Our team at
Holly Grange House

I have a level five diploma and degree in health and social care. Before my current role, I was a senior carer, so I have lots of experience. Moving to a management role and leading a team has been great and a real highlight for me. It has enabled me to support colleagues to deliver high-quality care and given me the chance to contribute to the success of the home.

In this role, you need to be compassionate, patient, organised and a good communicator. You also have to work well under pressure and be genuinely committed to providing excellent care.

The most important aspect of what we do is making sure residents receive safe, person-centred care. Seeing the positive difference this makes and working alongside a great team makes every day enjoyable.

When I am not working, I spend my time with family and friends. I also enjoy travelling, fishing and other outdoor activities.

Before joining the team here, I was a senior carer in another home, so I bring lots of experience to the role. I also have NVQs in health and safety and have completed various training programmes over the years.

My favourite part of the day is spending time with residents and learning more about them – making sure they are happy is one of the most important parts of my role. Seeing them smile and being able to make a positive difference to them always makes me feel proud of what we do here. One time, we built a Christmas grotto and a colleague dressed up as Santa. It was so much fun and lovely to see everyone so full of joy.

As lifestyle lead, you need to be patient, friendly and approachable. Circumstances can change so you also need to be flexible too.

When I am not working, I take the opportunity to recharge and reading books.

I have a supervisor apprenticeship level three qualification and an NVQ in business administration. Before joining the team here, I started as a trainee supervisor and then became a care coordinator.

As with any role, it is important to be reliable, open and have good communication skills. I think you also need to be approachable to everyone – residents, their families and colleagues. Treating people with respect and dignity is essential too, as is being friendly.

Every day is different and I always look forward to dealing with new challenges. The best part of the role for me, is coming into work each morning and seeing all the residents. I also really enjoy working with colleagues; we are a close team and work hard together. Holly Grange House is such a welcoming home and I honestly love being here.

I spend my free time with family and friends. I have two dogs (Oscar and Gucci) who like lots of cuddles, which I am only too happy to provide. I also love a bit of Karaoke with my harmonica and taking part in local bingo nights.