Singing carols when it wasn’t Christmas and more memories of 30 years at LDN

Mandy Shipley-Stevens recently celebrated her 30th anniversary of working for Learning Disability Network London. She has shared her reflections and her fond memories from that time:

I can’t believe 30 years have gone by!

I remember my first interview for a support worker job so clearly. It was held in a tiny room at 18 Croxley Road, which were the offices then. There were four people in the room and our knees were almost touching. It looked out on 16B, which was then a building site.

I moved up to become an assistant team manager and team manager. At first I didn’t want to move higher and stop supporting people in services, but I acted-up as operations manager and it became permanent: I really enjoy supporting managers and teams. I still get to spend time and support tenants when I visit services.

I have had a number of interviews while working for LDN, but the one that will never forget was for an assistant team manager position, where there was a question about sexuality. There was a word I was trying to think of but couldn’t remember so one of the panel members asked me to describe the word – I replied it was a long word and stops babies. She asked if the word was contraception, to which I replied yes, that is it!

Whenever I have thought of leaving there has been a job to go for, a new service to transfer to or a new project to work on, such as working in another borough. There has only been one job I have interviewed for outside of LDN and that was for a Care Quality Commission Inspector role, which I was offered and turned down because I wouldn’t have had the team support and contact around me that we are so lucky to have here.

I have seen the organisation grow hugely. When I started, we were called The Westminster Society and we only worked in Westminster. 

I have so many amazing memories, including the summer fayres: where I have had a bucket of water tipped over me, was locked in the stocks and had wet sponges thrown at me. I have had many opportunities to dress up, including as one of Santa’s Elves and Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer.

Memories of Hilary

Some of my fondest memories are of working with the people that lived in 84-86 Bravington Road. In particular, one person: Hilary. I still have the photo of us from that first year on holiday in Cornwall on my desk. She had the most amazing fighting spirit. I was her link-worker for five years.

Hilary did not have many words when I met her. She had been through a lot, having lived in Leavesden Hospital, a long-stay mental health hospital. She found it difficult to be close to people and she seemed quite angry and frustrated, and would hit out at staff and her housemates. I worked with a psychologist and I remember walking up and down the corridor with Hilary swearing – teaching Hilary to swear to vent her feelings rather than hitting someone.

Hilary changed a lot over the years I supported her. From someone you couldn’t get close to, to someone who would get very excited when she saw me and others she was close to. She’d give big hugs and get very excited if you mentioned her birthday, Christmas or a party. I was with her, holding her hand, when she passed away in hospital. The people around her bed were singing Christmas carols and songs, because she loved them. (It wasn’t Christmas).

If I ever doubt why I am here, I think of all the great times I have shared with the people we support, the teams I have been a part of and support. All of this and so much more is why LDN is the only place I have ever worked!