Martha Trust provides residential and respite care to people with profound disabilities, all of  whom require a high level of support. Round the clock care is provided by teams of support workers and nurses.

Graham Simmons, who has worked as the Chief Executive of Martha Trust for ten years, was allocated an early shift so that he could witness a range of tasks that the job entails. Experienced Support Worker Nicole Hooper showed Graham the ropes.  

Starting at 7am, Graham helped a number of residents as they rose and enjoyed early morning showers and baths. He was also responsible for helping residents to have their breakfast.  For the rest of the morning Graham was kept busy doing the laundry and sorting clothes. He also spent two hours in the charity’s newly refurbished hydrotherapy pool, carrying out a programme of gentle physiotherapy exercises with several residents. 

With hardly a moment to eat lunch himself, Graham also helped residents to enjoy lunch, and cleared up afterwards. There was just a short time left to tidy a few of the bedrooms before the handover to the next shift. 

Commenting afterwards, Graham said: “I was surprised how intensive the work was. I didn’t have time to even look at my watch before lunch.” He went on: “I was impressed at the attention to detail that the support workers have – and how they have to juggle so many tasks each day. The wellbeing of the residents is clearly a priority for the whole team and multitasking skills are essential!” 

Director of Nursing, Gill Burnham explained how impressed she was with her new recruit: “Graham performed every task which was asked of him, with ability and enthusiasm.” She went on: “we were so pleased with his work, that we asked him to stay and work a double shift. We were baffled when he declined!” 

Martha Trust runs two homes in Deal and one home in Hastings for people with profound physical and learning disabilities. They also run a respite care and day care service in Deal, helping many more local families.