Finding and keeping the right staff is a challenge faced by many businesses, but one Aberdeen workplace is happy to be bucking the trend.
At Hawkhill House Nursing Home, no fewer than 23 members of the 80-strong team have given 10 years of service or more to Aberdeen’s only independent private nursing home.
Formerly a private house and extended for purpose under the guidance of owner and managing director Rona Tayler, the 48-bed facility is home to elderly residents with a range of care requirements and prides itself on creating a homely atmosphere which offers a high standard of care.
From the outset 28 years ago, Rona had a vision of what Hawkhill House should be in terms of the care provided and the environment created, and more than a quarter of a century later, it is not unusual for her to be at her desk until 1am ensuring everything is carried out to her exacting standards.
And that commitment and dedication is reflected throughout the Hawkhill House team, with numerous members of staff clocking up many years of service at the Milltimber facility.
Frances Charles, for example, arrived at Hawkhill House as a full-time carer soon after it opened. Having looked after her father at home and living within easy reach, Frances was keen to become involved in the care sector and, 26 years later, she still works three days a week with the domestic team.
“It is hard work but very rewarding,” said Frances. “You get very attached to the residents and I like the personal contact and spending time getting to know them. It is a great team to work with and, after all this time, I still enjoy my job very much.”
Domestic kitchen assistant Yvonne Fraser, from Elrick, has 17 years of service at Hawkhill House under her belt, having started as the coffee lady and later moving into the kitchen where she now cooks one day a week.
Yvonne explained: “My children were at school so I was cleaning in the evenings but I wanted a change. The shifts I was offered at Hawkhill House fitted in perfectly with family life and I was able to gradually increase my hours.
“I didn’t expect to be there after 17 years, but I am because I am very happy, my hours suit me very well and the team is great because it operates like a well-oiled machine where the residents always take priority.”
Occupational therapist Sallie McHardy has been attending Hawkhill House for over 16 years. During that time, she has developed for the residents a comprehensive timetable of activities taking into account their varied interests and abilities. She includes a wide selection of mentally and physically stimulating activities as well as outings, tea parties and entertainment in these timetables which are much enjoyed by the residents.
Staff nurse Jenny Taylor, from Newtonhill, combines weekend night shifts at Hawkhill House with working on behalf of Aberdeen charity Somebody Cares and considers her work at the Milltimber home a privilege. Jenny has been part of the team for 24 years and said: “You can learn such a lot from the elderly because they have so much to give people from the things they have experienced in their lives. It is so interesting to learn about them and there are lots of rewards in being close to older people.”
Rona Tayler is very clear that a large part of the success of Hawkhill House is having the right people in place.
She said: “The level of support I get from my staff is incredible and they never stop raising the bar in terms of doing their very best.”
“The nature of our work means that we are called on to deal with difficult situations at times so it is crucial that my people are provided with the correct support to deal with that, even if they are experienced in their field.
“The reverse side of that, however, is the enormous satisfaction to be gained from helping to make people’s later lives comfortable and, hopefully, happy and that in itself is the greatest motivation there is.”