Latasha Jarrett joins Redcot Residential Care Home in Haslemere

Latasha Jarrett has joined Redcot Care Home as the new Registered Manager. Latasha, who joined in October last year, has worked in the Care Sector for 21 years and is looking forward to continuing and building on Redcot’s care team’s unwavering track record delivering outstanding care to all the residents and respite guests they support.

“My motivation for a career in caring really started with my Grandparents,” said Latasha. “When I was in junior school, I would always volunteer to visit the elderly day care centre across the road. Officially, it was ‘helping the community’, but unofficially, it was because my Grandad was there and I wanted extra time with him. I quickly realised that I genuinely enjoyed helping out and chatting with everyone. My Grandad was a bit of a charmer and a show-off, so thanks to him I got plenty of attention from the ladies at the day care centre which, for a junior school kid, felt like being a mini celebrity and certainly helped keep me enthusiastic.”

Latasha’s first caring job was as an Evening Domiciliary Care Assistant, a role that fitted perfectly around her home life and children. “I fell in love with the job – almost instantly. I regularly stayed longer than I was paid for, not because I was bad at timekeeping, but because I truly believe you can’t just rush kindness. My colleagues were the same, we all had this unspoken mission to make people smile – which is still my mission today .” One lady who Latasha cared for was lonely, but Latasha would always make sure she’d time her visit for around 5pm.

“She loved proper chips from the local chip shop,” explained Latasha. “To make sure she had regular company and something she loved, I’d bring some of her favourite chips and we’d have tea with together before helping with her care. You simply can’t beat the feeling of making a positive difference to someone who’s vulnerable or lonely. From that point on, I was well and truly hooked and I’ve never looked back.” Latasha has always worked in care as it’s the only career path she ever wanted to follow and, after leaving Domiciliary Care, she worked for an agency for a short time before being quickly snapped up by one of the homes she was covering.

“Whilst I was working at the care home, my fantastic Manager, Margaret, was the kind of Manager who would roll-up her sleeves, muck in and teach me anything I wanted to know – and I wanted to know everything,” continued Latasha. “I was like a sponge, hovering nearby with wide eyes and a notebook (sometimes literally). Margaret had endless patience and kindness, and I believe that much of my own management style comes from what I learned from her.” Latasha spent 17 years with the care home company and loved how the owners were always present, visible and genuinely cared about the residents – a reason Latasha credits for how long she stayed – and Latasha worked her way up to become General Manager a role she says taught her more than any textbook ever could.

Since joining Redcot as the care home’s new Registered Manager, Latasha has been busy getting to know all the care team and, importantly, all the residents and their relatives. “When I arrive in the morning, I start the day by greeting the staff on shift and having a walk around the home. I like to say ‘Good Morning’ to any residents who are already up as it sets the tone for the day and helps me get a feel for how everyone is doing. “After the daily handover, admin time and emails the day gets busy. I try to make a point of being present at lunchtime and go into the Dining Room to chat to the residents and, whenever possible, sit and have lunch with them. It’s a nice moment in the day to slow down, be visible and stay connected to the people we’re here for – and I encourage my care team to do the same.” Latasha says that meeting her new team has been incredible.

“Their dedication, creativity and passion for all the residents really fills my heart. Whether it’s the care team celebrating a breakthrough with a resident, the Chef bringing her dog Bentley to work to brighten the residents’ days, or the Pantry Assistant, who is an incredible artist, creating a magical Christmas mural on the Dining Room windows and seeing her delight when residents enjoy it, it’s magical.”

Since joining Friends of the Elderly, Latasha has made sure she has ‘got stuck into’ care home life and all the great activities. “Having been an Activities Coordinator, I know how important meaningful activities are for residents’ wellbeing. I’ve already thrown myself into events. In my first week we hosted our own Casino Redcot night, and I facilitated a spooktacular Halloween Party dressed as Winifred Sanderson from Hocus Pocus. The staff fully embraced the fun and dressed up too, which was lovely to see. It really showed me how much team spirit and creative activities take place in the care home.”

“Every day is different, but every day has purpose. Being one of the charity’s Care Home Managers means leading with compassion, supporting your team, and creating an environment where residents and staff feel cared for, valued, and genuinely at home.

“My vision for Redcot is that it continues to be a home that looks like home and feels like a family – a place where residents feel safe, valued and comfortable. A place where the staff feel like part of the care home’s extended family and coming to work doesn’t feel like work. It really is a privilege to be part of it all,” concluded Latasha.

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