Wetherby Care Home Manager Shares Ten-Year Journey with Ideal Carehomes

Sophie Summerscales, the Home Manager at Windsor Court care home in Wetherby, is sharing her journey in care with Ideal Carehomes, in honour of her ten-year anniversary with the provider.

Sophie joined Ideal Carehomes in 2013 as a Bank Care Assistant at Newfield Lodge in Castleford, and soon progressed to Senior Care Assistant. She began a career in care because she wanted to make a difference to peoples’ lives.

After five years of dedication to her role, Sophie had the confidence to apply for the role of Deputy Manager at Newfield Lodge’s sister home, Windsor Court in 2018.

Less than two years later, Sophie was promoted to Care Manager in 2020. In 2022, having learnt about everything about Ideal Carehomes from the ground up, Sophie applied to become Home Manager at Windsor Court. Sophie said,

‘I chose to progress with Ideal Carehomes because you don’t just feel like a number within the company, you are recognised for the hard work that you put into the home, which has been proven by Ideal Carehomes’ significant investments to bring all staff wages in line with the Real Living Wage.

Ideal Carehomes have offered me extensive training with their Ideal Futures course which has helped me grow as a Home Manager.’

Ideal Futures was designed to develop the skills of Ideal Carehomes team members who are looking to be home managers in the future.

Through eight monthly modules, participants learn the different elements of managerial roles in the care homes, from staff management and HR to budgeting and marketing.

In the current social care setting in staffing, the average turnover rate for employees is 29%*, but this award-winning progression scheme has led to high retention rates within Ideal Carehomes.

In celebration of Sophie’s ‘Decade of Dedication’ with Ideal Carehomes, residents and staff members at Windsor Court planned a surprise party for Sophie. 93-year-old resident, Audrey Brown, said,

‘I was one of the first residents here at Windsor Court. Sophie was as great a Care Manager as she is a Home Manager – Windsor Court would not be the same without her. Here’s to the next ten years!’

In a speech during the celebrations, Sophie said, ‘Thank you all so much; I am so proud of how far I’ve come with Ideal Carehomes.

‘I would like to thank all of our fantastic residents, families and team members for their continues support, and I’m looking forward to another decade of caring for you all!’

For more information about living at Windsor Court or joining the care team, please visit idealcarehomes.co.uk, email Windsor.court@idealcarehomes.co.uk or call 01937 586651.

Windsor Court, operated by Ideal Carehomes, is a residential and dementia care home rated GOOD by the CQC (Care Quality Commission). All 66 bedrooms are en-suite, enabling staff to deliver person-centred care in a dignified manner, promoting independence as far as possible.

*According to the Homecare Association blog by Skills for Care –
https://www.homecareassociation.org.uk/resource/workforce-trends-in-the-homecare-sector-a-deep-dive-into-turnover-rates.html