Our team at
Appleby House

I started working at Appleby House back in 1996 and have progressed from carer to my current role as Deputy Manager. I have also gained level two and three NVQs.

Care UK’s vision and values are important to me and are part of the reason I chose to work here. As an organisation, it is always looking ahead and innovating the care sector.

In any caring role, you need to be passionate about what you do and be understanding, particularly if you’re looking after residents living with dementia. You also need to be collaborative and work well with others. I feel incredibly proud when I think of the fantastic team we have here.

I would say one of the best parts of the job is seeing residents happy and enjoying themselves. There is lots of singing, dancing and laughter. Our art room is also beautifully decorated with lots of fantastic pictures created by artistic residents.

Outside of work, my family and grandson are a hugely important part of my life. I also enjoy gardening, cooking and music.

I have worked in care for 20 years and have undertaken lots of training, including courses in mental health awareness and end of life care.

In my role you need to have strong communication and organisational skills. Teamwork is important, as is having confidence, while being kind.

The best part of what I do is being able to get to know people and finding ways to bring out the spark in them and letting their personalities shine. I love supporting people and giving them the confidence to be creative; I’ve led many painting sessions and I’m so proud of what everyone has achieved.

I am an artist at heart, so outside of work I have a great love of painting, music, fashion and culture.

I’m an experienced chef and have worked in restaurants all over the UK. I was keen to join the team at Appleby House because it’s a wonderful home and I wanted to develop my skills in care sector catering.

A good head chef needs to have strong management and organisational skills, and be adept at working under pressure. Communication is important in this role too: being able to work well with other teams is key, as is understanding residents’ needs and tastes and gaining their feedback.

I enjoy coming to work every morning and seeing the smiles of the residents and my friendly colleagues. I’m looking forward to developing the food and dining experience for residents at Appleby House and continuing to grow my skills.

I am a Dementia Champion and Coach and was previously a Senior Carer. I wanted to be part of the Care UK team because of its great reputation.

I love being able to help people which is essential when you work in care. You also need to be understanding, open to listening and be prepared to go the extra mile for others. I think it also helps to be bubbly and happy – I really enjoy being able to have fun with residents and see them smile and laugh.

My role here always makes me feel very proud. We see the positive difference we make to the lives of residents and their families; being here makes you appreciate what’s important.

Outside of work I enjoy walking, gardening, dancing and spending time with my grandsons.

The great reputation of Appleby House goes before it, and Id heard a lot about it before I even applied to work here. While Ive worked in care home administration before, Ive not worked anywhere like Appleby! I get to meet a huge variety of people on a daily basis; I interact with lovely staff and residents – I love it all.

Theres a very special atmosphere here. Its all about positivity, and it shines from everyone, from Shona, the home manager, down. Theres a strong family feeling: residents are treated like part of a big family. Its a very happy place to work and to be.

I have a level four NVQ in care and was previously a Team Leader here at Appleby House. I joined Care UK because of its reputation for excellence, as well as the training support it provides and opportunities for career progression.

One of the great aspects of working in care is that every day is different and that I get to meet so many interesting people. I feel lucky to be able to support residents while also having fun.

At Appleby House, we have a fantastic dementia team, and we recently won an award for the care we provide. I feel incredibly proud of that achievement and knowing that we make a real difference to people.

I spend my free time with my family and our dog.

Before joining the team at Appleby House, I was a qualified auto mechanic. I also have a level two City and Guilds in property maintenance and level three QNUK qualification in fire risk assessment. I also passed my level three NVQ safety health and environment apprenticeship with a distinction, which was a big career highlight for me.

The most important part of my role here, is ensuring Appleby House is a safe and compliant home for residents, colleagues and visitors. It’s a privilege for me to see residents happy and knowing that they feel content here.

As Head of Maintenance, you need to be able to multitask and manage the pressure of working in a busy home. We all work as a team, so it is important to work well with others too. You also have to be diligent, hardworking and most importantly, kind. I really enjoy being able to help residents.

In my spare time, I play the guitar and am interested in vintage Fender instruments as well as blues music. I also enjoy cycling.

What I love about working at Appleby House is the way that every member of the team is involved in care. We are actively encouraged to get to know the residents and bond with them and involve them in the tasks that we do, to give them a sense of independence and meaning. 

The best part of my role is talking to residents and getting to know their quirks and individual stories. I’ve even taken on the role of Dignity Champion at Appleby House, to ensure that all residents are always treated with dignity and respect. I’m looking forward to continuing to improve what we do here so that we provide the highest standards to the people we care for.