Family-run West Auckland care home marks 30th birthday

A family-run dale nursing home is celebrating after being at the heart of the community for 30 years.
Devonshire House, in West Auckland, was built on Front Street in 1902 and was originally occupied by a family.
Well-known GPs Dr Scott and Dr Grainger eventually came into possession of the property, which became two surgeries. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that the Harker family set their sights on the period house with plans to create Devonshire House as its known today.
The care home is now one of the few remaining in the area to be owned and operated by local people. In 1986, Tom Harker and his late wife Elizabeth bought the building which they decided to convert into a care home.
Mr Harker is a qualified nurse and was lecturing nursing studies at Darlington College of Technology at the time.
He said: “I thought I could improve standards of care and offer a good quality of care to older people within the community and that is still what we are here for now.”
In just three months, the house was converted into a care home, which has come to acquire a good reputation for high standards of care.
Having opened in October 1986 with 23 residents and many sharing rooms, an 11-bedroom extension was built 11 years later.
Devonshire House is now home to 25 residents offering nursing, residential, respite, rehabilitation, day and end-of-life care.
Mr Harker’s daughter, Alison and her husband Colin Ward, who are both qualified nurses, are now directors of the business after taking the reins from her father in 2004.
Also helping to run the care home is registered manager Katherine Cole, as well as
Mr Harker’s granddaughter, Kathryn Cooper, who is the general manager.
Mrs Ward, who used to work as part of the home’s nursing team, said: “Devonshire House is at the centre of the community. We have always prided ourselves with being tied closely to the local community. We have strong links with the local church, schools and pubs.
“Some of our residents used to know it as their GP surgery. We even had one who remembered it being built.”
Staff and residents at Devonshire House celebrated the 30th anniversary with a Halloween-themed party during which Mr Harker took to the microphone to sing a number of songs.
Mr Harker said: “I am over the moon with Devonshire House. I like to think of the care we give as a transition.
“As people’s care needs change we can adapt. It has achieved what we set out to do which was provide individual care.”
Boasting a low staff turnover throughout the years and high staff morale, the home employs 35 people making it one of West Auckland’s biggest employers.
Mr Harker said: “It is a demanding job but very rewarding. We have had loyal staff over the years which has included three generations of cooks in the kitchen.”
Residents are able to access local amenities such as shops and pubs if they choose to be part of village life.
There is also a small specialist dementia unit at the home which as added in 2011 and was designed to help promote independence.
Mrs Ward said: “We would like to thank everyone for their continued support.
“A lot of the referrals we get are from people within the village who want to come and stay here. It is like one big happy family.”