Working in the care industry has '˜massive rewards'

Despite wanting to work for the military police Tracy has ended up working in the care industry for more than 30 years.
Tracy TurfreyTracy Turfrey
Tracy Turfrey

Tracy Turfrey, 57, is the Peripatetic Manager at Foxby Court Care Home in Gainsborough.

Tracy said: “I started my caring career more than 30 years ago. This was not the choice I originally made as I always wanted to go into the military police.

“Maybe because I was bought up in the military and my husband was a navigator on the Vulcan aircraft and then later went on to the Tornados.

“However, it was during the moves with my family that I started work in a local care Home in Henley on Thames, and totally loved it.”

Tracy’s first job in care was while she was at college at a Lincoln care home when she was 16-years-old where she worked as a kitchen assistant.

She said: “The home, Hartsholme House, is still part of the organisation I work for now, so I always have a fondness about it, although it was part of the Lincolnshire County Council in those days.

“I have now worked for the Order St John Care Trust for 23 years, and during this time seen a massive change in care.

“I worked as a carer after I decided that this was the path for me, in Fosse House and Boultham Park House for 10 years and then was made a manager at Ermine House in Lincoln, where I was for five years, and then I went on to manage Gregory House in Grantham.

“Then finally I managed Boultham Park House before being promoted to what I am now, a Peripatetic Manager.”

During this time Tracy says she has worked with some wonderful care teams and support from the Support office at Wellingore hall.

Also Gregory House achieved the Earl of Gainsborough award, which is a prestigious award within the Trust.

Tracy said: “And after meeting the lovely man, who sadly is no longer with us, this was a privilege we were all very proud to have done so.

“While I was the manager at Boultham Park House I was also honoured with the Basmom order of Malta Silver medal, which was presented in London which was a very proud day, and one that I shared with colleagues from the Trust and my mother, who incidently also has this medal from her time working within the Trust.

“This in itself is also unique for a mother and daughter to have been put forward for this award, although a few years apart.”

Tracy says the caring profession is extremely hard work and can be stressful, but has massive rewards for those who choose this path, and can certainly out weigh the negative, although not so much monetary.

She said: “The rewards are providing the person centred care and social life of the residents in our care, ensuring their safety and happiness.

“The people within our care have a wealth of knowledge and experience and have many happy or tearful memories and discussions to share, and I for one have learnt so much and thanked them, and been very grateful for those lives that they have led and that have made ours so much richer.

“There are many happy, funny times within the home and would like to think this is the focus for the dedicated care teams that support them.

“We have identified recently, some ladies who like to bake and they have done some baking sessions, that were that successful, they won first prize at the Harvest Festival and then made some cakes for everyone at tea time.

“They were very proud to have seen themselves in the Standard.

“We also have some residents who have their own computers in their room and are very interactive in supporting the home, with newsletters or photographs.

“In my role as peripatetic manager, I support homes all over Lincolnshire in the present 15 locations.”

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