Your shortlist

Are you happy to accept "Functional" cookies?

We use a cookie for this feature.  This is so that the feature continues to work as you navigate the website and to save it so it's still available when you return.

Save your shortlisted homes here.

As you search for a care home, add your shortlisted homes here by clicking the heart icon. You'll find all your choices here for ease of reference.

Find homes

We need your consent

Are you happy to accept 'Functional' cookies?

We use a cookie for this feature. This is so that the feature continues to work as you navigate the website and to save it so it's still available when you return.

Our team at
Silversprings

Trusted to care in Thorrington, Essex

Trusted to care in Thorrington, Essex|With 40 years’ experience,
Care UK are experts in delivering award winning care|Care UK is the most awarded care home provider for the last three years|Discover why Care UK is trusted to care by over 9,000 families

Scroll

Meet our friendly care team

The team at Silversprings are passionate about working with, and supporting, older people. Some come in on their days off because they've been shopping and saw something they thought a resident would like. Others help to raise money for causes close to our hearts. Everyone has different skills and experience, but each person has a common goal - to make each day the best it can be for our residents.

Joanne Rix

Home Manager

Joanne Rix

I first qualified as a nurse back in 1987 and completed further training in 1992.

I then worked in both health and social care, working with adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs, and also as a manager of two other care homes in Suffolk. I joined Silversprings in 2020 after seeing from the Care UK website how beautiful the home is.

I believe it’s important for the home manager to be approachable, caring, and open with both their team, the families, and also and most importantly the residents that live in the home. 

My favourite part of my job is knowing that no one day is the same. I love spending time with the residents and also seeing how the staff engage with them, hearing their stories from their youth and their words of wisdom to the younger generation.

I'm also the Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Champion. My role is vital to ensuring that colleagues at Silversprings maintain a high standard of hygiene and cleanliness as this is fundamental to keeping residents, colleagues and visitors safe.

Outside of work spending time with my family is my big love, I have three grown-up children, and a beautiful granddaughter who stays regularly. I also enjoy walking my Labrador, Max, in the countryside around my home. A glass of rosé wine is my favourite tipple after a long day.

Lisa Sadler
Lisa Sadler
Customer Relations Manager

I joined Care UK in 2019 as I wanted to join a company where I felt I could make a difference. I started as a marketing manager and supported 24 homes in the south region before joining Silversprings as a CRM. Before Care UK I worked in the construction industry as a Marketing and Communications Executive for an insulation company.

I’m excited to be part of the team and I’m looking forward to working with our home manager to see how we can further improve the home and continue to make a difference to people’s lives.

My favourite part of my role is meeting families and building relationships with them to ensure that their loved ones receive the very best of care and everyone feels happy and secure.

Away from work, I have my own horse and I am an avid supporter of the British Riding Club and I enjoy competing in all disciplines. I also love socializing with friends, I play netball for a local league and I enjoy walks and attempting to keep fit whilst eating a lot of cake!

Beverley Crockford
Beverley Crockford
Lifestyle Coordinator

I owned and ran a hairdressing salon for 35 years, and I used to visit care homes regularly to do residents hair. I used to love it, and I always said that, if I ever gave up hairdressing, I’d go into care work. In 2014 I gave up hairdressing and moved into care work! I worked as a carer and then moved into lifestyle work.

I love my job and everything it involves. I enjoy supporting residents to take part in activities that are meaningful to them. I love seeing them happy, smiling and interacting with each other. It shows they’re comfortable here at Silversprings.

I find it hugely rewarding to build strong relationships with residents, their loved ones and my colleagues. Going home at the end of the day knowing that I’ve done my best is a great feeling. During my time as a carer I developed a passion for high quality end of life care, which I still have today. I’m an end of life companion, and I support residents and their families to ensure that they achieve their end of life wishes.

Fiona Palmer
Fiona Palmer
Residential Lead

I joined Care UK in 2012 and have been working for Care UK for 11 years. Previously, I worked as a Senior Carer in a learning disability home.

There are a lot of skills that come handy in this role, including good communication, listening and a good sense of humour! Most importantly, having a passion to make a difference to the residents living at Silversprings.

