Our team at
Sherwood Grange

Before joining the team at Sherwood Grange I was a Team Leader at Broadwater Lodge, another Care UK home which received an outstanding CQC rating.

Having worked in domiciliary care before, I wanted to learn more, and Care UK has a good reputation for training and career progression which is why I joined. I now have NVQ levels 2,3,4 and 5 in health and social care.

The most important part of all our roles here is to make sure that residents are happy and live fulfilling lives. Talking to residents and interacting with them on a daily basis are my favourite parts of the job. I always get a sense of pride when I feel I have made a positive difference to a resident’s or colleague’s day.

Outside of work I enjoy socialising and watching documentaries and films. I also love spending time with my dog Lily who is a Morkie.

I’ve worked in business development in private healthcare, in hotel management and hospitality recruitment. While moving into the adult social care sector is quite a change for me, Care UK is a market-leading company. I liked its ethos of ‘fulfilling lives’ and I fancied learning new skills and challenging myself in a new environment.

I think my personality and skills lend themselves well to this role. You need to be an energetic ‘people’ person able to build strong, trusting relationships with residents, relatives and colleagues in the home. Having empathy and compassion is vital too because families are often under huge pressure when they get in touch for the first time. It’s up to me to allay their worries, give them the information they need and support them to make the right decision for them and their loved one.

The best part of the day is when I get to walk around the home and see what’s going on. It’s brilliant to see residents happy and doing lots of different activities. My day also involves liaising with families and building strong links with the community. It’s varied and always interesting! 

I joined Care UK after gaining over a decade of experience in healthcare environments, from a neuro-disability hospital, other local care homes and activities supervision experience in Wandsworth.

I had heard about Care UK having more outstanding CQC homes than other large providers and how happy employees were within the company.

Each day I enjoy getting to sit down with the residents, chatting about their history and getting to establish a better rapport with them. It makes them happy and in turn makes me happy.

I have done many things over the years to improve others' lives, and I am very proud of all those memories, but personally, one of my proudest moments was when I was taught to play the piano by a resident who was a concert pianist. When I first met her, she was a socially isolated resident who didn’t enjoy the company of others, but over time, we got to know each other, and we made an agreement that I would teach her chess in exchange for her teaching me piano, and it became a ritual for us, and she came out of her shell and was no longer isolated.

I am honoured to have the privilege to spend my days with such amazing residents and to have the opportunity to give them meaningful experiences. Seeing them smile with joy is an amazing feeling.

Working for Care UK allows me to combine my passion for food with making a positive impact on people’s lives. I use my culinary skills to create nutritious, high-quality meals tailored to meet residents’ needs.

My extensive training includes a diploma in collective nutrition technology and dietetics. I’ve also completed food and hygiene certificates, as well as taken specialist courses in various cooking techniques such as sous-vide and pastry making. I love what I do, and I enjoy being able to continually update my knowledge, including allergen management and nutrition.

Care UK has a strong focus on excellence and innovation. It is incredibly rewarding to contribute to residents’ wellbeing and to be part of a supportive and professional team.

As Head Chef, responsibilities include menu creation and compliance to health and safety rules. Team management is also a big part of the role so you need excellent organisational skills, as well as a passion for food and attention to detail. Having a solid understanding of dietary needs is also essential in a care environment.

Mealtimes are my favourite parts of the day. This is when we see the home-cooked meals we’ve made being enjoyed. It’s the moment all our hard work comes together, and positive feedback makes it all the more worthwhile.

So far, I’ve had two big career highlights. I was a finalist in the Care UK Chef of the Year 2024 competition, which was an incredible achievement. I also reached the semifinals of the National Association of Care Catering (NACC) Care Chef of the Year 2024, where I performed very well and came very close to the final. Both experiences were valuable opportunities to showcase my skills and dedication to providing high-quality care dining.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, especially my granddaughters, who bring so much joy to my life. I also love cooking at home, exploring new recipes, and experimenting with different cuisines. I like to stay active too, whether it’s taking walks in nature or working on personal projects to relax and recharge.

I joined Care UK looking for a new challenge and an opportunity to progress in a care environment.

An important part of my role as Business Administrator is interacting with visitors, and as such, having good customer service skills is essential. I believe someone in the role needs to be polite and friendly, always ready to listen, and have exceptional organisation skills.

Each day, I enjoy spending time and speaking with both residents and their families. I am always here to help with any queries they might have.

As well as supporting residents and families, it brings me pride to always support the Home Manager to the best of my abilities.

Coming to work and making the residents happy and putting smiles on their faces is my favourite part of what I do.

In a Team Leader role, you need to be empathetic, charismatic and hardworking, and it’s important to have good leadership skills too. When I’m able to deliver care efficiently and make people around me happy, that makes me feel fulfilled in my role.

Joining Sherwood Grange has been the highlight of my career.

I have over 20 years of experience in housekeeping in a range of settings, including schools, hotels, and homes.

I joined Care UK as I was keen to challenge myself by working in a new environment and bring my knowledge and skills to this job role.

As Head Housekeeper, it is my job to ensure the home is always up to the correct standards and guide the team, making sure they follow relevant guidelines. It is a role that requires excellent organisation, attention to detail, and good communication skills.

My favourite part of each day working in the home is hearing positive feedback from residents, and knowing that you are helping to bring a smile to their faces.

I first joined Care UK looking for the personal growth and development working in a larger organisation can provide. Since joining the Sherwood Grange I have enjoyed being a part of the larger company and using my organisation and communication skills to help increase sales by making the home the best it can be.

The most important part of my role is maintaining health and safety in-house, fixing the variety of issues that can occur in a home, and liaising with external contractors.

Working in maintenance in a care home setting requires dedication, patience, and friendliness. Alongside an enjoyment of problem solving.

My favourite part of each day at Sherwood Grange is meeting residents, getting to know them, and figuring out how to fix any issues they are having.