Dedicated Cassie celebrates 20 years service at Balgowan House

A care home worker, marking 20 years of service at a Hythe nursing home, has been praised for her support during the pandemic.

Cassie Williamson, aged 39, has worked at Balgowan House in Hythe for 20 years.

Dedicated Cassie has forged a career in care, working as a care assistant at the home for 15 years, before becoming an administrator at the 40-bed care home in 2015.

“Cassie is a real asset to the home, she’s my right-hand woman,” said home manager, Ann-Marie Miles.

“Because Cassie worked as a carer, she has a good understanding of our care team’s responsibilities. She’s reliable and hardworking, but also incredibly compassionate and empathetic towards the residents.

“To have a member of the team that continues to show such dedication and enthusiasm for her role after two decades of service is heartwarming.”

Cassie joined the team at Balgowan House at the age of 19 and believes that care is a ‘vocation’.

“I fell in love with care work and here I am 20 years later!” said Cassie.

“I was working as a bingo caller when I took the leap. My Nan had a stroke and I would try to help with her speech therapy, from then on, I just knew that helping the elderly was something that I wanted to do.

“We’re like a family at Balgowan House, many of the staff have been there for a long time and it provides the residents with stability and consistency.

“Even though I don’t do the ‘hands on’ care very much these days, the residents' health and happiness is still my number one priority.”

Balgowan House closed its doors to all but essential visitors in March, but the residents are now able to have social distanced visits with their families in the home’s garden.

“During the pandemic Cassie has been invaluable. She devised documentation for the recording of all the Covid-19 tests and assisted with the process,” added Ann-Marie.

“Cassie has organised and taken bookings for the garden visits. It takes a lot of organising as the visits are by appointment, but Cassie is doing a fantastic job of making sure it runs smoothly.”

Phil Sherwin, son of resident June who moved into the home earlier this year, is thrilled with the new arrangement. He said: “From the early days of the pandemic, I found that the approach from the home has been helpful in allowing us to maintain contact with Mum.

“Cassie and the Balgowan team have been quick to adopt a safe and reassuring method of initiating visits in the garden and provided a comfortable area to spend time with Mum.

“The staff carry out temperature checks, ask us to complete a health questionnaire and provide us with a face-mask and PPE.”

Balgowan House, close to Saltwood Village Green, provides nursing, residential, dementia and respite care.

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