At Saint Cecilia's Care Group, we are continuing to invest in the future of Jubilee House as we welcome Joanne Martin as the new Manager.
With nearly 27 years of experience across learning disability services, mental health care, complex care and elderly care, Joanne brings a wealth of knowledge, compassion and leadership to the role. Most importantly, Joanne brings a genuine passion for ensuring residents live fulfilling, person-centred lives.
From the moment Joanne arrived at Jubilee House, she felt at home.
"I love Jubilee House! Everyone has been really welcoming and friendly and I feel very at home already. The home has a lovely calm environment and is beautifully decorated. We also have a lovely garden - I have already said to the residents we will be out there in the summer, I can take my laptop!"
Joanne’s journey in care began in a learning disability day service before spending more than two decades working within mental health services, progressing into management roles. In recent years, Joanne managed complex care learning disability services before making the move into elderly care.
Throughout her career, one thing has remained constant - a desire to make a difference.
"As a support worker I always wanted to ensure residents lived their best possible lives. As a manager you can have more influence over the day-to-day running of a service and build the best possible team to support residents. I always wanted people to have more choices and autonomy in their own lives, and it is incredibly rewarding seeing the impact that can have."
At the heart of Joanne’s approach is a strong belief in person-centred care.
"To me, good care is all about the resident's wishes and choices. Residents being happy, families being happy with the care provided, and everyone feeling able to voice concerns knowing they will be listened to and supported."
Getting to know residents properly is something Joanne values deeply, taking time to learn not only who residents are today, but the lives they have lived before moving into care.
"I love finding out residents' backgrounds - what they did for a living, where they have lived and the experiences they have had. Families are such an important part of this too. It is about working together to understand who somebody is, so we can provide care built around them and ensure those important parts of their life are never forgotten."
Joanne’s values of kindness, honesty, patience and positivity are already helping shape the atmosphere within the home, as she focuses on building a strong and supportive team for residents and families alike.
Outside of work, family life keeps Joanne busy, especially spending time with her 11-year-old, enjoying long walks along the beach and making memories with family members. Joanne is also kept entertained by her four cats and their “crazy antics”.
Looking ahead, there are exciting plans for Jubilee House as the home continues to grow and strengthen its place within the local community.
"I’m really looking forward to continuing to get to know everyone and building the team. We are planning some fun activities including a Summer Fayre and a tea party to raise money for an Alzheimer’s charity. We also want to share more on social media to show what residents and staff are getting up to, promote ourselves and show people what a great place Jubilee House is to live and work."
As Saint Cecilia's Care Group continues investing in the future of Jubilee House, this new leadership marks an exciting step forward for residents, families and staff - with a strong focus on compassion, community and high-quality care.
