Our team at
Montagu Hall

My last role was as a PA and administrator, but I have over 30 years’ experience in hospitality. I used to manage hotels and lodges in South Africa, but also set up two successful businesses training field guides and running study-abroad programmes for US universities. I’ve had a terrific career with some real highlights, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being able to travel as part of it.

My current role draws on all my previous experience as I’ve always loved meeting new people. As Front of House Manager, you need to deliver excellent service, be organised, have empathy and be a good listener. I love that this role is so varied and no two days are ever the same.

Outside of work, I love anything crafty and enjoy being outdoors. As well as being a mum to two grown-up children, I also have two fur babies.

Before joining the team at Montagu Hall, I worked at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, where I took a level five apprenticeship in nursing. When that finished, I knew I wanted to work in a place where I could make a meaningful and positive difference to people’s daily life. That led me to my current role as care manager here, where I support colleagues, enabling them to provide exceptional care.

To be successful in this role, you need to be compassionate and empathetic to residents’ feelings. You also need to be a good leader to guide and motivate colleagues, set standards and create a positive working environment.

It always makes me feel proud to see the people we care for happy and comfortable. It’s rewarding knowing that we create a safe and respectful home where people feel valued and supported. There is a real sense of purpose working here and a big part of that is making sure we provide the best person-centred care possible.

I always enjoy spending time with residents and hearing all their life stories. I particularly like it when we have live entertainment at Montagu Hall, it’s always a good excuse to get up and dance with residents.

Outside of work, I love my family time with my husband and children, and we enjoy weekend getaways when we can. If we aren’t doing that, you can usually find me on the side of a football field cheering my son on.

Before my role here I owned a shop and was a landlady, but I wanted a change and do something more rewarding. Being Lifestyle Manager here has definitely given me that sense of real pride in what I do.

A big highlight for me was when I helped set up the summer fair for our open day, seeing so many happy, smiling faces was an incredible feeling. We had a fantastic day, there was a petting zoo, live music and it was all a huge success. The team here is amazing and provide so much support.

You definitely need to have a positive attitude in this job, as well as be kind and be willing to genuinely listen to people. Planning and punctuality are essential skills too.

Being able to make just one person smile and feel at ease makes me happy. I especially enjoy interacting with residents living with dementia. Being able to make a connection when they recall something is the best feeling. I truly love my job and feel privileged that I can give something back to my community.

In my spare time, I love a holiday and my children are my pride and joy. I’ve done lots of fundraising in the past, including performing in tribute acts where we raised money for Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

The most important part of my role is ensuring Montagu Hall is cleaned to the highest standards. I love it at the end of the day when I look around and see all the hard work we’ve done making the home look five stars. Seeing the happy faces of all our residents also makes us feel appreciated.

I am a trained fire warden and I’m also the infection control lead. Before this role, I was a housekeeper so being promoted was a real highlight.

You need to have excellent attention to detail in this job, you also have to be a good leader and be supportive. Working in a care home also means you need to be kind, understanding and patient.

Outside of work, I love spending time with my daughters and granddaughter. I also enjoy shopping, going for delicious lunches and going on holiday.