Interview with Darren McKean,
Manager, Ranfurly Manor
Darren McKean is the Manager at Ranfurly Manor in Fielding. Darren has been with Ranfurly for over 10 years and is an incredibly valued member of the Ranfurly and wider Fielding community.
We take the time to get to know Darren better:
You have a varied and unique work history. Tell us a bit about it.
From an early age, I always wanted to contribute and feel like I was trying new things. I had my first job at age 8 delivering newspapers, and since then I really have never stopped working.
At 15 I left school to work full time in the menswear department at the PDC department store in Palmerston North but was made redundant at 16 when the store closed. After that I tried my hand at a lot of different jobs, including working on farms and rebuilding cars and motorbikes.
At 20, I applied for a role with the Department of Corrections and remained there for eight years. I started as a Prison Officer and progressed through several teams and roles – Senior Corrections Officer, Search Team member, audio and camera operator in the Critical Response team.
I got into aged care unexpectedly when I met my wife, Hayley (who is the Facility Manager at Promisia’s Nelson Street Residential Care, also in Fielding). Hayley had worked as a caregiver and wanted to do her nursing qualification but felt worried about starting it on her own. I took a year off work to do first year nursing with her to help her find her groove, but I found it really rewarding and stayed on to do my full qualification. I haven’t looked back!
How has your background shaped your approach to working in aged care?
Entering the workforce at the age I did, I’m really used to working with people a few generations older than me and quickly gaining their trust.
Additionally, working in prisons taught me how to work with all kinds of people in a non-judgemental and supportive way. This has informed my work in the care sector – I have found that being consistently fair, open and honest secures respect from residents and staff alike.
What do you like best about your job?
Being able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents who have complex needs. I find the trusted relationships that develop over time with residents and their the families – very rewarding and actually quite humbling.
You’ve been at Ranfurly 10 years now. What has kept you here?
I just love the people – the staff, the residents. We are real and we care.
Of course, we encounter blips but the team that we have under my leadership is extremely well placed to mitigate risk. We get together often, we brainstorm ideas in quite an unconventional way, and every member of staff’s input is truly valued.
What do you see as a point of difference for Ranfurly?
The impact that we have in the community – which gives a sense of purpose and belonging to both residents and staff.
Among other things, we work with Bidfood to supply food to five community pantries in Fielding – our residents bag up and label food and our staff deliver it. Residents and staff frequently put on free community barbecues. We’ve recently sponsored prizes for a colouring competition for local schools. We also sponsor a local softball team, the Ranfurly Warriors.
Finally, just coming back to your job history, what is the most interesting job you’ve ever had?
I was a stunt horse rider for film and television – you may have seen my work in Xena: Warrior Princess and The Legend of William Tell. I also had a stint at a demolition company – my largest explosion was 52 sticks of dynamite!
Contact Darren directly by emailing fm.ranfurly@promisia.co.nz.