Our team at
Mountbatten Grange

I’m a Registered General Nurse and have spent more than 20 years managing nursing homes. Most recently, I was working as a Home Manager for another care provider, but I wanted to work for Care UK to get an insight into working in a larger home.

In my role, it’s important to be a friendly face, be compassionate and provide dignified care in a very homely environment. Being able to communicate effectively with residents, families and all other professionals that visit the home is also key.

My favourite part of the day is spending time engaging with residents and ensuring that they all have a good quality of life and are receiving a very high standard of care. It's my job to ensure that the home remains a happy place for both colleagues and residents. Another important part of my role is working with nurses to ensure they are competent, provide a high standard of nursing care and are being supportive to all our team.

Seeing the residents happy in their home and my colleagues proud of where they work makes me feel fulfilled in my role.

When I’m not at work, I enjoy going to the theatre, shopping, watching baseball and dining out.

I am passionate about making a difference to people’s lives. I have been in the care industry for six years and it is an industry I am passionate about as it enables me to help people and change lives.

I have been employed with Care UK for three years. I was very impressed with Care UK’s values and ethos and decided I would love to work for them. My first position was a Business Administrator which afforded me a greater insight into the management of a care home. My main focus was to support families with the transition from hospital or home care into a care home. By giving them time, understanding, compassion and empathy, this enabled me to build a strong rapport with them and their loved ones. We focus on person-centred care and it was a position I took great pride in and developed. Having been in the care industry for six years, my skills have developed over the years. What I find most rewarding is being in a position to enhance lives and give people a chance to live their lives in a home where they have companionship, stimulation and are cared for at the highest standard.
 

I wanted to work at Care UK because I’d heard about its ethos and values of caring, passionate and teamwork, which are close to my own. Becoming the Lifestyle Lead at Mountbatten Grange was a big highlight in my career, and before this I was working as a Care Assistant.

In my role, it’s important to be organised and forward-thinking, think outside the box, work well in a team and always strive for excellence. Working with residents to ensure that their preferences and wishes are catered for in our weekly and monthly activities is the most important part of my role.

I love receiving feedback from residents after an activity, and watching them enjoying the activities and granting their wishes is another favourite part of my day. It makes me proud to do all this for the residents.

Outside of work, I enjoy running, spending time with my family and ice skating.

Mountbatten Grange is a great home to work in. I’ve made good friends here and I love helping to enrich the lives of residents by cooking them tasty and nutritious meals. Care UK helps to bring out the best in its colleagues by giving them opportunities; this is my first head chef role and I’m relishing overseeing the catering team and ensuring the smooth running of the kitchen.

I like to chat to residents to see what they’re enjoying and what they’d like more of, and my favourite time of day is the end of the day when I can relax and be satisfied that I’ve done my best.

I love working with older people. They have so much to tell us, and every person has had an interesting life. Before joining Mountbatten Grange in October 2018, I was working at The Burroughs, another Care UK home. I also helped to commission another brand new care home.

I find that no two days are the same when you work in a care home. The highlight for me is always meeting new residents and their families and helping to make things easier for them in any way I can. It’s a difficult and emotional decision to move a loved one into a home, and to find the right home for them, so I do try to make them feel better.

At the end of the day I like to cook, garden and get together with friends and family – and perhaps unwind with a glass or two of wine!

Before joining Care UK, I’d heard many wonderful things about the standard of care they deliver. Speaking with someone who works here, they told me of the positive culture and company ethos, and after hearing this I was keen to be a part of the team. Before I joined Mountbatten Grange, I was working in housekeeping for a chain of luxury hotels.

As Head Housekeeper, you need to have a keen eye for detail. I believe it is important to get ‘stuck in’ with team members to be able to lead and motivate your team well. It is also important to be empathetic and compassionate within this role, and you need to have great communication skills and a strong work ethic.

I love spending time chatting with residents and reminiscing with them about their past experiences and adventures. Seeing the positive impact I have on their daily lives makes me proud in my role. One big moment for me was welcoming Loose Women legend Gloria Hunniford into our beautiful home!

When I’m not working, I like to go out for dinner with friends or relax on the sofa.

Throughout my career, I’ve progressed from Care Assistant to Senior Carer to Team Leader, and now into an administrative role. I worked in another care home for 11 years before deciding to move location and join Care UK as a Team Leader, before being promoted to Receptionist.

As Mountbatten Grange’s Receptionist, I believe it’s important to be kind, polite, caring and a good listener. I enjoy being the first person a family member sees when walking into the home, and I love working face-to-face with people. The most important parts of my role are doing the home’s recruitment and welcoming people into the care home.

When I’m not working, I enjoy going for long bike rides and spending time with my loved ones.

I wanted to work for Care UK because I knew a number of people who worked for the organisation, and who were happy here. I joined in 2009. Before that, I was an engineer. 

What I like is being able to use my practical skills in a setting where I can properly make a difference to an older person’s life. I like to encourage residents to help me and get involved in tasks. Some people enjoy being useful, so it makes them happy, and it’s all part of Care UK’s ethos. 

A large home like this can only function when everyone’s pulling together to achieve the same thing. The great teamwork that you see at Mountbatten Grange is what makes the home such a success.