Taking a Breather

A pantoum poem by Andrea Greene, Care Home Manager, Kilkeel

I was apprehensive
I am now a more confident leader
Self-care and taking a breather is so important
Show empathy and compassion more

I am now a more confident leader
Overcome my fears
Show empathy and compassion more
I now know the purpose of slowing things down

Overcome my fears
Self-care and taking a breather is so important
I now know the purpose of slowing things down
I was apprehensive

My Journey

A pantoum poem by Cathy Small, Senior Residential Support Worker, Bessbrook

I am now embracing
I was welcomed
A large group
Found daunting

I was welcomed
I really struggled
Found daunting
My Journey

I really struggled
A large group
My Journey
I am now embracing

Dr Brighide

A pantoum poem by Danny Dougan, Care Home Manager, Armagh

Relaxation
Feeling at ease
7 C’s
New experiences

Feeling at ease
Self-care
New experiences
Feeling supported

Self-care
7 C’s
Feeling supported
Relaxation

My Confidence in Work

A pantoum poem by Dearbháile Mary McClean, Team Leader, Castlewellan

My confidence in work and in myself has grown.
This is something worth celebrating
I struggled to think of things to say and do
I felt timid and didn’t have self-confidence with my role


This is something worth celebrating
The room was filled with experienced professionals
I felt timid and didn’t have self-confidence with my role
We really reflected on ourselves, decompressed and related


The room was filled with experienced professionals
I struggled to think of things to say and do
We really reflected on ourselves, decompressed and related
My confidence in work and in myself has grown.

Understanding

A pantoum poem by Debbie Miller, Senior Care Assistant, Kilkeel

Positive changes
Compassion, caring
Experience meeting new people
Understanding

Compassion, caring
Open conversations
Understanding
Confidence in workplace

Open conversations
Experience meeting new people
Confidence in workplace
Positive changes

Decompress

A pantoum poem by Debbie McDermott, General unit manager, Cookstown

A five minute decompression makes a huge difference
I usually don’t talk about my feelings
My attitude changed
The staff laughed and it became a running joke

I usually don’t talk about my feelings
I have embraced it
The staff laughed and it became a running joke
Everyone felt as uncomfortable as I did

I have embraced it
My attitude changed
Everyone felt as uncomfortable as I did
A five minute decompression makes a huge difference

Life of a Manager

A pantoum poem by Emma Rafferty, Care Home Manager, Magherafelt

Prioritise self
Able to discuss ideas, issues and achievements
Networking and meeting new people
Able to relax and reflect

Able to discuss ideas, issues and achievements
Difficult to switch off
Able to relax and reflect
Peer support

Difficult to switch off
Networking and meeting new people
Peer support
Prioritise self

Change

A pantoum poem by Gillian Poston, Sister, Armagh

Changing methods
Benefit for the staff and residents
New ideas
Strategies

Benefit for the staff and residents
New learning environment
Strategies
Breaking the ice

New learning environment
New ideas
Breaking the ice
Changing methods

Part of a Team

A pantoum poem by Grace Alinas, Deputy Manager, Armagh

Interaction with others
Self-care
Part of a team
Wisdom

Self-care
Succeeding sessions
Wisdom
Experience

Succeeding sessions
Part of a team
Experience
Interaction with others

The Place

A pantoum poem by Janine Porter, Assistant Manager, Rathfriland

We were able to draw from others experiences
Find solutions
Management is a lonely role
Safe space

Find solutions
We are not alone
Safe space
Every day is a learning day

We are not alone
Management is a lonely role
Every day is a learning day
We were able to draw from others experiences

The Very Best of Me

A pantoum poem by Judith Gumbo, Deputy Manager, BenburbMy feelings of nervousness

My feelings of nervousness
Something I longed for
I was clueless
Only to see the pause button

Something I longed for
The very best of me is out
Only to see the pause button
Slow down and take a breath

The very best of me is out
I was clueless
Slow down and take a breath
My feelings of nervousness

My Change

A pantoum poem by Louise Mackle, Care Home Manager, Downpatrick

I struggled to ask the right questions
Massive weight lifted
Can’t control others actions
Change in myself

Massive weight lifted
Giving responsibility to others
Change in myself
Control freak

Giving responsibility to others
Can’t control others actions
Control freak
I struggled to ask the right questions

Everything New

A pantoum poem by Mary O’Hanlon, Manager, Rathfriland

How other people view things
New approach to dealing with issues
New perspective
New teachings

New approach to dealing with issues
Learning new things
New teachings
Gaining insights and understanding

Learning new things
New perspective
Gaining insights and understanding
How other people view things

New Ways

A pantoum poem by Daire Sheridan, Care Home Manager, Armagh

Discovered a variety of new communication methods
Interaction with residents and relatives
Struggled with idea of trying tools out in the service
Understand the course was beneficial to myself and the service

Interaction with residents and relatives
Learning my issues were similar to others
Understand the course was beneficial to myself and the service
Interaction with staff

Learning my issues were similar to others
Struggled with idea of trying tools out in the service
Interaction with staff
Discovered a variety of new communication methods

Out of the Box

A pantoum poem by Zainab Omowunmi Alabi, Registered Nurse, Newry

Aspiring leader
It took an entirely different course
My inner aspiration
Very engaging and interactive

It took an entirely different course
She was very supportive
Very engaging and interactive
Applied but was unsure if it was something I could do

She was very supportive
My inner aspiration
Applied but was unsure if it was something I could do
Aspiring leader

The Journey

A pantoum poem by Susie Scott, Deputy Manager, Newtownards

Start of a journey
Sharing of stories
My journey has been fragmented
Lived experiences

Sharing of stories
Immediate connection
Lived experiences
Supportive

Immediate Connection
My journey has been fragmented
Supportive
Start of a journey