Q&A WITH JEMMA WRIGHT
Q&A WITH JEMMA WRIGHT
Guest interview • Summer 2021
Y&H Business was delighted to sit down and meet with Jemma Wright, owner of JV Wright and recently established The Northern Care Company. Jemma is an experienced education and training professional. We found out everything there is to know about Jemma and her unique story and why she’s passionate about raising the quality of services in the care sector.
Jemma, you’ve recently established The Northern Care Company after successfully setting up JV Wright Training during the lockdown; how has this new project come to light?
I recently found myself a primary carer for my partners Mum, who sadly passed away in April. During my time caring, I liaised with several care agencies as she required around the clock care. While all the agency staff I experienced were excellent, it became evident they didn’t have much experience in helping someone in this point of life with their needs to ensure they are comfortable. I believe someone needing support towards the end of their life and beforehand deserve the best level of care and support. I, therefore, set up The Northern Care Company in May, and we are working towards our CQC accreditation and providing home help services and support.
How do you envisage The Northern Care Company doing things differently given the challenges facing care providers?
My background is in training and teaching, and I firmly believe in finding the right people for this kind of role and ensuring they have all the training and support required. At the moment, we are firmly focused on our recruitment process, finding the right people in the right places and providing them with the proper training and ongoing support. As a business, we ensure our management team put the relationship with our clients and their families first, understanding their needs and listening and implementing feedback. Our managers carry out shadowing visits to our clients and ensure everyone is delighted with our support. We also believe in offering excellent remuneration to those working with us, so they feel motivated and valued.
How has the first couple of months gone for you, Jemma?
We have learnt so much and been very focused on our processes and the documentation required to provide a high-quality service. We are ensuring we capture all the needs of our clients in a journal and get to know them personally. Supporting our clients emotionally and offering the personal touch and friendship is crucial in the work we do. Simple things such as remembering their shopping and what they enjoy can make a huge difference in care. The last couple of weeks have been a challenge, with isolation and holidays kicking in and securing cover. We have also experienced some difficulties in recruiting as people have been put off care due to the impact of the pandemic
How do you plan to address these challenges, Jemma?
In partnership with JV Wright Training, we are in the throes of establishing a Care Academy using the Kickstart Scheme. This will enable us to bring young people into the care sector and ‘grow your own’. We will provide detailed training and allow them to work in a placement capacity with The Northern Care Company to gain the valuable experience they need for a care setting. We will cover activities such as changing a bed, preparing food and caring within the home to give them that experience they require.
This all sounds inspiring, Jemma, and we’re excited to see how this develops. How do you spend your downtime?
Having two new businesses does take up a lot of my time at the moment. When we are allowed again, a holiday in the sun is definitely on the cards and enjoying dining out with my partner and three children. I also enjoy spending time with my dogs a Pomchi and Jack Russell, acting as a School Governor at the Aspire Academy and being a committee member for the JCYEB.
You can find out all about The Northern Care Company by visiting their website www.northerncare.org or email info@northerncare.org