Chiswick Care Manager Wins Care Leader of the Future Award

_{Magdalena Chmielewska Registered Manager at Walfinch home care Chiswick, Hammersmith and Kensington,  Lola Dali-Kemmery, Partnerships Manager at Birdie, Gemma Lloyd, editor Home Care Insight,  Sam Lewis, editor of Care Home Professional.}

Magdalena Chmielewska, registered Manager at Walfinch home care Chiswick, Hammersmith and Kensington, is driving positive change in her care team and the local community. Now she has been named winner of the Leader of the Future (home care) award in the Leading Women in Care (LWIC) awards.

The award, sponsored by Birdie care software, recognises people with exceptional leadership potential, innovative thinking and a commitment to driving positive change in social care.

Magdalena believes carers should be trained to the highest professional standards, and is keen to be involved on a practical level.

This means Magdalena can sometimes be seen in the local streets in a wheelchair, being steered by a carer. “Pushing a wheelchair looks simple but it’s quite complex in practice,” she says. “I get carers to practice taking me in a wheelchair up and down kerbs and on and off buses.”

Formula 1 fun

Recently she took a formerly mobile client out in a wheelchair for the first time, and pretended that they were in a Formula 1 car.

Magdalena’s previous experience as a live-in carer, and in sourcing care, means she has an all-round view of care issues. She expects her care team to actively improve clients’ lives.

“One client wanted to return to driving. We took her to a driving mobility centre, where experts provided a risk assessment and recommended a modified car and specialist equipment. Now she is behind the wheel again, with a carer who can take over the driving if she feels too tired.”

Accessing extra care

She also trains her team to help clients get extra assistance.

Her proudest moment?

Community education

Tanya Santos, Managing Director of Walfinch home care Chiswick, Hammersmith and Kensington, says: