Whitmore Vale – A Wonderfully Tranquil Place.

I had a most enjoyable couple of hours attending the Whitmore Vale AGM which was held in the Royal British Legion in Hindhead on Friday September 26^th. I had visited Whitmore Vale House a couple of weeks earlier meeting the wonderful staff and some of the residents who have severe learning difficulties. It is a wonderfully tranquil place, set in beautiful woodland, and the newly decorated home with its high ceilings and large comfortable rooms gives a wonderful homely feeling which is magnified by the warmth of the members of staff to the residents and each other. Sonja Jones the CEO, and Deborah Robinson, Chair, have overseen a massive transformation at Whitmore Vale, improving the finances and the care offered through adept management of the space and concentrating on the welfare of their staff as well as the residents. Incredibly, they have no staff vacancies currently which is almost unheard of in the care sector. This is due to the attention they give their staff in terms of advancing their training and personal welfare. They are also keen to introduce young people into the sector by demonstrating what a rewarding career it can be.

At the AGM, I had an opportunity to meet some more of the residents and their families, together with the staff and a number of the volunteers which are so important to the smooth running of the various services. There was a wonderful joyous atmosphere all round, helped by a wonderful lunchtime spread.