While many families will be unwrapping presents and enjoying festive meals, dedicated workers from Housing Plus Group will be spending their Christmas Day making sure others are cared for, safe and supported.
From carers and nurses to chefs, plumbers and electricians, these colleagues are putting their own celebrations aside to ensure residents and customers have the best possible Christmas.
At William Street in Stoke-on-Trent, support worker Nichola Walker will be pulling out all the stops to ensure residents enjoy their Christmas. Instead of spending time with her family, Nichola will be helping residents with basic needs – including meal preparation, administering medications and being a friendly face to talk to.
Nichola said:
“Working in our residential schemes over Christmas is just like when you’re at home, we just make it really homely. It’s quite rewarding, especially when they don’t go and spend the day with their families. We’re like their families and they rely on us to make it special for them. It means a lot to them to know we’re there, and to see their little faces when they open their presents, it’s just lovely.”
In Church Stretton, care assistant Agnes Makotose will be assisting residents at The Sandford nursing home with their personal care and making sure their needs are met.
Agnes said:
“Working in care is more than a career for me, especially here, you get to know each and every person; their needs, their likes and dislikes, it’s more like a second family. The residents appreciate you so much, even if they can’t say it verbally, you can tell by their facial expressions and body language.
“It’s important that the residents know that someone will be there for them, whether their family visits or not. Sometimes family members may not be able to come for Christmas, but they know we’ll be there for their loved ones.”
Chef manager Jamie Thompson will be up before dawn preparing Christmas lunch with all the trimmings for residents and their families at Withywood, an extra care schemes in Shrewsbury.
Jamie said:
“The prep starts on Christmas Eve, and I’ll be in the kitchen around 5am on Christmas Day. Working on Christmas Day is nothing new for me. I did it a lot in my previous job. Many of the residents may not be able to see their family over Christmas so we try to make it as special as we can for them. It’s hard being away from my family on Christmas Day, but we will celebrate with each other on Boxing Day.”
Christmas Day doesn’t mean a break for essential repairs. Senior Electrician Roger Gayes, from Leek, will once again volunteer to work on Christmas Day, ready to respond to urgent electrical issues that could pose safety risks. Last year, Roger was called out to fix a broken socket that was a potential fire hazard.
Roger explained:
“I got called out last year to fix a broken socket that was a potential fire risk. It was about 4pm, so I’d had my Christmas dinner and I was watching the new Wallace and Gromit film when I got the call out, but I was able to rewatch it when I got back.
“It makes me feel good helping someone out, even on a normal working day, but on Christmas Day people are really thankful. Many of our customers are elderly and don’t have family nearby, so we’re almost like a social service too.”
In Shropshire, Advanced Craft Plumber Ryan Jones will be on call for the first time on Christmas Day. Ryan and his team can be called upon for a range of urgent tasks, from plumbing to joinery, ensuring that any disruption to customers’ festive plans is kept to a minimum.
Ryan said:
“I’m a big one for spending time with family over Christmas, but I’ll be there to help people and make sure their Christmas isn’t spoiled by an emergency.”