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Meet Steven Flanagan, the new Residential Manager for our newest Home, MacKillop House Norwest.
The Residential Aged Care Home's construction is now complete, and the Home is due to open in October 2021.
Tell me about your work history and background?
I am a trained Registered Nurse and I have worked in the aged care industry for over 10 years. My previous position was a Regional Manager role for the North-West Sydney region and prior to this, Residential Manager roles for homes in Dural and Penrith.
Having started out in nursing, I always had a desire to work towards leadership and management roles. I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to do just that over the last few years. I am excited about my new role as Residential Manager at MacKillop House. This is a great opportunity to commission a beautiful new Home in Sydney’s north west. I am looking forward to building a fantastic community with supportive staff who care about enhancing the lives of the residents who join us at MacKillop House.
What can the local community expect at MacKillop House?
MacKillop House will be a tremendous offering to not only the residents, but also the local Hills District community. A dedicated Catholic Healthcare Home & Community Services team will be onsite and catered Community Engagement Programs will run from the Home. These programs have been developed to engage with the community – not only to involve local residents of the area, but to engage with schools, churches and other organisations. The Home will encourage the participation and involvement from people of all ages within the community.
What are the best features and benefits of MacKillop House?
Catholic Healthcare has an enviable reputation as an aged care provider that delivers exceptional care. Our residents will enjoy a Home run by an experienced provider and a passionate team of staff. This beautiful, newly built Home boasts a spectacular design and stunning outlooks onto its surroundings.
MacKillop House has been purpose built with a welcoming Main Reception and Multi-Purpose Function Room for all manner of events and activities. Residents will be able to choose from many activities on offer and cater these to their own individual needs and preferences. We will work hard to ensure each resident’s wellbeing needs can be met.
The Home’s wide range of amenities include beautiful outdoor courtyards, dining rooms, living rooms and library nooks for each community. A special feature is also the dedicated resident kitchens, in addition to the main kitchens and serveries on site. This allows our residents to continue to foster their independence and gives them a space to utilise at any time, to enjoy with their family and friends.
An onsite gym, chapel, hair salon and café are also available for the enjoyment of residents, families and the local community. It’s a Home designed to reflect the ‘future of aged care’.
What makes MacKillop House special?
The staff at MacKillop House is the key point of difference. The leadership team in the Home is experienced and passionate about aged care and supporting and advocating for the residents. The Quality and Education Manager provides continuous coaching and mentoring to our staff, so they are equipped to deliver excellence to our residents. We have Pastoral Care and Lifestyle Coordinators to ensure our residents’ spiritual and emotional needs are supported. We also have a dedicated and innovative Chef leading the catering team who is looking forward to preparing fresh, seasonal menus with ongoing input from residents.
What other sorts of activities will be offered at the Home?
MacKillop House will cater for all different cultures, backgrounds and faiths in the local community. Our lifestyle programs will be tailored to the interests, hobbies and skills of our residents to create meaningful ongoing experiences. Our activities may include scheduled exercise programs, gardening clubs, cooking classes and craft groups, as well as regular or spontaneous hobbies such as word games, cards, board games or puzzles. Our lifestyle program is dynamic and consistently changing to meet resident feedback and to ensure our activities are accessible to all. Volunteers and entertainers will be regular visitors to our Home to provide fantastic events and companionship.