My favourite part of everyday is spending time with residents creating a fulfilling lifestyle and seeing their families happy.

Outside of work I enjoy going for walks and spending time with family.

Paul Radford
Paul Radford
Head Chef

I’d spent many years running my own business, providing outside catering and was looking for a new challenge. I liked what Care UK had to offer for my career so I joined the team at Silversprings in 2019.

To do this job well you have to be organised, flexible and ready to listen - especially when it comes to the needs of the residents. I work with a great team and it is a pleasure to be able to share methods and ideas with them. We are always looking to improve the dining experience for the residents.

Outside of work I like to unwind by walking my dogs at the beach. I’m also a big football fan and supporter of Ipswich Town FC.

Tracy Ann
Tracy Ann
Business Administrator

This was a complete career change for me, and it fits my lifestyle. I came to Silversprings because the home is beautiful and well run.

I previously worked at Little Holland Hall care home, then moved to Silversprings in April 2021.Whilst working for Care UK I have been nominated for a GEM award and Business Admin of the year.

I take pleasure in this role because of the feeling of completing a task and crossing of an action on my to-do list and I like helping others to do this as well. The interaction with residents, families and colleagues as they step through the front door gives me a sense of privilege to be a part of Care UK.

The enjoyment of coming to Silversprings every day, is working with my colleagues, we always have fun and work so hard. As well as chatting to all the lovely residents that live here too. I am proud to be a part of making Silversprings the best home in the area.

Nichola Wilson
Nichola Wilson
Business Administrator

I used to work as an administrator in a London care home. I later moved into recruitment and joined Care UK’s head office in Colchester but I found myself missing the care home environment, so I transferred to Silversprings. It’s a good place to expand my administration knowledge and skills – as a business administrator you cover everything from recruitment to payroll and HR queries – there’s always plenty to do!

I’ve helped to implement a new rota system at Manor Lodge, another local Care UK care home, and at Silversprings. I really enjoyed doing that and I’m proud to have learned and implemented the system, and to be helping colleagues to learn how to use it too.  

In my spare time I enjoy playing netball (I’ve played for over 20 years) and I play for the local Colchester and Chelmsford leagues. I also like spending time with family and friends, going to the cinema and eating out. 

Marian Varnes
Marian Varnes
Head Housekeeper

I joined the team at Silversprings in 2019 as I wanted a job that was rewarding. Every day I look forward to supporting the residents and my team. Talking to the residents is my favourite part of the day and it always motivates me to do all I can to make their day the best it can be.

When I’m not at work I like to spend my time kayaking and hiking – I am a very active person! I also like to unwind by spending quality time with my friends and family.

Hercules
Hercules
Canine Relations Manager

It’s my job to make sure that everyone feels loved. This mainly involves cuddling, visiting and greeting people, and then lying on my back having my tummy rubbed.

I like to start the day joining in the residents activities and making sure they're enjoying their morning coffee and breakfast, I find they always have something to give me as a little treat! Then there’ll be a bit of lying down and sleeping.

Our experienced teams

Every day Care UK colleagues live our values of passionate, caring and teamwork to empower residents to enjoy fulfilling lives.

Carers

Our hardworking teams always keep individuals and their families at the heart of the care they provide. We work with you to shape the care your loved one receives, the food they’re served, the activities and experiences they want to do – even the ways they prefer to keep in touch with their friends and family. 

Nurses

The nurses at Care UK are highly skilled and receive sector-leading training, which enables them to keep developing expertise in different clinical fields from dementia to palliative care.

Lifestyle

Our dedicated lifestyle teams work hard to organise a range of activities and events at our home. From gardening and baking to quizzes, music sessions and even live entertainment. Above all, we get to know your loved one to make sure our activities are tailored to suit their interests and hobbies.

Home support roles

From catering to maintenance, housekeeping to administration, our home support teams play a crucial part in ensuring individuals enjoy an exceptional and safe service every day.

All our teams get to know each person they care for to ensure they provide a service that’s designed around their unique needs and tastes. 

Infection control

Each of our homes have a trained Infection Control and Prevention Champion – they are responsible for carrying out daily infection control audit and ensuring cleaning protocols are meticulously applied.