Our team at
Smyth Lodge

I joined Care UK in 2022, having worked in the care industry for over ten years. I started as a healthcare assistant in residential care. Wanting to expand my experience, I also did domiciliary care and nursing care. I progressed over the years in various roles before successfully applying for a deputy manager role and then moving on to Smyth Lodge. 

All the Care UK homes are beautiful. You can see no expense has been spared. Their values are my values. After my interview, I knew straight away myself and the manager would make a great team and that we would ultimately be working towards the same goal. 

My job role is to support and deputize for the home manager. I provide management, supervision, and leadership to all staff within the home and oversee the delivery of high-quality person-centered care.

No working day is the same in a care home. The safe running of the home is my priority. Beyond that, I strive to make a difference to either a member of staff, a resident or relative, either directly or indirectly, every day. 

I can’t wait to see the difference we can make as a team to both the residents and staff.

The first time I visited Smyth Lodge and met the team, I could tell straight away that I would enjoy working at the home.

I worked for another local care home for 13 years, and it was my greatest pride to have improved the rating for that home and kept it at high standards for so many years.

Outside of work I enjoy socialising and spending family time with my two daughters, as well as going for walks with our dog Annie.

I am passionate about engaging with the local community and meeting new people. I know that finding a care home and the admission process can often be a difficult and emotional time for families. I find helping and guiding them through this process rewarding. Knowing that I can help someone find the right place where their loved one will be happy and well cared for is the best part of my day.

I love getting to know the lovely residents who live at Smyth Lodge and assisting new residents to join the Smyth Lodge family.

I was delighted to join Care UK as they are innovative in the development of their staff. They encourage transferable skills through training to assist the progression of anyone who is interested in developing professionally.

I have been a qualified registered nurse since 2010, with experience within the NHS and in social care. I have the knowledge and skills to manage various medical conditions through to end of life care. I have also led a team of nurses as a Band 6 on a demanding hyper acute stroke unit at the start of my nursing career, through to my Senior Nurse and clinical lead roles in social care settings.

My favourite part of each working day is being able to engage with my colleagues, to share ideas, and to enhance care. As well as assisting family members and reassuring residents. It is the most important aspect of my job role to ensure care is given to maximize the safety and comfort of the residents while offering a holistic approach.

It brings me joy to see happy colleagues, family, and residents. Going to work at Smyth Lodge is like a home away from home.

I’ve been working in the care sector for over 25 years in care homes and domiciliary care. I started as a Care Assistant and became a Team Leader.

I joined Care UK because I knew people who worked for the organisation and who talked about the quality of care and the excellent training and support given to colleagues. I actually started working at Foxbridge House, Care UK’s care home in Oprington, before moving here to Smyth Lodge a little while after it opened. I appreciate how Care UK recognises your commitment and enables you to try different roles – that’s how I’ve been able to move from being a Team Leader to becoming a Lifestyle Coordinator.

I enjoy coming in first thing in the morning, meeting and greeting everyone and planning the day’s activities. I enjoy being a part of the residents’ life and working as part of a fun and supportive team, bringing new ideas to Smyth Lodge.

My heart is in the care sector. I was a healthcare assistant in the NHS for 13 years and I’ve worked on the finance/admin side with another private care provider. I joined Care UK in 2018 because it has a fantastic reputation, with strong values, and I wanted to be a part of that. Smyth Lodge is also a beautiful place to work, and there’s a great team here. Everyone is focused on delivering great care, which is essential.

I love any opportunity to be involved in making the lives of residents as wonderful as possible. Outside of work, I like to fundraise – I’ve raised money for my local hospice by abseiling and skydiving. Who knows what I might do to raise money for residents! 

I have worked within the health care sector as Operations Manager for a number of years and joined Smyth Lodge as a Team Leader before taking on the role as Housekeeping Manager.

Working within the home, it is always a joy to take time out of the day to interact with residents. Listening to their stories and taking an interest in their daily lives and past.

My role requires attention to detail, especially paying attention to infection control measures. Each day I enjoy engaging with the housekeeping team, who I work closely with, to make sure that daily tasks are in hand. The wider team are also always on hand to chat with, and I know that colleagues are always on hand to listen, help and advise.

I began working at Smyth Lodge in late 2018 – I’ve worked in maintenance for other care providers, but I watched the home being built and I was impressed by what I saw, so I thought I’d apply to join the team. 

I like to start the day by taking a walk around the home and the grounds to check that everything is okay. It’s a good opportunity to say hello to people too. It’s important to be patient and understanding and to be ready to turn your hand to anything in this job. You never know what each day will bring, or what new skills you’ll learn. 

Ours is a new home where everyone’s getting to know each other and the ways of working. It’s an exciting time, and it’s a great feeling to make a difference to the residents.