Our team at
Seccombe Court

I started out as a Care Assistant and worked my way up to my current role. I’ve learnt so much having done different care roles and it means I understand what the team experience day-to-day. I’ve been privileged to have worked at Seccombe Court since it opened in 2017.

I enjoy doing my walk around in the morning and greeting all the residents and seeing how they are. Seeing their smiles gets my day off to a great start.

It’s the little moments that count when you’re supporting older people, so I do everything I can to ensure residents enjoy rewarding experiences and interactions. I’m passionate about the job I do, and the job all the team does here at Seccombe Court, and I’m committed to supporting them to deliver their best work every day. Every person who works here understands the difference they make to people’s lives, and they make it happen.

I have a mix of care and sales experience, so when I saw this role, I thought it suited my skills well. I was also keen to work for Care UK as the organisation is a well-established and award-winning provider.

Compassion, openness and a determination to make the moving in process as smooth as possible are all vital in this role. Families are feeling a huge range of emotions when they contact us, so being understanding and having empathy are key too. I’ve needed to learn many new systems, and to get to grips with social media in this role. 

The team at Seccombe Court is caring and fun, which makes working here a joy. It’s also incredibly satisfying to see residents thriving in our community as a result of the love and care they receive. Knowing I’ve contributed to their quality of life gives me a great sense of achievement.

I have an Advanced Vocational Certificate in Education (AVCE) in health and social care. I am also a trained dementia care coach and have experience working as a senior carer.

One of the reasons I joined Care UK is because its ethos reflects my own. It is also an organisation that provides superb training and opportunities to grow.

I absolutely love planning big events and making residents’ wishes come true. Once, I helped a 101-year-old lady fulfil her dream to go ice skating. Up until it happened, she had no idea wheelchair ice skating was even possible. Moments like that bring real joy.

Part of my role is making sure everyone’s individuality is taken into account. It is important that everyone’s interests and hobbies are catered for, so I always bear these in mind when I plan activities and events.

Seccombe Court is a vibrant, lovely and fun home to live in and I am really proud to be part of that.

Outside of work, I enjoy watching live music and comedy shows. I also love to spend time with my family and dog.

I joined the team at Seccombe Court because of Care UK’s good reputation, and I’d also had a recommendation from an existing colleague.

As a Head Chef, you need strong organisational skills along with an understanding of how to cook high-quality food that is suitable for residents. You also need to be supportive with your team and flexible to adjust to business needs.

I love the satisfaction of putting a smile on the face of a resident who is enjoying my food. Making residents and my team happy is the most important part of my role. I’m proud to maintain high standards of quality food and drink services. In 2015, I was even a finalist in a national chef competition, the Public Sector Catering Awards.

When I’m not working, I enjoy angling and experimental cooking, like trying vegan recipes and exploring making my own charcuterie.

I decided to join Seccombe Court in March 2023 because of the home’s reputation within the local community and its recognition through industry awards.

I’m responsible for all aspects of financial and other administration in the home, including billing, payroll and HR. I believe you need to be empathetic, organised and have a positive attitude to do this job well.

My favourite part of the day is seeing the residents’ smiling faces when they’re taking part in the full and varied activity calendar at the home. I particularly love seeing residents singing and dancing to live music and performers.

I’m proud to work alongside such an amazing team of people, all of whom are dedicated and passionate about fulfilling the lives of residents.

When I’m not working, I enjoy learning about Tudor history and spending time with my three cats.

I gained my nursing degree in 2004. Since then, I have worked in both acute and community settings which has given me lots of practical knowledge and helped build my confidence.

One particular area of training I have found invaluable is the frailty course I completed a few years ago. It was incredibly useful and has been a real source of insight when I carry out frailty assessments even now.

I love the work I do. It is such a great feeling, knowing that you can have a positive impact on people’s lives. It’s also really satisfying being able to give relatives peace of mind, knowing that their loved ones are well cared for.

In my role, you have to be a strong leader but that also means being able to build a supportive team around you. To do that, you need to communicate effectively, be compassionate and have empathy and integrity. You also have to be able to delegate. Everyone should feel safe and comfortable – both residents and colleagues.

Outside of Seccombe Court, I love spending time with my family. Even after a busy day at work, family time leaves me feeling refreshed. I also enjoy seeing my friends and visiting new places.

I joined Care UK because I wanted to work for an award-winning care provider to enrich my career. Before this, I was a Receptionist at the NHS Oxford Health Foundation Trust.

In this role, you need to be empathetic, thoughtful, kind and passionate. It’s important to be very patient and a good listener with the residents. You also need to have multitasking skills, as well as good communication and writing.

My favourite part of the day is listening to the amazing life stories of the residents at Seccombe Court. It’s a perfect way to learn British history and culture!

My proudest moment so far was receiving a monthly GEM award for ‘Going the Extra Mile’ with very positive comments from relatives and colleagues.

When I’m not working, I like travelling, exploring new cultures, learning new languages and enjoying meals with friends and family.

As a receptionist, it’s good to have a positive attitude. You also need excellent communication skills, including being an active listener. It’s important that everyone feels heard and understood.

Before joining the Seccombe Court team, I was a receptionist in a busy hotel. I wanted a new challenge and Care UK offers great opportunities to grow.

I love that we get the chance to chat with residents and find out more about them and their lives. It’s even better when we hold events in our reception area and everyone takes part in singing and dancing, it is so uplifting.

Outside of work, I am an avid reader. My favourite books explore the lives of women from different countries and cultures throughout history.

My role is to keep Seccombe Court care home clean and safe for residents to enjoy. It’s important to have a good eye for detail and a friendly personality when interacting with residents in this role.

While cleaning rooms, I enjoy speaking to residents and listening to their life stories – it's my favourite part of the day. I also love doing a deep clean before a new resident moves in so I can make sure it’s perfect for the next person.

I like working at Care UK because they live their vales of caring, passionate and teamwork.

Outside of work, I like reading and doing crossword puzzles. I also enjoy looking after my grandchildren.

As Maintenance Manager my role is to deal with any maintenance issues that may arise. I have been in the home since we first opened our doors and it is a pleasure to be able to work in such a lovely home with caring, friendly staff. I have worked as a Maintenance Manager for the last five years in another care home but prior to this I worked in the printing industry.
 

I have 30 years of experience in maintenance, caretaking and house refurbishment. Before joining Seccombe Court, I was a surveyor of windows, doors and conservatories at a PVCu window company. I wanted to work within the care community, and I decided to work at Care UK because of the company’s good reputation.

To do this job, you need to have experience across all types of maintenance, as well as being patient, caring and empathetic to help with the residents.

Seeing and talking to the residents is the best part of each day. When I moved into care home maintenance, I realised just how rewarding it was to work in this environment.

Keeping the home in top condition so the people working and residing here are 100% safe is the most important part of my role, and it makes me proud when I can make residents or colleagues smile.

Outside of work, I enjoy drawing, painting, photography and spending time with my granddaughter.