TEN QUESTIONS
10 Questions with... Jackie Pool
Each issue we ask an industry professional the Tomorrow’s Care 10 Questions. This time, we chatted to Jackie Pool, Director of Memory Care at Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare...
Q3
HOW DO YOU THINK THE CARE SECTOR COULD BE IMPROVED?
Q1
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE CARE INDUSTRY?
I began as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in 1982 at a Hospital in Liverpool. Before that I had been working in clerical jobs and I wanted to do something that had more meaning. My first role was in the then called ‘Psychogeriatrics’ unit which was for inpatients with dementia and I was shocked by the task approach and the loss of personal identity that was common practice at that time. I decided that I needed to gain a professional qualification so that I could make a difference in the field, so I trained as an occupational therapist – and I have been in the field of dementia care ever since.
Q2
WHO, IN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY, DO YOU MOST ADMIRE?
James Dyson – he sees a problem and then doesn’t ignore it but sees it as an opportunity to come up with an inventive solution. He didn’t give up - he had 5,127 prototypes before he was successful with his first iconic vacuum cleaner. And, he is a great philanthropist - supporting young people to discover their potential.
Social care needs to be given the same value as health care so that people are attracted to careers that are valued as a vocation to be proud of. We are currently celebrating 70 years of the NHS and yet, this was actually the birthday of the welfare state - which was not only the NHS but also the modern version of the social care system. It seems to me that we should also be celebrating the amazing care workers who support people in the community, at home and in care homes. Their work is going unrecognised and yet it makes such a difference and can reduce the need for hospital care.
Q4 Q5
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPER POWER FOR A DAY WHAT
WOULD IT BE? I’d have a box of “fairness dust” that I would sprinkle over the world to re- balance rights and wrongs.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING THE CARE
INDUSTRY TODAY? The recruitment of care workers. At Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare we want to attract people into the profession with the promise of an exciting career pathway and an enjoyable and fulfilling day at work, every day.
Q6 Q7 - 46 -
IF YOU COULD HAVE A DINNER PARTY WITH ANY THREE
PEOPLE, DEAD OR ALIVE WHO WOULD IT BE? Oscar Wilde for his wit, my husband for love, and Jane Austen for her realism.
WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE TO SOMEONE NEW
COMING INTO THE CARE PROFESSION? Never lose sight of what motivated you
to be in the care profession, always listen more than you speak and be open-minded, and continue learning throughout your career.
Q8 Q9
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN A FUTURE ISSUE OF
TOMORROW’S CARE? A celebration of the birth and development of social care.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE CARE
INDUSTRY? I think that challenging (Brexit, economy) but exciting opportunities are coming. Research funding is now being granted much more for non- pharmacological approaches to care and support, bringing a stronger evidence base to care practice. This is opening the doors to supporting closer liaison between health and social care as each part of the service collaborates to support the health and welfare of those who need.
Q10
GRANT LIVINGSTON, FOUNDER OF SPECIALISED
SUPPORTED HOUSING, ASKED: HOW DO YOU CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO? Not all of the current state of affairs in the care industry need to be challenged. There are some excellent services with dedicated, caring teams doing a fantastic job. At Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare we believe that it is important to recognise and validate the great work that our teams are doing to support our residents to live well. When I see anything in our industry or society that does need challenging, I think that the question to ask is ‘why?’ and to keep asking until a good solution can be found.
www.sunrise-care.co.uk www.gracewell.co.uk
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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