Tracy Jeff started working at Elizabeth House in 1982. She is now head of laundry at the not-for-profit care home provider’s Talbot View care home.

She started her career at 17 years old in a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) doing all sorts of jobs at a Care South sister care home, Elizabeth House. After a year, she took an official domestic role before moving to another care home to become a care assistant working both day and night shifts. Tracy then became a laundry assistant as the role worked well for her and her family as she had recently had her daughter, Danielle, to husband, Paul who she met at Care South.

Her daughter, Danielle now works in community care and her sister, Rachel also works at the same Care South home, Talbot View.

Later in her career Tracy moved on to become an activities lead at another care home and enjoyed being with residents and particularly taking them on trips out. After a while, Tracy moved to another Care South sister home, Castle Dene and worked there for nine years before moving to Talbot View a year ago.

Simon Bird, chief executive officer at Care South, said: “We are always very thankful for all the hard work and commitment from every member of staff and we have many members of the team who have enjoyed long careers within the business. We are delighted to be celebrating Tracy’s 40-year service award. This long service award is a fantastic testament to Tracy’s commitment to Care South and is very well deserved. Thank you for all your hard work, Tracy.”

Tracy said: “Doing the laundry for residents is a very personal service for them. I enjoy visiting each resident to get their washing and delivering it back just how they like it. Community is so important – and often when you work in a care home, you know many of the people and their families as they use the service. It is lovely building a relationship with residents in our care, and you end up feeling like a relation to them.”