Mairead Liston, Registered Manager, Cavendish Homecare
I have always strived for the highest quality of care for all. This is especially relevant for those being discharged into the community. Throughout my forty years in social care, my vision has always been for person centred care. Cavendish Homecare has offered bespoke care solutions for the last twelve years and we have faced many challenges during this time.
After qualifying as a nurse in 1979, I also worked within midwifery and intensive care, – gaining invaluable experience that enables me to understand the varying needs of clients and their families. This is essential especially for those with complex needs e.g. paediatrics, ventilated etc. as well as any approaching later life.
Prior to starting Cavendish Homecare, I managed (via another agency) NHS staff vacancies and contracts across all specialities throughout the UK – this gave me a unique insight into how difficult and unsustainable this model was.
Cavendish Homecare was set up to match the right staff to client’s needs, enabling greater independence, reduce hospitalisation and promote wellbeing. Cavendish Homecare offers outstanding care in your own home and my leadership style has evolved as follows:
- Interviewing all staff personally
- Intimate understanding of client needs and staff abilities
- Staff and client selection based on their preferences
- A hands-on approach to all staff and clients
- Nurturing my team to be their best
- Focusing on team building to build on strengths and support weaknesses
- Innovation and upskilling
The social care sector is in crisis, with inadequate funding, staff shortages and burnout. Social care has long been neglected resulting in this current situation. Despite great leaders in social care, without radical change, people will continue to be unable to access the care they need.
We offer staff satisfaction in their roles, plus higher pay rates than most other services – however, financial renumeration is only part of why staff continue working in my organisation – it’s our family values, fairness and continual support that what attracts and retains staff – with many new recruits being referrals from existing staff.
I have a responsibility to lead my staff in education and I remain passionate that new ideas keep staff motivated and up to date with nursing best practices – innovation must be encouraged and implemented.
We cannot stand still as a service – we must respond to changing nursing needs in social care.
We have witnessed a shift for those receiving palliative and end of life care – everyone now prefers holistic care within their own home environment.
Therefore we have embraced projects that focus on this – we fully support “John’s Campaign “ for those living with dementia, which respects family involvement, plus we have piloted the new international “Lantern Model “ of nursing care with St. Christopher’s hospice.
Currently we are collaborating with co-founders Professor Heather Richardson and Marie Cooper to continue to promote this service with our nursing and care staff.
In 2021, our management team were awarded the “Cavell Star” for excellence in homecare services. During 2022, I received the Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care Silver award and we were national finalists for a number of care related awards that highlight our reputation of being trust worthy and reliable.
I will continue recruiting and retaining high quality staff – the service we provide to staff is equally as important as the service we provide to our clients.
By supporting our nurses and carers to deliver outstanding care, they remain valued and happy in their work. Staff well– being and commitment to evolving services is even more essential in 2023 as we continue to build a successful future together !
