Alexandra

Please detail any relevant education/training

Bachelor of Science Degree Health and Social Care Open University.

Diploma in Health and Social Welfare.

Certificate in Health and Social Care.

British Sign Language Stage 1.

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

2020 transfer from Four Seasons Health Care.

Worked at Alexandra for 4 and a half years.

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Home?

Local to where I live. Giving back to the community where I work and live.

What role did you carry out before you came to Healthcare Homes?

I have a 35 year career in Health and Social Care, previous job was with Bupa Care homes in Kensington, London regional manager for Southeast England supporting services for people with learning disabilities.

What do you think a person needs to do to be good in your role?

Be confident, caring and compassionate, lead by example do rather than expect, listen and always do what you say you are going to do.

What’s your favourite part of your working day and why?

Seeing a resident smile or assisting staff and colleagues to navigate obstacles for achieving better practice.

What’s been your biggest professional challenge in your current role, or in your career to date?

Without doubt. Covid 19 Global Pandemic. It has impacted every aspect of our work and relationships with residents and families, very very sad times.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Achieving ‘Home Manager of the Year’ 2018/19 for London and Southeast with Four Seasons Health Care”.

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

Presence, approachability, being accessible to everyone, leading by example, sharing knowledge, empowering people, celebrating success and good practice.

What are your interests outside of work/how do you unwind?

Walking, theatre, socializing with friends and family.

What do you enjoy/are you looking forward to the most about working at this care home?

To return to normal times having fun with residents and their families.

Thriving as a successful service in our local community.

Please detail any relevant education/training

NVQ level 4 in management and team leadership.

Dementia care framework.

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

2020

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Home?

We were taken over by healthcare homes.

What role did you carry out before you came to Healthcare Homes?

Deputy Manager.

What do you think a person needs to do to be good in your role?

Reliable, flexible, easy to adjust to changes, polite, willing to take the extra mile.

What’s your favourite part of your working day and why?

Being able to make a difference in residents lives and make a positive change.

What’s been your biggest professional challenge in your current role, or in your career to date?

Managing the router and accommodating all employee’s requests and ensuring that we have the right skill levels to provide good quality of care.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Becoming Deputy Manager and being nominated for Deputy of the year.

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

Good communication skills, a good understanding of complex human nature.

What are your interests outside of work/how do you unwind?

Camping, cooking/baking, gardening and walking dogs.

What do you enjoy/are you looking forward to the most about working at this care home?

Being able to put smiles on our resident’s faces. Helping people who are no longer able to take care of themselves.

Please detail any relevant education/training

Level  2 & 3 in Care.

Level 2 in Business Admin.

Completed train the trainer in phlebotomist, housekeeping, dementia.

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

I started working at Alexandra Care Home 2012

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Home?

I was asked to join the team at Alexandra Care Home.

What role did you carry out before you came to Healthcare Homes?

I have worked all roles in care, started in domestic, moved onto carer and senior carer, team leader and finally offered the role of the administrator in 2003.

What do you think a person needs to do to be good in your role?

Communications, building relationships.

What’s your favourite part of your working day and why?

Not knowing what challenges face me and how I will resolve them, reassuring families if distressed.

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

To be understanding, approachable and supportive.

What are your interests outside of work/how do you unwind?

I enjoy arts and crafts and reading. I am very family orientated so family time is very important to me, it is a big part of my life.

What do you enjoy/are you looking forward to the most about working at this care home?

I feel part of an excellent team and feel we all work well together and help each other problem-solve.

Please detail any relevant education/training

Nursing schools.

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

03/20

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Home?

I’ve worked in this care home since 2012 and Healthcare Homes took over.

What role did you carry out before you came to Healthcare Homes?

RGN in the same care home before Healthcare Homes took over.

What do you think a person needs to do to be good in your role?

Competent, hard-working, good communication skills and first aid training.

What’s your favourite part of your working day and why?

My favourite part of the day is masking the residents feel happy and comfortable after I’ve done my job.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

When the families appreciate the hard work Nurses and the carers are doing.

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

Support, caring, experienced, good listener, good communication, and appreciation of staff.

What are your interests outside of work/how do you unwind?

Shopping, coffee with my friends, family programs or just relaxing alone and writing.

What do you enjoy/are you looking forward to the most about working at this care home?

I am enjoying working with my team in my unit and other units, we are all such a happy team!

Please detail any relevant education/training

NVQ Housekeeping

Fire Wardens

Dementia

Infections control

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

2004

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Home?

I was a line leader at an inkjet factory and decided I wanted something completely different and I’m so glad I did.

What role did you carry out before you came to Healthcare Homes?

Housekeeper for four seasons.

What do you think a person needs to do to be good in your role?

Be organised, good communications and to care about the environment that I am looking after.

What’s your favourite part of your working day and why?

I like my walk around every morning and having a chat with the residents.

What’s been your biggest professional challenge in your current role, or in your career to date?

Going from domestic to housekeeper and learning the role.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

My department getting the managers award for their hard work and dedication.

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

Someone that sees all jobs in the home as being as important as each other.

What are your interests outside of work/how do you unwind?

Decorating and gardening.

What do you enjoy/are you looking forward to the most about working at this care home?

As a housekeeper, I am always looking to improve the home.

Please detail any relevant education/training

NVQ Level 2 in Activity Leadership

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

2014

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Home?

I finished school and was looking for a part-time job whilst at college and decided to stay as I enjoyed being with the elderly.

What role did you carry out before you came to Healthcare Homes?

I didn’t have a job, I just finished school.

What do you think a person needs to do to be good in your role?

Being confident, active and willing, to be enthusiastic at all times, willing to help others, be creative and mindful.

What’s your favourite part of your working day and why?

Keeping the residents active and happy.

What’s been your biggest professional challenge in your current role, or in your career to date?

Passing my exams, college and exams and securing a job I enjoy.

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

Friendly, honest, to be there at all times, spending time with the residents.

What are your interests outside of work/how do you unwind?

Going on days/trips out with my little boy. Enjoy seeing friends and spending time with family.

What do you enjoy/are you looking forward to the most about working at this care home?

To continue thinking of new ideas for the residents to participate in, arranging future events and keeping the home busy.

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

2019.

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Home?

It was a job I was interested in doing.

What role did you carry out before you came to Healthcare Homes?

I was a builder.

What do you think a person needs to do to be good in your role?

A level of DIY skills, good communication, be able to sort out problems quickly and efficiently.

What’s your favourite part of your working day and why?

Doing my checklist in the rooms as you get to talk to the residents.

What’s been your biggest professional challenge in your current role, or in your career to date?

Starting work in the care home as it was a completely different environment to what I was normally used to.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Passing my construction courses at college.

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

Being very helpful when a problem occurs, good communication and has a good knowledge of the care home.

What are your interests outside of work/how do you unwind?

I enjoy playing snooker and watching movies.

What do you enjoy/are you looking forward to the most about working at this care home?

I like getting involved in the events throughout the year and help setting up.