Care staff going the extra mile

STAFF at Oldham’s Franklin House go the extra mile when looking after their residents.

And the thoughtful little touches which matter so much earned them a Pride in Oldham nomination from the daughter of a man they have looked after for more than a year.

Lynda Jackson is a regular visitor to the Franklin Street care home to see her father, Wilfred Murgatroyd, who has dementia.

She said: “All the staff are absolutely fantastic.”

She recounted a snippet recently when care assistant Emily Cunliffe had been talking to her 81-year-old dad about the old days.

“She found out dad liked tripe and black puddings, so she went out in her own time and used her own money to buy him some,” said Lynda.

“She didn’t need to do that at all, but that is typical of all the staff there. They go out of their way to make people just that little bit happier.”

Manager Sarah Horsfield was delighted when told of the nomination for her staff.

She said: “It’s absolutely brilliant, superb. Ninety-five per cent of our residents have one form of dementia or another so it can be a difficult job and it’s nice to be appreciated.”

Sarah, who has been in the post for two years, heads a team of 33 staff who care for 37 residents.

They have given up their free time to organise a fun day on Saturday, October 12. Members of staff will take turns in a six-hour bikeathon on two exercise bikes during the day.