A Day in the Life of a Mobile Warden

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A Day in the Life of a Mobile Warden

Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme is a local charity helping the mobility impaired across Melbourn – and more recently Meldreth. The charity’s aim is to help people remain independent in their homes, via visiting mobile wardens who provide social contact, promote health and safety and carry out errands around the villages.

Head Warden Jeannie Seers tells us what it’s like to be a mobile warden.

Jeannie joined the scheme 5 years ago by chance. Having taken early retirement from a very different career, she was asked to help the scheme “just for a couple of weeks” but was immediately smitten and never left!

She says “I realised how wonderful it felt to make such a difference to so many people in a relatively small amount of time. The incredible things people said about how the warden scheme improved their lives, was very moving”.

Jeannie leads a team of wardens – Jane, Helen and Vanessa – who visit people who have impaired mobility. Most people are of an older age, but the scheme has some younger members.

“What could lift the spirits more than knowing that you make a difference each day?”

Jeannie contacts her regular clients Monday to Friday, visiting two days each week and making telephone contact on the other three. She explained “I ring to chat, make sure all is well and identify any shopping or other needs. Regular social contact improves people’s general health and wellbeing so is a key service”. She believes that her own wellbeing benefits too and says “what could lift the spirits more than a chat with someone delighted to hear from you and knowing that you make a difference each day?”

During visits, Jeannie will sit and chat, check clients are safe and well and bring shopping and prescriptions etc. “The main point of the visit is social contact, but I also take letters and parcels to post, bills to pay and prescription requests etc, as the practical support is also extremely important for someone with mobility issues” she says. The wardens also source services that supports client health, safety and independence. Sometimes more unusual things are needed “there is always a new situation which makes the job so interesting” says Jeannie.

Jeannie, Jane, Helen and Vanessa have received lots of positive and often moving feedback and she shared some examples. One client said “it is the best thing that could have happened to me” and others commented “I don’t have to worry anymore because I know I can rely on you”, “I really don’t know how I would cope without you”, “I know I can talk to you about anything” and “you are like a daughter to me”. Another said “so much goes on in the background. It’s not just the visits and calls, there is so much more that you do for us all, that people don’t see”.

The wardens have close relationships with the GP surgery, pharmacy, care providers and Royston community transport etc. Jeannie explains “wardens have excellent training and all support each other, so clients and their families get the best service possible. We also work closely with other service providers to deliver client needs.”

Families rely on the support of the wardens too as she explained. “Some families live miles away or work, so they really appreciate the warden service. Our regular contact and support for their loved one is reassuring to them.”