Brook House

People always say, “Oh, your home is always a happy home; everybody’s always smiling, everybody’s always happy,” and that’s the way we like it. Brook House is a residential care home with nursing, made up of a learning disability nurse and support workers who provide care for individuals with mental health needs as well as learning disabilities, which range from mild to severe.

We have four flats, giving residents the chance for independent living. We want to give the people we support the choice of being able to live with others but still independently, so they can have that support, the socialising, and the environment here.

The staff and the way they care for her—I don’t think Jane could be in a better place, to be honest. Anything that we would want in our own lives, we want to give the people we support the same opportunities. You are actively making their lives more independent by giving them choices: letting them say what they want for dinner, what they want to do for their activities. I’m here to support them. This job makes me really appreciative.

We also support them to choose what holidays they go on. They can go together as a group, or they can go individually, because it’s about having that choice and independence.

There’s a tremendous amount of cooperation with the staff here, and it means that the accommodation is just right for Jane. They make you happy. You saw what Jade was doing—dancing with Jade and all that—so you feel you’re at home with them. It’s lively; it’s really nice. Obviously, you’ve met our residents. I love them; they’re individual, and they have their quirky personalities. They tell you how it is, and it’s brilliant.

You need a strong team to be able to support the residents here, so we have a lot of training, such as Positive Behaviour Support training, autism training, and support work. It’s something you really enjoy. It’s like coming home to your family; you’re working, but you’re having fun. I love being able to advocate for someone who cannot advocate for themselves. They’re vulnerable adults, and I want them to enjoy and have the opportunity to do the things that I would want to do, that I would want my family members to do.

The people we support join us; we make jokes and laugh all the time. It’s very rewarding. When I come to work, I help somebody for the day, and seeing them happy gives me a sense of joy.

Over the years, I’ve seen many people achieve a lot, even if it’s something small. That’s what makes it a really good job—it’s really, really worth it. It’s rewarding, and you meet amazing people, not just the people we support. I’ve met amazing colleagues over the last two and a half years.

You need good communication skills; you have to be able to interact, deescalate situations, and be calm, caring, and compassionate. You’re responsible for this person, and to me, I want them to be at their best every day and be happy every day. If I make them laugh or they say thank you, it makes my day—it makes me so happy.

I get support from my colleagues, even in my personal life. If I have troubles, I’ve got people I can ask. It’s really worth it, the commitment you have to your job, to the people you support, and also to yourself.

I want family members and carers to know that we care for their loved ones as we would care for our own family. I can’t imagine it being any better for her. I think she enjoys it and feels free and not confined.

You see the skills these people have, and unless you work with them, you don’t realise that they are extraordinary people. The people we support make us smile; they make us happy. There aren’t enough caring people in this world, and I really believe that. There are a lot of people in their careers for the wrong reasons, but we are in it because we care—we want better. I feel like the right people in nursing make a difference.