Siobhan Creighton, Director of HR at The Royal Star & Garter Homes, is retiring after 17 years with the Charity.
She helped bring about some of the most significant changes in the Charity’s 103-year history, which is now recognised for the excellent care it provides to ex-Servicemen and women and their partners living with disability or dementia. Her last day is on 29 August.
She said:
“The Royal Star & Garter Homes is so part of me that it’s going to be hard to walk away, but I know it’s the right time. I’ve had many opportunities and my journey needs to end here and for someone else to take it on forward.”
Prior to joining The Royal Star & Garter Homes, Siobhan served nine years in the Women’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC) as a data telegraphist, before living and working in Ascension Island and Australia.
She joined the Charity in 2002, when it was still based at its iconic home on Richmond Hill. Since then, The Royal Star & Garter Homes has moved and invested money to open new state-of-the-art Homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe. It is recognised as one of the best providers of dementia care in the country, and is committed to at least doubling the number of veterans it supports.
Siobhan said:
“There has been a transformation from institutional-style care delivery to a more modern person-centred approach. It’s been a huge journey.”
Praising staff, she said:
“They have changed from being task-focussed to being person-centred. They have been amazing, and we have always supported and invested in them. They buy into the culture, which is fantastic, and they give back. I’m very proud of them. They make the home really. If the staff do their job you get these amazing results and the residents are looked after.”
Looking back on her 17 years, she added:
“I’m so proud of the journey the Charity has taken to modernise. Its been so brave and forward-thinking and it’s been great to be on the journey with it. I would like to thank the Executive and Governors for their valuable support over the years.”
Paying tribute to Siobhan, Chief Executive Andy Cole said:
“We cannot thank Siobhan enough for all she has given to a generation of our residents and staff. Siobhan will be hugely missed and the whole Charity wishes her a very happy retirement.”
Kate Silver has been appointed as the Charity’s new Director of People, joining from the Ministry of Defence.
For further information please contact:
Goolistan Cooper – Communications Officer goolistan.cooper@starandgarter.org / 0208 481 7669 / 07391 868796
Cally Madden – Marketing & Communications Manager cally.madden@starandgarter.org / 020 8481 7692 / 07881 017299
About The Royal Star & Garter Homes:
The Charity provides award-winning care for military veterans and their partners who live with disability or dementia.
The Royal Star & Garter Homes is a charity founded in 1916 to care for the severely injured men returning from the battlegrounds of the First World War.
Today our friendly, state-of-the-art Homes offer a pioneering approach to nursing, dementia and therapeutic care. We have award-winning Homes in Solihull, West Midlands and Surbiton, Surrey. Our third Home in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, opened in April 2019.
We continue to expand our services to reach even more veterans. In 2018, we were able to support 186 residents in our Homes and 36 guests at our Day Care service. We also offer interim care for young disabled Service personnel. We provided 11,700 individual sessions of physiotherapy and speech & language therapy last year to support our residents’ health, and over 5,600 places to residents for activities, outings and events, to promote well-being.
We are proud to have enjoyed Royal patronage since our foundation, including that of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II from 1953 to the present day.
Twitter: @starandgarter
Facebook: facebook.com/starandgarter
Website: www.starandgarter.org
The Royal Star & Garter Homes is a member of the National Care Forum – the leading voice for not-for-profit care providers. A national perspective may be available from info@nationalcareforum.org.uk or by contacting 02476243619. More details on NCF available at www.nationalcareforum.org.uk.
