Senior citizens take a break from retirement as they interview for their own deputy care home manager

Residents at an Edinburgh care home are on the hunt for a new deputy manager – and will be part of the interview panel themselves.

An architect and author who has lost his sight, a retired school teacher, and a former member of the Scottish Examination Board will team up with the manager of Renaissance Care’s Glencairn Care Home to quiz candidates for the role.

Former architect Ian Arnott, 94, is using his recruitment experience to help with candidate meetings.

He will also offer a different perspective to each interview, using his loss of sight to deliver an unbiased approach that will allow him to pick up on aspects such as tone and hesitation as he listens intently.

Ian said: “It’s important that the future deputy manager is someone who is a supporter of the current manager and uses their initiative but takes no offence when any ideas are knocked back.”

The vision for the home has been decided by a committee of residents who will now make decisions on things such as recruitment, staff appraisals, décor, dining experiences and menus.

The staff at the care home live by the ethos that they are working in the residents’ home rather than the residents live in their place of work, and have committed to involving them in all future decision making.

The residents will ask their own questions in a bid to find the right fit for their home, asking about aspects of the role including why they want to work in a care home, can they imagine what it’s like to live with dementia, and if they are interested in helping address difficulties and fears of the residents.

84-year-old Norma Christie, who has recently taken on the role of editing the home newsletter, and former school teacher Dorothy Goate, 93, will also take part in the recruitment process.

Dorothy said: “It is important that the future deputy manager has a range of management skills but isn’t bossy, that they know how to get the best out of people and that they are calm, cool and fair”.

Following the interviews, the residents will provide feedback on the candidates to create a shortlist of applicants before deciding on the best person for the job following further interviews.

The resident committee is a new addition to the home following the recent appointment of home manager Jozi Stables, who is working closely with each of the residents to determine their interests.

Jozi said: “Having the residents involved in all aspects of development within the home is extremely important to us. We work in their home and it’s essential that they feel comfortable with staff, and are happy within the home environment, so who better to interview candidates than the residents themselves.

“A lot of our residents are keen to be involved in things like recruitment to keep their brains active, and have expressed a great feeling of purpose to be included in such a vital decision.

“We look forward to welcoming the new deputy manager and have no doubt that the residents will help choose the best candidate for the role.”