CrossReach offers care and careers
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Sponsored Editorial with CrossReach
Be it the friendly and caring staff, the homely atmosphere, or the career opportunities it offers - CrossReach is a popular choice not just for loved ones seeking a care home but also to those looking for a rewarding employment experience.
CrossReach has been caring for people and ensuring they can live life to the fullest for a very long time. Set up by the Church of Scotland in the 19th century, CrossReach’s roots stretch back more than 150 years - and that enviable record for care makes them ideally placed for all manner of care needs.
Today it works all over Scotland, is one of the largest care providers in the country, and operates a wide array of care homes offering all manner of services - from general old age care to specialist dementia units.
And at the heart of all of these facilities has been CrossReach’s determination and Christian ethos to offer loving care to people of all ages.
Two of CrossReach’s sites, which operate in very different parts of Scotland, are those of Whinnieknowe in Nairn, in the Highlands, and St Margaret’s House in Polmont in the central belt.
Whinnieknowe, which offers general care to the elderly, is fundamental part of its close-knit Highland community and its team know how important their roles are in delivering high quality care across a range of needs.
St Margaret’s focus on dementia care, meanwhile, means that it has built a specialist team who are able to meet the particular needs of its residents.
Yet despite their different locations, different communities, and different focal points on care, there are many universal qualities shared between them and all CrossReach homes.
Elspeth McPheat, the service manager at St Margaret’s House, explained: “It’s a very homely, friendly environment where residents, families and staff alike are part of a very welcoming environment.
“We make quite the team. The reason for our success is that everybody plays a part in making it a good care environment, and we don't think that any role is more important than any other. Everything is equally important.”
Lee Maclean, the service manager at Whinnieknowe agrees, and added that this dedication towards residents also extends to its staff and is a big reason why people who come to work for the care provider wind up staying for a long time.
“Most of my care team have been here a very long time. It's a good place to work for and they look after their staff. We have very good retention of staff. I'm by no means saying carers have an easy job but we know CrossReach is doing the best it can for us and that means quite a lot.
“One of the best selling points of working with us is the chance of career progression within CrossReach - people get a lot of training and qualification opportunities for the likes of SVQs.”
Career progression is something hailed by Elspeth too. “CrossReach have got very good training and treat their staff well. We tend to keep people who come to us - it's a good working environment for people. There's good career progression and opportunities for development. Crossreach has a very good system right from induction to any point in a career.”
She added that she had been employed by CrossReach for more than 30 years and this commitment to training and further developing people is something that extends even to long-time staff like herself. “They are always looking to develop people and give them access to the latest knowledge and understanding that is available to them.”
And career progression isn’t the only big positive to life working within the CrossReach family. The varied roles available - from care to cooking, and from cleaning to admin and much more besides - means there’s likely to be an opportunity close to you that will really appeal.
Then there’s the chance to make a difference to someone’s life, as Lee explains: “Being in care is a very rewarding job. because when you make a resident happy it feels like you’ve achieved something important. When we know we’ve helped people, that can be very rewarding for ourselves too.”
So what are you waiting for? The CrossReach family may have just the job for you!
Visit www.crossreach.org.uk to find out about your nearest CrossReach care home, and the job opportunities available.
