35 Years of West Kent: What makes White Oak Court so special?
As part of our 35 years of West Kent campaign, we are reflecting on the milestones that have shaped us over the years, including the impact of our older persons' schemes on our residents.
White Oak Court in Swanley has been a vital part of the community for over 30 years. Since 2018, it has provided housing with extra care services, currently supporting over 56 residents. Our staff have worked collaboratively with residents to shape services to better meet their needs. Here, we delve into the stories of residents and staff at White Oak to uncover what makes it truly special.
Violet Charters, one of White Oak’s longest-serving residents, shares her experience:
“I have lived at White Oak for 23 years. The surroundings and all the people at White Oak are so nice here. I remember both meetings regarding catering and the care team being put in place. The reasons for the changes were explained, and we were able to ask any questions. I now use both these services, which have helped me stay in my home longer with the extra help.” She adds, “I would not swap it for any other place; White Oak Court is the best.”
Roy Watkins, a resident for almost a decade, also shares his views:
“I have been at White Oak for 9 years. Everyone here is friendly, and there is always someone around to chat with – lots of social activities throughout each month. And to know there is someone around to support when needed.”
He reflects on the support received during changes at White Oak:
“I have been here for service and going to extra care. During both times, West Kent held meetings to ensure we were always kept updated, listened to us, and supported us through these changes at White Oak.”
To gain further insight, we spoke with Michelle Whitlock, Extra Care Scheme Manager at White Oak Court, who has worked at West Kent for 22 years.
In response to the question of what makes West Kent such a special place to work, Michelle states:
“West Kent supports staff to learn and grow within the association. When I started 22 years ago, I was a cleaner at White Oak, which I enjoyed. Having a young family, it allowed me to work around school runs. I was then given the opportunity to further my career, moving from relief work and weekends to scheme assistant, and eventually becoming the scheme manager in 2016.”
She goes further to state, “Our commitment to providing excellent and adapted services has been at the heart of West Kent for the past 35 years. We have arranged for external agents to come into White Oak regularly to support both our residents and the wider community. We hold regular meetings to discuss any issues for both the residents and West Kent. Additionally, residents have their own committee meetings to organise social activities, and we support them in booking entertainment.”
The testimonials of Violet and Roy leave no doubt about the transformative benefits our extra care scheme has had on their day-to-day lives. We asked Michelle to share her firsthand experience of how these extra care schemes have made a difference to White Oak residents:
“Having been here for 22 years, I have seen residents move on due to White Oak not being able to support their needs. However, since we transitioned to extra care, our residents can remain in their own homes longer, thanks to the support from the care team and ourselves. We ensure meals are cooked daily, enabling all residents to join in with all activities within the scheme.”
Providing services that respond to the evolving needs of our residents and improve their quality of life has been central to West Kent over the last 35 years. Recalling the transition process for these upgraded extra care facilities, Michelle states:
“The transition to updated facilities at White Oak went smoothly. For the catering service, we involved all residents in the process. We arranged for a couple of residents to volunteer as spokespersons for the others. Feedback included visiting other sites to test food quality and participating in all outcome/discussion meetings to ensure residents received a home-cooked meal daily.”
We asked Violet, Roy, and Michelle to describe West Kent’s services and housing solutions in three words:
- Violet Charters: “Friendly, helpful, and safe.”
- Roy Watkins: “Comfortable, helpful, and safe.”
- Michelle Whitlock: “Supportive, friendly, and caring.”
The unique blend of a supportive community, dedicated staff, and comprehensive services makes White Oak Court a standout example of West Kent’s commitment to providing supportive housing.
To find out more about our extra care schemes, please visit www.westkent.org/find-a-home/homes-for-over-55s/extra-care-homes-across-kent