Sandra Kubiliene: My team saved a colleague's life

Sandra Kubiliene, Service Manager, Rose Cottage

The day began as usual. We had our tasks and were caring for residents at Rose Cottage. Suddenly, one of my team members went from feeling fine to struggling to breathe, and things got worse fast. It really can change in an instant; one moment everything is normal, and the next, someone is fighting for their life.

I instructed a member of staff to call 999 and tell them he couldn't talk and that we needed an ambulance right now. While that call was being made, I went to get a defibrillator from the nearest fire station. The rest of the team were looking after our residents and looking after him. We cared for him ourselves until help arrived, and I even had to encourage the ambulance crew to move a bit faster when they got there.

We reached out to his family as soon as possible. Since his wife doesn't drive, one of my team members took her to the hospital, while others stayed nearby to support them throughout the day.

Throughout everything, our residents were wonderful as well. They kept checking in and asking how he was doing. If my team hadn't known what to do, things could have turned out very differently. Instead, he's recovering well after getting a stent and is already telling the nurses he's ready to go home. He isn't ready yet, but we love seeing that he has the energy to argue about it.

The team will go visit him in the hospital and continue to check in with his family, making sure they have everything they need. We also support each other, taking time to talk through what happened and look out for one another. That ongoing care really says everything about who they are.

This is what we mean when we talk about culture. It's not about posters or words in a handbook. It's about what people do when it really matters. Last month, my team didn't just support each other; they saved a life. I've worked with him for a long time, and seeing the team come together for him is something I'll always remember.

As a leader, this experience reminded me of the importance of developing trust and shared responsibility in a team. I saw firsthand that when people feel trusted and supported, they respond with incredible courage and compassion. This experience really puts things into perspective, and I feel so grateful and proud of every single one of my team.

As an update, he's recovering well. Caley and I sent him some flowers, and I've spoken with him a few times since. It'll be a while yet before he's ready to come back to work, but he's in good spirits, and we can't wait to have him back with us when he is.

Thank you for everyone’s support, and I’m incredibly proud of my team.