also feature canapés from celebrity chef Theo Michaels and live music from local harpist Hannah Higson.
