Felixstowe Nub News get UP CLOSE with the Firs Care Home manager Susan Gibson, the karate mum who loves being with her work family

If being a care home manager was not hard work in its self, then being a karate mum, carer to her own father, and ferrying her football son, makes sure for Susan Gibson every day is a full day.

Yet Susan's energy, enthusiasm and expertise shines through in our Zoom meeting as she talks of her love and dedication to the Firs Care Home family, in addition to her own husband and two children.

Hard graft has been a constant for Susan ever since she started at the White Gables home as a Saturday job while studying at school and then Suffolk College to gain all the qualifications needed to get into on of the toughest professions there is, all while volunteering.

Susan added: "I wanted to be like my cousin and emulate her. I did work experience with the WRVS and got my health and social care diploma at college, which also incorporated sociology and psychology and got a job in Ipswich too."

This culminated in Susan working in an Ipswich care home for nearly 10 years before eventually joining The First as maternity cover in 2019 until June 2020.

Five months later Susan was back in a permanent capacity and became the home's manager in November 2020, little knowing the challenge the whole industry was about to face.

The pandemic, government guidelines, the loss of life, the whole emotional roller coaster of keeping residents and staff safe and as happy as possible has not blunted Susan's enthusiasm.

"I love it here," she said. "When I came back it felt like coming home, we are one big happy family.

""It is a tough industry but it is hugely rewarding. You know you are helping people and you build up such a close relationship with residents, staff and the relatives.

"Yes, it can be challenging at times but that has just brought us closer together."

Owned by Anchor Hanover, that also run homes in Holbrook, Hadleigh, and Ipswich in Suffolk and nearly 50 other nationwide, The Firs is tucked away at the top of Peewit Hill in a secluded wooded area, with its own secret garden.

Susan manages 60 staff working shifts day and night shifts and is delighted with the support she gets from her deputy Colleen and the two admins known as Julie Real and Julie Wednesday.

Susan said: "I have a really good senior team, and they along with team leaders supervise care staff on day to day level."

Very much a hands on boss, Susan enjoys joining in with the activities whenever possible, especially the quizzes put on nationally by Anchor for all her homes, the Zoom exercise classes and the music sessions.

"We absolutely join in with the residents and love sharing the experiences with them," said Susan. Anchor runs an exercise class called Zest and people are encouraged to look to become champions in it.

"We do armchair exercise as well as other fun activities, so there is something for everyone.

"The residents are fully engaged. Some need encouragement but they are not forced to join in, however, once they are there, they love it.

"Music is such a wonderful thing, so therapeutic, especially for those with dementia and people really engage in it."

Residents are also been encouraged to take part in Anchor Hanover's Get Set, Cycle campaign backed by Olympic champion Colin Jackson, asking the nation to cycle 24,901 miles, the circumference of the Earth.

Another popular part of the home is the large garden in the grounds, with special attention paid to growing plants that add a sensory aspect, including flowers with strings cents, so residents can pick them and take back to their rooms.

While The Firs offers so much choice for residents to keep them stimulated, comfortable and happy, there is nothing quite like the engagement with relatives coming in and while some restrictions are still in place Susan and her team have welcomed the new guidelines.

"That has been so lovely and so beneficial to everyone, especially the residents, even if some restrictions remain in place for safety.

"Things have not come easy, as we are still having to do things like enhanced cleaning and we are still going flat out but the residents have benefitted by seeing family and going out."

Wit so much to do and see around Felixstowe Susan and her staff have lots of activities planned, including visiting Beach Street and also getting their favourite lunch by the seaside.

Susan said: "The residents love Felixstowe and one of the favourites which we are doing soon is to visit The Hut for fish and chips

"It is lovely to go in fresh air and while I may be a foreigner from Ipswich, our administrator Julie Real knows so many good places to go and we enjoy being part of the community."

That was evident during lockdown when so many of their neighbours and others showed their support for the home and its residents by bringing its and

"There is a lovely sense of community in Felixstowe," said Susan. "We want to thank you to all the members of our community that donated gifts to staff and residents, things like Easter eggs, and Jamie and Max at Billie Box for all their cards, colouring books, boxes of stencils, post cards, and greetings cards - all Felixstowe related."

Susan never stops learning and has been taking NVQs organised by Anchor to expand her leadership and mentoring skills, all fitted in while juggling work and home life.

Son Rhys, 13, is a trainee at Ipswich Towns football development squad, while her husband and 17-year-old daughter Jessica are top level karate players.

Susan is very much a karate mother ferrying them around, and even organised their last family holiday around a residential karate tournament in Devon.

But she was soon back to her second family and enjoying the challenge of running her beloved Firs care home.

For more details for Anchor Hanover's The Firs Care Home in Felixstowe, page here...