Our team at
The Mayfield

I have a level three NVQ and was previously a Senior Lead. The most important part of my role here is to make sure residents are safe, comfortable and happy.

Everyday is different so you need to be flexible, patient and caring. It is also important to be organised. The Mayfield is a friendly and welcoming home, and we encourage all our residents to live life to its fullest with a varied activities programme.

In my spare time, I enjoy gardening, walking, reading and going to gigs.

I’ve been a chef since 1989 and spent ten years in the Royal Navy. I also have a City and Guilds in catering management. Before joining the team here, I was head chef at a seafood restaurant. Working the food industry has lots of highlights, and for me, I won a gold medal at the Salon Culinaire[AE1.1], which I’m incredibly proud of. I was also voted Best Baker in North Yorkshire for two years running.

As Head Chef at The Mayfield, the most important part of my role is to deliver a varied and nutritious diet, so you need a strong understanding of health and nutrition. Working in a care home also means you need to be compassionate, and I love producing comfort food that triggers happy memories.

When I’m not working, I enjoy gardening, music and line dancing.

Before becoming Care Manager, I was deputy manager and a senior carer here, so being able to progress to my current position has been a career highlight. I have a level three NVQ in health and social care and am currently working towards my level five qualification, which will help me develop my skills even further.

In this role, it is important to be organised and enjoy working in a busy environment. Every day throws up new challenges so being calm and having good communication skills help too.

I love spending time with residents. Not only does it give me an excuse to get away from my desk, it is wonderful to listen to their experiences and stories.

One of my big interests outside of work is stone circles and ancient sites and I’ve been lucky enough to explore these across the world.

Before joining the team here, I was a teaching assistant. I also worked for English Heritage for over 15 years. My previous experience means I bring lots of soft skills which are essential to the role, including being outgoing, and being able to multitask and work independently. Being good at managing your time and priorities are essential too.

Spending time with residents is always the best bit of the day for me. It is one of the most important parts of what I do, and it always makes me feel happy to see them smiling and laughing. It’s a lovely feeling, knowing that people enjoy our activities programmes.

In my spare time I like reading, swimming, and sewing. I am also a keen cinema fan and regularly watch movies, as well as enjoy meals out.

I have an NVQ in customer service and was previously a receptionist and administrator. Being Front of House Manager means you need to be approachable, bubbly, and be a genuine people person.

A big part of my role is to provide families with any information they might need when considering if The Mayfield is right for a loved one. Making the decision can be stressful, so I like to make people feel welcome and at ease, particularly when I show families around for the first time.

I like to be organised so one of my favourite parts of the day is our ’10 at 10’ meeting where we run through all the essential tasks for the day.

When I am not at work, I enjoy socialising with a few cocktails and spending time with family and friends.

The Mayfield is an incredibly friendly and welcoming home. Being able to build strong relationships with colleagues and residents has been a real highlight.

As one of the first faces people see when they walk through our doors, it is crucial to be a good communicator and to provide a genuine welcome. Discretion, compassion and strong organisational skills are essential too. No two days are ever the same, so you also need to be adaptable and take everything in your stride.

I chose to join Care UK because I have previous experience working as a private carer. I have also worked as an administrator in a school and as a receptionist in the charitable sector, so I was able to bring all my skills and experience to this role.

My favourite part of the day is chatting with residents, hearing their stories and welcoming families. I’m proud to be part of such a compassionate team and being able to help support colleagues in any way I can.

Outside of work, I enjoy walking my dogs, gardening and home decorating.

I was a painter previously but wanted a career change, and I am so pleased to be part of the team at The Mayfield.

In this role, you need to prioritise tasks, be professional at all times and have excellent attention to detail. I have also had COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) training to help develop my skills. I have also been trained in infection prevention control. [AE1.1]

The best part of the day for me is seeing all the rooms and communal areas lovely and clean. I also like being able to stop and have a chat with residents.

In my spare time, I enjoy walking my dog, seeing family and going on holiday.

Before joining the team here, I was a plant operative and groundworker, but I felt it was time for a change. I decided to become a Maintenance Officer at The Mayfield because I’m a people person and it used my existing skills and experience.

In this role you need to be reliable and polite. You also need to genuinely enjoy being around people – I always make sure I have time for a chat. This is such a rewarding job because you can see the positive difference you make in someone’s daily life. Knowing that The Mayfield is a safe and comfortable home is hugely important to me.

In my free time, I go walking and metal detecting. I also like to support the community and volunteer at a food bank.