Knowing that an experienced team is running the retirement village that you or your loved one has chosen to live in is hugely reassuring.
So, with the team at Bob Owens Retirement Village boasting more than 40 years of combined experience in delivering the best care that Ryman Healthcare has to offer, it is reassuring for families.
Village Manager Brian Bark has been at the helm of the Bethlehem village for over six years and before that he worked at the DHB in an audit role for seven hospitals.
Not surprisingly, striving for consistently high standards is always top priority for Brian, with a proud milestone reflecting this effort just last year when Bob Owens won Ryman’s Village of the Year award.
“The award was given to Bob Owens for having consistently positive staff survey ratings and providing excellent clinical care among other things,” says Brian, still beaming about the village’s last audit which resulted in a four-year certification.
“I’m proud to work with such a phenomenal team here at the village where everyone works together to provide the best for our residents.”
Brian gives credit to Clinical Manager Tracey Dunn, also in her sixth year at the village and who recently became a finalist in the Leader of the Year category of the annual Ryman awards.
When COVID-19 hit last year, Tracey stepped up as acting village manager as Brian was caught out overseas.
“I think my major incident training and emergency preparations from my time as sister on an A&E ward in the UK all kicked in and helped me to stay calm and in control – even though I didn’t always feel that way!” she says.
Tracey is also thankful for the experienced and competent team alongside her, where even the newer additions to the village have worked in other Ryman villages for several years.
One of these is Remya Rajagopal, the newly appointed Unit Coordinator in the Special Care Unit.
While this is a new responsibility for Remya, she has notched up a decade with Ryman and she has worked at Bob Owens since a month after it opened.
“It’s been a big journey with Ryman, and I love how they look after everyone that’s with them, both residents and team members.”
Sticking with Ryman was a huge factor for the other recent appointment, Resthome Unit Coordinator Roma Tarranza, who joined the team after working at Ryman’s Grace Joel village in Auckland for eight years.
Twice nominated for Ryman’s Nurse of the Year award, Roma loves how Ryman is attuned to her values and way of thinking.
“Ryman ensures that we always have what we need to deliver the best care, and the positive feedback I’m already getting from our various stakeholders in the community is evidence of that.”
Hospital Unit Coordinator Tracey Moncur, who is heading towards her seventh anniversary of working at the village, says the emotions are strong when she thinks about the role she plays in residents’ lives.
“The wonderful care of residents is foremost in my day to day life and with the support that Ryman gives I just felt that I could make a difference when I arrived and the company embraced that and gave me all the support I needed.”
Serviced Apartment Unit Coordinator Carolyn Lennox says working with older people was the drawcard for her after having previously worked in acute hospital settings.
“A big part of my role is helping our residents’ transition into our care suites and building the trust and relationships with both our residents and their families to make that as smooth a process as possible.”
A new face in the team is Holly Conway who is the village’s ResidentServices Manager.
Her job entails overseeing all the service teams, from housekeeping, admin, laundry, kitchen, garden and maintenance and ensuring they’re providing the service to the level that meets Ryman’s expectations.
“Being here with such an experienced team and the great way that communication flows between them has restored my faith in care and impressed the socks off me!”
Pictured from left to right: Holly Conway, Tracey Moncur, Tracey Dunn, Brian Bark,
Carolyn Lennox, Remya Rajagopal and Roma Tarranza.
Village named after Sir Patrick Hogan
Ryman Healthcare has named its new retirement village in Cambridge in honour of the late New Zealand horse racing and br...
