At Springfield Healthcare, our leadership teams play a crucial role in empowering our staff to provide the highest standard of care to our residents and those we support in the community. Therefore, we are delighted to introduce you to Laura Clark, who recently joined the team at Springfield Care Home, as Registered Manager.
In the latest of our Meet the Team series, Laura shares a glimpse into life at the care home, her journey throughout the care sector and her vision for the care home over the next 12 months.
What is your role, and what are your day-to-day tasks and responsibilities?
I am the Registered Manager at Springfield Care Home meaning my role can vary day-to-day. I enjoy being involved in all aspects of the service, from taking overall responsibility for the safety and welfare of everyone living and working within the home, to managing the everyday happenings and joining in with the activities. The main purpose of my role is to ensure that resident care remains paramount and that we deliver consistent, high-quality care and service delivery.
What first attracted you to a career in care?
My mother has always worked supporting people, training to become a Mental Health Nurse and owning her own care home supporting the elderly. This gave me a headstart and a direct route to start a career in care. Being raised having lived in sheltered housing schemes enabled me to interact with the older generation from a young age, which has made caring feel very natural for me.
Describe how your career has progressed in the sector to get you where you are today?
I have spent most of my working life within adult social care, starting as a Care Assistant and progressing to Registered Manager. I have been fortunate enough to experience different care settings and undertake extensive training throughout my journey, which has increased my knowledge and understanding of the sector. During my career, I have always been keen to progress and now find great joy in leading and developing others, along with seeing the positive impact this has on the team and residents within our care.
For anyone who hasn’t visited the care home before, how would you describe the atmosphere and community?
When you walk into the home, there is an instant feeling of warmth. Both staff and residents are welcoming, helping to create a friendly and family-orientated atmosphere. The home has some modern features but still retains the character and history of the building well.
What is your main vision or goal for the care home over the next year or so?
My goals for the home are to continue to build upon the hard work of the team thus far, whilst establishing myself as Manager and building strong relationships. I already have ideas for enhancing the environment at home. Due to my passion for dementia care, I would love to work on creating dementia-friendly spaces that promote meaningful activity and engagement, which helps to further prioritise our residents’ wellbeing. Additionally, I would love to be involved in the local community and establish further links and relationships with local groups and businesses.
How has the landscape of care changed since you first started your career?
The care sector has always been challenging with constant changes in legislation and expectations becoming greater in relation to evidence and outcomes-based practices. There has been a shift towards independent living with more people encouraged to remain at home for as long as possible. Whilst promotion of independence is important, there is also still so much to gain from living within a care home environment that cannot be met whilst remaining at home.
The increased demand for home care, in line with local authority objectives has had a significant impact on care services, leaving homes with vacancies across Leeds which ultimately affects operational needs and viability. Attracting people to care services has become increasingly difficult, and as a care provider there is a lot of pressure to ensure marketing the service is effective.
What are you looking forward to the most about working at Springfield?
I am looking forward to being able to positively contribute towards the wellbeing of everyone who uses the home. I am also excited to share my experiences and learn from members of the team within the organisation.
What unique skills and experiences do you bring to the Springfield team?
Throughout my career I have worked in a variety of settings allowing me to gain knowledge of how different organisations work and understanding of different people’s needs. I have undertaken training in Dementia Care Mapping and worked as a co-applicant on a dementia study with Professor Claire Surr, Director of the Centre for Dementia Research, Leeds Beckett University.
I also have experience in undertaking projects that have led to winning Best Recruitment and Retention Initiative at the Leeds Care in Quality Awards. Furthermore, I have worked as a General Manager in both a residential care service and two sheltered housing schemes, taking on full responsibility for care compliance and business management.
I am also a trustee for Greendown Trust, a small charity providing care to those living in sheltered housing. This has taught me how to think from a strategic point of view along with enhancing my business skills and project management skills.
What advice would you give someone who may be interested in pursuing a similar role within the care sector?
Although care is not always portrayed in a positive way, there are many opportunities to develop and progress within the sector. Working as a Manager can be challenging in any environment, however working in care is extremely rewarding from both a professional and personal perspective. Having the opportunity to make a difference to the quality of people’s lives is such a privilege.
When you aren’t at work, how do you like to spend your time?
I love to spend time with my family and our dog Teddy. We enjoy going for long walks as well as watching our daughter play football for North-East Leeds Juniors Girls Club. We love to go on holidays, and Orlando in Florida is our favourite destination; being a Disney family helps me stay young at heart!
With experience across a number of roles in care, Laura brings extensive knowledge and experience to the team, as well as a genuine passion for making a difference to those under her care. We are incredibly proud to have her leading Springfield Care Homein Garforth. Welcome to the team Laura!
Our comprehensive care packages range from flexible homecare and live-in support to expert complex care and care in our beautiful care homes, ensuring we can meet your requirements at any stage. You can feel confident knowing our expert team is fully prepared and dedicated to providing high-quality, tailored support for every unique care need. Get in touch today to discuss how Springfield can support you in your care journey.
