Our team at
Winchcombe Place

Care UK is a care provider that recognises and appreciates colleagues who work for them. Care UK gives them opportunities to improve their careers, and that is one of the reasons why I decided to join Winchcombe Place.

As Deputy Manager, my role is to support the Home Manager in every way possible. In this role, you need to be flexible, approachable and willing to learn. You also need to be prepared to work in an environment that can be stressful and challenging.

My favourite part of the day is my first walk around the home when my shift starts. I love to see all the residents and my colleagues, listen to their concerns or achievements and offer them my support. I’m proud to be part of an amazing team at Winchcombe Place and to help the home achieve a good reputation in the local community.

When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife, travelling, photography and sport.

I joined Care UK in 2019 because I wanted to be part of a team making a difference in our senior community.

In this role, it’s important to be understanding and emphatic, have a welcoming personality and good communication skills.

I enjoy building new relationships and guiding care seekers on their care journeys to ensure they find the right environment for them or their loved one. I’m always looking at new ways I can support families and enhance the guidance we give to people living in the community. My favourite part of my role is seeing residents thrive at Winchcombe Place and of course, introducing them to our home and showcasing the excellent care and lifestyle on offer.

In 2021 I became Senior Customer Relations Manager, my proudest career moment to date, this is where I support other local Care UK homes, helping embed them in their local communities.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my grandchildren. I’m also keen to take on new challenges and push myself to new limits, my most recent pursuits have been mountain climbing, parachute jumping, learning to surf and snowboarding!

A Lifestyle Coordinator is someone who should have a sense of fun, flexibility and ideas for things to do daily. Should be able to plan social activities, encourage residents to participate, help them take a part, organise events and outing in various settings. A person should have proficient computer skills, knowledge of event planning, public speaking experience and tailor activities to individual interest.

The best part of my job is interacting with the residents and building relationships with them and their relatives and friends. I love spending time with residents as they all have individual personalities.

I ask residents what new activities they’d like to try, find out about old hobbies they want to pick back up and tailor activities to individual interests.

In my free time I enjoy swimming with my friends or walks in nature with my husband. I love traveling to sunny destinations and reading books.

I have 20 years’ experience working in the catering industry, but for years I have cooked for people who wanted food, whereas now I am cooking for people who need food and it is much more rewarding.

My biggest professional challenge so far has been to run a 280-seat restaurant with a team of 16 chefs in Edinburgh. My highlight was catering the opening of the Dolphin Adventure Centre in Pangbourne and meeting Prince Edward, who was opening the centre.

My role requires you to be good at listening to what the residents want and what their expectations are. It is also very important to have a good team and get them to contribute their ideas into work practices and menus.

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my partner and kids, as well as the occasional game of golf.

I have worked in domiciliary care and care homes for 27 years within a few roles from care, administration and management.

In this role you need to be a great listener, friendly and organised.  What makes me proud of my role is helping people and ensuring that their enquiries are dealt with.

My favourite part of the day is being able to interact with the residents, relatives and my team. 

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and grandchildren. I enjoy a variety of holidays from camping to lazing by the pool abroad.

I’ve been working for Care UK since 2017, and prior to that was Maintenance Manager at a medium secure hospital for many years. I wanted to join the Winchcombe Place team because I felt I had valuable skills and experience to bring which would benefit older people.

Moving my career to Care UK has been such a great move for me – challenging me and enabling me to develop. I think it’s important to be professional and caring in this role, and it’s vital that everything you do is done with understanding, and a smile.

Every resident at Winchcombe Place, and at all other Care UK homes, is ‘resident of the day’ at least once a month. This is a chance to ensure that their care and lifestyle and all aspects of their daily life are meeting their needs and wishes. As part of this initiative I check the resident’s bedroom to ensure it’s safe and everything is working properly. I get to have a chat with them too, which is very rewarding, and gives me a chance to get to know them better.

My mum, Julie is the Business Administrator at the home, and I’m a helper too. I came to work with her one day and didn’t want to leave, so we made the decision that I should work here on a permanent basis as part of the team.

My job is to put smiles on faces and to share the love. I visit all floors within the home and I can even come to your room if you wish. I have so much love to give that I just to share it with anyone I meet. I love a stroke and cuddle, but if I sit longer enough will I get an extra biscuit or three?

I am here to be your furry best friend, you can even take me for a walk – perhaps to the shop to share a fresh pack of digestives?