Abbey Lodge

Hi, my name is Samantha. I prefer to be called Sam. I have worked in care since I was 16. I first started working in a small Learning Disabilities home. Here I found my love for wanting to better understand and learn about triggers and Behaviours that challenge. I worked in this particular home for 7 years. At this time, I had two children. I left care to work in a specialist SEND school in the independent units, which had 4 children in each class, and each child worked on a 1-1, I did this for two years. I then had my third and final child. I then became a household CEO (stay-at-home mum). I returned to work in 2017 here at Abbey Lodge as the cleaner. I loved engaging the residents to help with the cleaning. After a year, I requested to complete my NVQ level 3 in HSC so I could apply to become a senior and spend more time with the residents. I was accepted. I completed my NVQ in 12 months alongside working as a senior. During my time in this role, I knew I wanted to go further, so I requested to do my NVQ level 5 in HSC so that when a team leader role became available, I would be ready and qualified to apply. In 2019, a team leader position became available, so I applied and was accepted. In April 2022, the Registered Manager position became available, and I thought, you know what, reach for the stars. I applied, and here I am.

My 42 years in the health Care Profession has given me a wide range of experience. I have worked in a Secure & forensic Unit, which catered for 15 clients of working age adults who were suspected or had committed a crime while being unwell, suffering from a mental illness. I managed 2 community homes for clients who suffered from learning difficulties. While continuing to work for the Health Service I became a trust trainer, having completed and passed a 10-week course in teaching. The subjects I taught were fire safety, lone working, prevention and management of aggression and anti-ligature initiatives. In 2011, the trust decided that the post of Local Security Management Specialist was no longer needed; I was redeployed to the front-line services again. I managed a 9 bedded all male recovery unit, which catered for working age adults who had been in hospital or equivalent services for a long period of time. Our aim was to rehabilitate these clients so they could live back in the community. I was responsible for opening the unit on time, recruiting the staff teams and assessing the clients that came into our services. After 2 years as a Ward Manager, I was asked to take another acute ward, which catered for Older People.

I’ve worked in a private Mental Health Hospital (Langford Centre) as Ward Manager for a 15 bedded all female unit which catered for female individuals who were or have suffered enduring mental health issues. These included Personality Disorders and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This entailed managing a team of clinical nurses and support workers to provide a holistic care approach, encouraging staff to maintain the high standards expected by the director of the hospital and external bodies. After a short while I was asked to manage a second ward within the Hospital, this was a secure male ward with 15 patients with a wide range of challenging behaviours.

I have really enjoyed the challenges I have faced through my nursing career. Seeing patients in wards I have worked on make great strides forward in their health and then move out into community support services etc has been amazing to see. I have gained experience liaising with other support services to ensure the right care and support was in place for patients when they have moved into other wards or out into the community. I see the importance of being clear and concise in your verbal and written work to ensure other healthcare professionals will make correct decisions on future care the patients are supported with. I have always acted professionally throughout my career and I see the importance to ensure those professional working boundaries are never crossed.
In my roles working in nursing homes and also in adult mental health services I have promoted to service users the importance of health diets, not smoking etc to improve their physical health which will aid their mental health recovery.

I have learnt over the years that as a nurse you need to be flexible, adjust your diary etc in order to ensure you are there for the patients when required and are providing the best possible level of care you can to aid them in their recovery. Working as a Ward Manager I I always ensured on a daily basis that the patients, myself and my colleagues were adhering to the safeguarding best practices.
I have always enjoyed having the opportunity to support and develop other colleagues. In my Ward Manager roles, I managed to support new qualified nurses in their first role and it was great to see them develop overtime. I have also supported staff who were keen to start to move up to Charge Nurse roles from their Staff Nurse positions. Assisting them in developing leadership, mentoring skills was very rewarding for me.

I have always been passionate about continually trying to improve my nursing skills through learning for example I have recently undertaken a trainer’s course in London with Blue Light Academy (Duray Pretorius) and obtained qualifications in Three Day First Aid at Work, One Day Emergency First Aid at Work, One Day Paediatric (Blended with Online) and One Day Fire Marshal. By the end of April 2019, I will also be a qualified Trainer for Mental Health First Aider. I realise there is always new skills, ways of thinking in providing care. I feel is vital to be openminded to taking on, learning new ways of providing care in order for me to continue improving, developing as a nurse.
I strongly believe that I have the knowledge and skills for the post I have applied for, I also feel I have a lot of valuable experience to bring to the service. I have maintained my Nursing Registration and my clinical skills through working bank shifts and attending all relevant training as required. I am up to date with my Essential Training.

I hold a City & Guilds Level 3 award in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS). I have been presenting training courses for the NHS since 2009. The courses include Personal Safety, Lone Working and First Aid Examining.

I have held a full / clean driving Licence since 1978 and have full use of my own car.

I have only had 1 week off sick during my Health Service Career. My Interests are Football
I have helped manage a local youth football team. I have a season ticket for Brighton & Hove Albion. I am also interested in Reading, Dog walking, Computing and Family life.