Meet some of the team

Naomi Stancombe - Director

I started working in social care 9 years ago but those 9 years I have learnt an extensive amount about how an agency should be run and how it shouldn’t be.

For generations social care has been part of my life. My nan had various successful care homes, my mum was a district nurse and was part of a very successful care agency which still runs today.

We decided to start Ivy Grace Home Care, because,

The care crisis and home care agency’s just not having the capacity to take on service users in need.

We can do it the right way.

Running a home care agency isn’t for everyone. It requires the best of the best, those who aren’t afraid of challenges and are determined to tackle caregiver turnover and recruiting.

Most of my care background is recruiting the right care workers and ensuring they are DBS checked and trained correctly to provide the right care in your home.

Katy Thrower - Director / Registered Manager

I started in the Care industry at 19 Years old. I worked in a care home for the physically disabled for nearly 10 years. When I completed my NVQ 2 and 3. I then went over to the community and started as a care worker. It took me a little while to adjust due to working on a shift with 3 members of staff to being on my own, this was a very daunting to start with. I soon grew my confidence and started to really enjoy the community. I saw the difference I made popping in helping those with the tasks they struggled with so they could remain in there own home. I then became team leader and assisted with shadowing and supporting others. I started helping with Rotas and invoicing and pay and became the team manager.

I completed my CQF level 5 in Management and thoroughly enjoyed 10 years working in the community.

I was giving the opportunity to start my own care agency with a ex college of mine Naomi Stancombe. We have now started Ivy Grace Home Care LTD. I feel I have the experience and knowledge to ensure the staff and clients always have 100 percent support and care. Being a care worker has giving me the drive to ensure the care workers are looked after and trained and supported so they can provide the best care everyone deserves.

I have seen how things can slip and staff become un happy and over worked. Clients have been moved about and time durations have been cut. This has an effect on the staff and clients. Myself and Naomi are going to do the upmost to ensure this does not happen.

Stephanie Smith - Manager

I have worked on the district for 30 years. I started off as a Auxiliary Nurse, based in Little Clacton, When there was a Doctors there, we had the office above. After a few office moves, we ended up in Great Bentley, where I stayed for 19 years. My job role was to go out into the community and look after any clients that needed assistance. I also worked at the Doctors Surgery in Great Bentley as a Phlebotomist, and receptionist. I wanted to go to university, which I did for 3 years.

I started my own business with a colleague. We ran this for 10 years, and I completed my QCF Level 5 in Management. I then decided to retire. After a while, my daughter and family friend decided to start up a care company and asked me to help them, which is where I am today.

Beki Fair - Mental Health First Aider

My name is Rebecca, Beki as I like to be called. I started working for Ivy Grace Home Care in October 2022, so not very long. However I have worked previously with the Directors and completely believe in their work ethics and how they dedicate themselves in making sure the care provided is the best and right care for every individual they care for, but how they also listen and look after their staff.

I have been in the care industry for just over two years, however previously to this, I worked in a doctors surgery for over 20 years.

I have recently just completed my Mental Health first Aider course.

The role of the Mental Health First Aider is to support employees in the workplace who are experiencing mental ill health or distress. This support can vary from having a non-judgmental conversation with a colleague, through to guiding them towards the right support.

My role as MHFA is being able to recognise the early signs and symptoms of common workplace mental health illnesses

Having the necessary skills to have a supportive, non-judgmental conversation with those who need it

Possessing the knowledge and confidence to guide colleagues to the appropriate professional support if they require it

Promoting greater awareness of mental health in the workplace and reducing stigma

70% of employees report that they’ve

missed work this past year due to mental

health issues. Only 28% of employees

report feeling “very engaged” in their

work.

50% of employees have experienced at

least one characteristic of burn out due to

greater job demands and expectations, lack

of social interaction and lack of boundaries

between work and home life.

Our Care Workers

Our Care Workers are handpicked to ensure we choose the right team. It is a team who understand our views and beliefs on how care should be.

They will provide person-centered care the way you want it, it will be delivered at a high standard. The care workers will listen and be understanding of your needs.

Going that extra mile,

Our care workers are dedicated to being on time, they know that they have to be there for you at the time they are booked. There are times that the care workers could be late through no fault of their own. We allow a 15-minute window either side of the time frame you request. If this goes over that time you will get a phone call explaining what has happened. They will make sure all your needs are attended to before they leave you.

All our care workers are DBS checked and fully trained. We provide staff with additional training depending on their service user’s needs. This is to ensure they fully understand the service user’s health condition and would be aware of any additional needs that may need to be met.

Our Care workers are dedicated to providing you with quality care in your home.

Some extras our carers have done

As we shared the same birthday, I brought in a sausage roll and latte for us to share for breakfast. My service user was so grateful that I made the effort.

My service users’ wife had been up most of the night as he was unwell, when I arrived, I could see how exhausted she was. I offered to stay longer so she could go to bed for an hour. She couldn’t thank me enough for going that extra mile.

We are more like friends, we share knitting patterns and help each other if we are stuck.

It was such a beautiful day I suggested going out for some lunch. We ended up at the garden centre. She was so grateful.