A home from home. - Care assistant/cook Optima Care Employee Review

I worked at Eastry house as a care assistant after the birth of my first child in 2009. I was well supported in my role with monthly supervisions, staff meetings and a yearly appraisal. Each offered the opportunity to raise any issues or concerns and were well managed. I was given very fair hours with the option of overtime and where necessary shift swaps with other staff. Staff were required to attend regular training sessions and all built up quite a profile of certificates ect. In 2018 I covered maternity hours as a full time cook and following this took on the role while the previous cook swapped to part time hours. During this time I was part of regular meetings with service users where they would each be given an opportunity to make suggestions for the monthly menu. Each one as taken into consideration and were added with a few adaptations depending on the needs of the service user. Monthly takeaway's were offered plus barbeques in the summer months. Each birthday the service users had the choice of evening meal they would like and a handmade cake of their choice. There was and still is many options offered in place of the meal on the menu if someone didn't fancy it that day. In all it is a very homely and family orientated place to work. The staff are very close and care deeply about the people in their care. Service users families are welcome at any time of the day any day of the week. For those that don't have this option there are outings arranged to take service users to visit their family. I am happy to have visited this home since a young age, worked in it for 12 years and would definitely be comfortable with a member of my own family being cared for here.