Our new Service Manager at Bethany House and Bethany Lodge, Babatunde Ogunsanwo, tells us about his career background and experience, and his vision for the future of the service.
At Bethany House and Bethany Lodge, our Residential Living Care services in Kent, we provide our people with the support they need, helping to promote independence and maintain a high standard of both physical and mental wellbeing.
Can you tell us a bit about your career background and experience?
“My career started in Nigeria where I attended the School of Nursing between 2009 and 2012. I qualified as a general nurse.
“From 2013 to 2016 I worked in a polytechnic institute as a school nurse. My job was to attend to any emergency cases of students who were on site.
“In 2015 to 2016 I went to the School of Psychiatric Nursing and then I became a mental health nurse. From there I worked as a mental health nurse in a rehabilitation centre.
“I then moved to United Arab Emirates where I was a registered nurse from 2018 to 2020. I mainly worked in the outpatient psychiatric department, but I also worked in other departments too.
“In 2020 I came to the UK because I wanted to experience something different. I joined Elysium Healthcare where I started as a staff nurse in a secure unit hospital. I worked there for 3 years. I worked my way up to become deputy hospital director.
“I then saw an opportunity with Active Care Group.”
What is your favourite thing about working at Bethany House and Bethany Lodge so far?
“Every day comes with its own challenges, and I love that. Every day I have something to work towards. I wake up every morning knowing there are things I need to accomplish. The role keeps me on my toes.”
Can you give us an overview of the services that are provided at Bethany House and Bethany Lodge?
“Bethany House and Bethany Lodge are both Residential Living Care services in Kent.
“We support residents with learning disabilities, autism, mobility issues, mental health conditions, epilepsy, and more.
“We help the residents with their everyday needs, and we organise activities for them. We focus on improving their quality of life.
“Many of our residents have been at the service for years and Bethany House and Lodge is their home, so we try to make it feel as homely as possible.”
What are the team like at Bethany House and Bethany Lodge?
“We have wonderful staff members. On my first day I noticed how warm, friendly and caring the team are. I felt like I was in the right place.
“The team treat the residents with compassion and love. Some of our team members have been at the service for years so they are like family to the residents.”
What is your vision for the service and where would you like it to be in the next few years?
“First and foremost, I want to improve the quality of care delivery to the residents, which will impact their life positively.
“My plan is to gather the experiences and best practices I have gained over the years and implement them into everything we do at Bethany House and Bethany Lodge. This will improve staff wellbeing and contribute to better outcomes for our residents.
“I also want to improve our Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating.”
And finally, what do you like to do in your spare time?
“I love watching films and reading books.
“I recently read ‘The Secret to Finding Your Enough’ by Manisha Thakor, which is about work, life balance, how to become more self-aware, and understanding yourself and your habits.”
