Modupe shares her journey from engineering to adult care
If you have visited Downing House recently, you might have noticed a new face helping to lead the team, as Modupe has recently joined us as our Assistant Manager. She brings fantastic energy, a professional background you might not expect, and a genuine commitment to supporting our residents, so we caught up with her to find out how she is settling into life at our Manchester home.
“I am Modupe, the new Assistant Manager here at Downing House in Manchester, and I am delighted to introduce myself to our community. People often ask me what inspired me to pursue a career in adult care, and they are usually quite surprised by my answer because I am actually an Electrical and Electronics Engineer by trade.
“I chose to leave a career in telecommunications to follow my passion for helping people, starting out as a community carer just a few years ago and working my way up from there. You can imagine how much of a salary drop I took to make the switch, but to me, doing what you love is worth every penny.
Finding my place at Downing House
“My journey to Downing House started with a call from a recruiter, and when it came to the interview, I knew exactly what I was looking for. I wanted to gauge how knowledgeable the Home Manager, Lois, was about her service, so I asked her quite a few questions at the end of our conversation, and her answers made me realise instantly that she was someone I would love to work with.
“Starting somewhere new is always challenging, but it makes all the difference when you have a great team behind you, especially a Home Manager who is so grounded and supportive. Before visiting, I had received another job offer that was higher up the career ladder and technically easier, but during my visit to the home, I really appreciated Lois’s openness and honesty as she spoke to me as if I was already her deputy. It also happened to be my birthday that day, so I took it as a sign that Downing House was the place for me.
“My very first impression when walking through the doors was just how welcoming and homely it felt, with a sense of warmth that you could feel immediately. Every team member who passed me said hello, asked if I had been looked after, and offered me a drink, and watching the care assistants interacting with each other and the residents, you could feel the love.
A day in the life
“To be honest, anyone who works in care knows that there is no such thing as a typical day, but my routine usually starts at 8:00 am when I join the flash meeting for the handover from the night team to the morning staff to check that everyone was fine overnight.
“Usually, there is something from the meeting that needs my immediate attention, whether it is a problem I can solve right away or something I need to escalate. Next, I check my emails, responding to the urgent ones and leaving the others marked as unread so I don’t forget them, before checking my diary for any carry-over work from the day before.
“By that time, something on the floor usually needs an extra pair of hands, and my days quickly fill up with everything from heading out for resident assessments to showing prospective families around our home. In this line of work, you can write down 25 important tasks on your to-do list, accomplish 20 other critical things that weren't even on the list, and suddenly find that it is already 4:00 pm.
“Downing House is a small home, but we are incredibly busy for multiple reasons, and we all love it. At the end of every single day, I always make sure to say a big thank you to all our staff, including the carers, team leaders, kitchen team, and domestics, because without them, there is no Downing House, and we wouldn't be able to look after our wonderful residents.
Smooth moves and future plans
“I am excited about a few projects we have coming up over the next few months, including some renovations where we are turning a small space into a staff room for our team, as we want to make it a real zen space for them to relax.
“By the end of my first six months, my goal is to ensure the home is at full capacity with a waiting list; while also organising regular team-bonding activities so the staff know management care about them. For our residents, I am planning to beautify the entrance to each individual flat to make them feel even more personal.
“Speaking of our residents, I’ve already had some wonderful moments here, and one that really stands out was doing some smooth foxtrot moves in the hallway with a resident who uses a rollator. In my head, I like to think I'm quite a good singer and dancer, so I find myself dancing every single day with the residents in the lounge, the dining room and down the corridors.
“The atmosphere at the home is so encouraging and I love the uplifting wall art we have around Downing House. A few of my favourite quotes are “we rise by lifting others”, “be the reason someone smiles today”, and “sometimes you forget you're awesome, here's your reminder”. They really sum up the mindset of our team.
“When I am not busy supporting the team here, hanging out with my family is my favourite way to spend my time. I have three boys, so there is always something happening at home! My other half and I love to travel to watch athletics and basketball matches together, and I am also a big fan of visiting new restaurants, even though I do not actually eat very much. If I could pick up an entirely new skill this year just for fun, it would definitely be learning to speak French, which I think is a brilliant and useful skill to have.
Celebrating a major milestone
“Joining the team right now is a fantastic feeling because this year marks Abbeyfield’s 70th anniversary, which feels a bit like arriving at a birthday party just as the cake is being served. It is excellent timing, but with some pretty big shoes to fill, as seventy years is an incredible achievement that speaks volumes about the care and community spirit that have been at the heart of the charity for generations.
“The needs of older people have changed greatly since 1956; people are living longer, often with more complex health needs, and they rightly expect greater independence, choice, and social wellbeing. Downing House is constantly adapting to meet these modern needs while keeping our core values alive, and we recently hosted a 70th-anniversary tea party which was brilliant, and we were so touched to receive some lovely thank you cards from it.
“Looking ahead at all the events we have planned throughout the anniversary year, I am looking forward to experiencing every single season with our residents. Part of me wants to choose summer as my favourite season, simply because the warmer weather means we can get out into the garden for barbecues with loads of refreshing drinks. However, if I am being completely honest, Christmas is always the best time of the year for me because I am a Christian. There are so many beautiful traditions and community events around Christmas, and I cannot wait to share those special moments with everyone living here.
“If I had to describe the spirit of Downing House in just three words, I would choose love, warmth, care, and I have to sneak in a fourth, passion. To any families currently looking for the right residential care for a loved one, I would say that while Downing House might not be the most modern building, you won't find the love and care we share anywhere else.
“We are a family here, and I want to thank our residents and families for the trust, strength and community you bring each day, as we promise to do everything possible to keep your loved ones safe, happy and well looked after.”
If Modupe’s journey has inspired you, why not explore a fulfilling new career with Abbeyfield? Whether you bring years of experience or are looking to transfer your skills from a completely different industry, a role in adult care offers the chance to make a difference to the lives of older people every single day. We provide a supportive, welcoming workplace where your passion can thrive and your personal growth is always valued.
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