12/05/2026
Margaret had worked in care for over 20 years, but one evening shift still caught her off guard.
A resident who was usually chatty and settled became withdrawn and distressed after a difficult phone call with family. The more staff tried to reassure him, the more overwhelmed he seemed.
After attending mental health training, Margaret recognised something important...
Not every situation needs fixing immediately. Sometimes people just need calm, patience and somebody willing to sit with them in the moment.
So instead of rushing the situation, she slowed things down. Pulled up a chair. Softened her tone. Stayed present.
Eventually, the resident began talking again.
Later, Margaret said: “I realised I didn’t need to have all the answers. I just needed to understand how to respond differently.”
That stayed with us because it reflects something we see often in care settings...
Confidence doesn’t always come from having the perfect words. Sometimes it comes from understanding people better.
Supporting people starts with supporting the staff around them 💚
To find out more about our mental health and care training courses, feel free to get in touch.
📞 01706 375578
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.orchardrock.com