Meet Luke Skelton - Home Manager at Laurel Place

Luke Skelton is the Manager at Laurel Place, Exemplar Health Care’s newest complex care service in Bishop Auckland.

In this blog, we talk to Luke about what sets Laurel Place apart from other care homes and his plans for the home.

What was it that drew that you to Exemplar Health Care?

I was really impressed with the progressiveness of the company and how our approach is different to others. Exemplar Health Care provide a holistic, whole-person approach to care. The support to service users meets not just clinical but also emotional, mental, physical, social, sexual, and spiritual needs. This resonated with me, as it shifts focus from diagnoses to abilities, goals and preferences. Every person I spoke to throughout the interview process was really down to earth. It was clear that everyone lived by the values of the company. From the Recruitment Team to the Senior Leaders, everyone was really friendly, and I wanted to work with them. Since joining the team, that’s continued, and everyone has gone out of their way to help me as much as possible.

What do you think sets Laurel Place apart from other care homes?

Laurel Place is a brand-new care home, so no other care home in the area will offer the facilities and technology that we do. Exemplar Health Care have invested in new technology that has revolutionised the way we work. The systems we use at Laurel Place simplify processes and make the role more enjoyable. Experienced clinical professionals will know how frustrating the administration side can be. So, they’ll really appreciate the paperless tools for care planning, auditing, reporting and medication management. It means we spend less time on paperwork and focus more on delivering high quality care. Everything we’ve implemented has really empowered the team to make every day better for the people we support. Our team are really enjoying using the Nourish system which has proved invaluable for observations. But what sets Laurel Place apart is the home itself, it’s a beautiful building to work in. The home was named care home of the month in March by Care Home Magazine. We’re not your typical care home with small bedrooms and one shared lounge. We have facilities that others don’t, such as an activities hub, salon, sensory room, therapy room, and a large garden. We’ve also just opened an allotment for service users to plant their own fruit and vegetables. We have six single bed apartments that also are equipped with brand new facilities such as rise and fall sink and hobs. The apartments give our team the opportunity to provide high-end care in a more rehabilitation focused environment. The team will learn, teach and empower residents to build their independent living skills.

What does a role at Laurel Place offer for people?

At Exemplar Health Care we live and breathe our values, our first value is fun, which is quite telling. I know working in the industry can be hard, with lots of red tape bureaucracy or poor leadership. But I want to change that narrative. At Laurel Place there’s no blame culture, it’s all about learning. We’ve created an environment that’s inclusive, empowering and gives you a great sense of value. So, if you work within care, come and work with us because it’s a great place to work. Most of our service users are working age and are keen to stay active and engaged and learn new skills. You’ll support people to take up new hobbies, meet their friends, go to the gym or go out for tea – whatever they choose. Working with us gives you a tremendous sense of achievement and pride, you’ll be making a difference every day. It’s also a great place to develop your skills and experience, if you choose to. The 'Exemplar Health Care Academy' provides different options to learn, develop and progress your career. You’ll have access to a wide range of online learning modules, apprenticeships, diplomas, qualifications and training programmes.

What would you say to people thinking about applying for a role at Laurent Place?

Just do it. If you if you're thinking about applying, then then you're halfway there. Our values are fun, integrity, responsive, success and teamwork, and they sit at the heart of everything we do. They highlight what’s important to our people, support the delivery of our care, guide our behaviours and underpin our culture. If our values resonate with you, no matter what your background, experience or skills, there’s a role here for you. You’ll work with a close team of like-minded colleagues who share the same passion to make every day better for the people we support. If you’re looking for a new job in Bishop Auckland, come meet us and take a look around.

What do you have planned for the first well the next six months?

We want to get Laurel Place and our residents embedded within the community. We want people of the North-East to know that we’re not an elderly residential care provider. Our residents will be the fabric of the community, just the same as everyone else. You may see us out on local walks or visiting the cafes and pubs in Bishop Auckland. If you do, please say hi! We’ve hosted open days for the public to come in and meet with our team and service users. We have a great space in our activities hub and garden to host events, so our team are making exciting plans for the summer. We’ve created our own Facebook page to share our plans and update family and friends along the way. Follow us to keep an eye on what we’re getting up to and when you can come along.

click here for more details or to contact Laurel Place