Maritime care charity marks milestone of dedicated staff

Carers, residents and their visiting loved ones have been celebrating how far maritime care home the Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society, in Banstead, has come after two employees marked their collective 80 years of service.

One of the UK’s oldest maritime charities, the home specialises in support for older, sick and disabled seafarers, as well as their widows and dependants.

Having prioritised a strong team ethic alongside moving with the times, the home has been successful in showing excellent levels of staff retention, with carer Margaret Brazier having worked at the home for 50 years and colleague Anne Kasey for 30 years.

Chief executive, Commander Brian Boxall-Hunt comments: “Anne and Margaret have made a huge contribution to the Society. The dedication and commitment they have shown over the years is something of which we are extremely proud. They have seen, and brought about, many changes during their time and I, and all in the Society, pay tribute to and are extremely thankful for, all their hard work.”

Changes they have seen include the opening of a specialist dementia care annexe and the upgrading of the accommodation to include all en-suite bedrooms.

Margaret, who is now an executive assistant after first being employed by the charity as a junior shorthand typist in 1962, comments: “Through the years there have been dramatic developments in the home, including changes in location. In 1962 there was one, men-only, care home at Erith, Kent. In 1965, a ladies’ care home opened to commemorate the centenary.”

Manager Anne Kasey remembers: “In 1983, there were only three female residents at the home who were Wrens or Stewardesses; now 50 per cent of the residents are female. My first Christmas day on duty saw only one visitor for the whole home. The staff were the only family most people had.

“One of the biggest changes for us has been the improvement of equipment, particularly when moving the residents. Hoists, beds, mattresses, baths, chairs, slide sheets, the list is endless. Training has greatly improved throughout the years and is now available to all staff that work in the care home. We now have a dedicated dementia unit, to provide support to those with this debilitating condition.”