Our team at
Chichester Grange

I have always worked in the care sector and joined Care UK due to its reputation of being an organisation who supports progression and development. Before joining Chichester Grange I was a Welfare Manager in a care home. During my time the homes CQC score improved from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’.

The most important part of my role as Deputy Manager is to be open, honest and transparent. It’s also important to have good listening skills, compassion and empathy. My favourite part of my day is making a difference to residents by offering any support or just a listening ear.

When I am not working, I enjoy spending my time with my family and friends. I also enjoy going to the beach.

My role is to help families make informed choices about care for their loved ones. To do that, you need to be a great communicator and be able to actively listen. That also means you need to have patience and empathy.

I meet a great variety of people during the day. Families understandably have lots of questions about choosing the right care provider and I love being able to help them, so they find the right one.

I previously worked for another care provider but chose to move to Care UK because it has an excellent reputation. I also wanted to be part of a larger organisation. I feel really proud to be part of a team that provides care, safety and peace of mind.

Before my career in care, I worked in retail management for 32 years. There are lots of similarities between that role and this, including meeting people from all walks of life. There’s also a lot of multitasking, as well as problem solving.

I like to spend my time outside of work with my family. We also love to get out in the fresh air (preferably near the coast) with our Labrador Simba.

I joined Chichester Grange bringing with me lots of valuable experience and knowledge from my previous role as a Clinical Nurse Manager at a children’s and young adults hospice. I worked there for six and a half years, working my way up from a Staff Nurse and a Team Leader.

The most important part of my role is to be caring, adaptable and empathetic. It’s also important to have the willingness to continue learning to develop my skills.  The favourite part of my day is talking to the residents and staff.  I like to see we make a difference every day. I enjoy being in a busy and fulfilling working environment, and no two days are the same.

When I am not working my three children keep me busy, as does my cocker spaniel! We often go on family dog walks on the beach. I also enjoy spending time with friends and enjoy meals out, especially afternoon tea. 

Working at Chichester Grange has been a career highlight for me. I took the job at Care UK because I wanted to make a difference in peoples’ lives. Before joining the team at Chichester Grange, I used to work in primary schools.

To be a Lifestyle Lead, you need to be friendly, warm and approachable. I love spending time with residents and seeing them smile. It can be challenging to think on my feet and build lifestyle activities from scratch at a new care home, but it’s absolutely worth it to fulfil residents’ wishes and see their smiles, knowing they are safe, happy and content.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading and walking my dog.

I have worked in all sorts of places in my 32 years in catering, including four-star hotels, gastro pubs and fine dining restaurants. In that time, I’ve been a head pastry chef as well as head chef.

I’ve also taken part in the Chef of the Year competition while working for celebrity chef Brian Turner. I’ve also gained two AA Rosettes which I’m so proud of.

My last role was as head chef at a luxury care home. I chose to join Care UK as it’s an organisation that places great importance on food and dining and sees them as strong assets. It’s important to me to change the perception of food in care homes.

You definitely need to be calm and level-headed in the kitchen. I put all my passion for cooking into my role every day. My favourite part of the job is simply seeing residents enjoy tasty, well-presented food that gives them a positive dining experience. Nothing makes me happier than to make someone’s day through the great food we make.

Outside of work, I love to spend time with my partner and our dog in Cornwall. I enjoy going out to eat and seeing my favourite bands.

Working in the care sector fits my compassionate and kind nature. I have excellent organisational and IT skills and have Level 2 in Business Administration. In this role you need fantastic people skills to liaise with residents, families, and professionals.

I love working with numbers, but seeing happy residents enjoying themselves is my favourite part of the day. I’m proud to support colleagues so residents can lead fulfilling lives.

Outside of work, I am quite creative. My interests are playing the guitar, photography and arts and crafts. I am also studying towards a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics.

I wanted to join Care UK as I saw this as a huge opportunity to work in a higher position and I love how the company puts the residents at the heart of everything. Before joining the team here at Chichester Grange, I previously worked as a laundry assistant, a housekeeper supervisor and in accounting.

To do well in this role you need to be good at planning and be organised. You also need to be hard working, have a good attention to detail and work well in a team. The best part of my working day is meeting with my team to discuss our goals and thoughts. I also like the end of the day when everything is done, the home is nice and tidy, and our high standards are met.

Outside of work I enjoy walking, reading, and spending time with my family.