Our team at
Bourley Grange

I’ve been part of the Bourley Grange team for nearly ten years. My husband is in the armed forces, so we moved around a lot, and I’d worked as a kitchen assistant for the Forces Children’s Trust in Germany before I joined the home. I’d always wanted to work in older people’s care but the forces lifestyle meant I didn’t have the opportunity. 

Every day is different when you work in a care home, but it’s always rewarding! In this role it’s important to be flexible, positive, able to multitask, and to be a good communicator. 

I enjoy making the residents and their families happy, giving them the advice and information they may need, and offering a listening ear. I also enjoy helping with activities when I can, which is always huge fun. 

When I’m not at work you might find me running, doing dancing, or taking part in different sports. I also like to unwind in front of Netflix, and with my family. 

I have more than 25 years of experience working in five-star hotels like The Dorchester Hotel in London. I’ve even catered for Queen Elizabeth II, Nelson Mandela and other celebrities and worked with celebrity chefs. Since joining the care sector, I was the Head Chef of the Royal Surrey Hospital for nine years, and I have worked in four different care homes before joining Bourley Grange.

I’m passionate about cooking for residents. It doesn’t matter how long I have been a chef, I am always excited to bring a smile to a resident’s face when they eat my food. In this role, you also need to be organised to ensure that everything is in place and the operation of the kitchen and housekeeping runs well. Happy colleagues and happy residents are my priorities.

I love every part of this job, from organising my daily tasks to cooking and ensuring residents’ nutritional needs are met. We have private dining as well as events where we bring relatives and community members into the home. This helps residents feel that even though they are living in a care home, they are still part of the community.

I’m proud when I know that residents are happy with our food. I’m also proud of my team because I know I can rely on them to produce amazing dishes for residents.

Outside of work, I enjoy looking after my two lovely dogs.

I have a diploma in industrial electrotechnology and before joining Bourley Grange, I was a site operations manager. My experience means I’m used to multitasking and prioritising different jobs and projects, which is essential in this role, along with a problem-solving mindset. You also need to have strong attention to detail and be passionate about health and safety.

As well as all the practical skills, I think it is important to have empathy when you’re working in a care home environment. You need to have an awareness of issues that people may have when they also need care and support. Good maintenance also means providing an environment where colleagues can carry out their duties well too.

My favourite part of the day involves spending time with residents and helping them with their own personal projects. It is incredibly rewarding, and I am really proud of the difference we can make to people’s lives. I am also honoured to have been a finalist in the Care Home Awards for best maintenance for two years running (in 2023 and 2024).

When I’m not at Bourley Grange, I love to spend time with my family.