Olive House

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Homes?

I decided to work at Olive House as it has a good reputation and having worked in nursing and dementia care for many years, I felt I wished to experience a residential care environment

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

I was a Deputy Manager in a care home for people living with dementia

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

To be calm, organised and a good listener. Be open and honest. Be empathetic and pro-active

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

I enjoy having fun with our residents; to know that you have made someone smile is a wonderful feeling. Also, as a new manager in post, I am enjoying learning my new role.

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

Becoming the manager of Olive House. I am thoroughly enjoying it and its challenges.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Being given the opportunity to manage Olive House.

What qualities do you think make you stand out?

To be organised, calm and a good listener. Be open and honest. Be empathetic and pro-active. To be understanding of people’s needs, wishes and preferences.

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

I enjoy spending time with my husband and family. I enjoy reading, shopping and baking.

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

From my first day, I have always loved Olive House. I have a fabulous team of staff that are so dedicated to providing outstanding care for our residents and making them happy; this makes coming to Olive House a pleasure.

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Homes?

Healthcare Homes had been recommended to me by a friend

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

I worked in a food factory

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

To be kind, caring and be able to understand our residents’ needs and to help them as much as I can.

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

I like being with our residents as they make my day, every day.

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

Coming to Olive House in the role of Head of Care having been a peripatetic senior and a senior at Meadow House

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

I do not have a specific highlight but I enjoy seeing our residents happy and smiling and ensuring they are provided with high quality care at all times

What qualities do you think make you stand out?

To do what is right for the home, to be professional and respect everyone. To be a strong personality.

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

I enjoy going to Church, my faith is very important to me. I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends.

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

I enjoy my job and enjoy everything I do at Olive House

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Homes?

I had worked in the care industry previously

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

Administrator in a care home

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

Organised, calm and an ability to multi-task

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

I enjoy every part of my working day as no two days are the same

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Setting up a cardiology company on the science park in Cambridge

What qualities do you think make you stand out?

Caring, a good listener and always has an open door

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

Walking my dog Tilly. I also enjoy gardening, yoga and socialising with family and friends

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

Helping both staff and residents

Please detail any relevant education/training

Food Hygiene Certificate

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

April 2017

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Home

Everyone encouraged me to come back

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

I was a cook at a different care home

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

Organised, good cook, compassion, willing to have a go at anything

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

Meeting the residents in the morning for breakfast

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

Paperwork

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Managing a good team of staff in the kitchen

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

Compassion, be lively, willing to get involved with everything in the home

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

Air shows.  Crafting. Looking after my family

Meeting staff and residents

Please detail any relevant education/training

All of Healthcare Homes mandatory training

Year started working at Healthcare Homes

2018

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Home

I was previously a house husband and wanted to work around my daughter

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

House husband

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

Organised, able to prioritise, good people skills

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

Making the residents happy

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

Keeping aircraft in the air whilst in the RAF

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Completing my training course to become an aircraft engineer

What qualities do you think make a good home manager?

Caring, understanding and knowledgeable

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

Spending time with my family. I have a 5 year old daughter Lexi and two German Shepherds called Izzy and Sookie.

Making the residents smile and making sure they are happy

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Homes?

I worked with a member of the team previously

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

Housekeeper

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

To be able to multi-task, keep on top of orders and high standards of hygiene and cleanliness. Maintain health and safety

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

I enjoy all of my working day, especially spending time with residents

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

Being flexible and having to work across all departments. I have had to learn different roles so I may step in and help wherever I am needed

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

I love spending time with our residents and I just love everything about my job

What qualities do you think make you stand out?

Good with staff, residents and relatives. Confident and reliable

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

I enjoy watching television and spending time with my macaw, cockatoo and kayke

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

I enjoy the variation of my role as I can step in to whatever role is required of me. I never quite know what I am going to be up to from one day to the next

Why did you decide to work at Healthcare Homes?

I live near Olive House so I knew about the home

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

I was a care assistant

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

To be energetic, creative, caring and enjoy making people happy

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

I love doing activities with our residents and enjoying their company. I love to see residents happy and joining in things they may not have done before; keeping minds active

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

When I moved from my care assistant role in to activities

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Very proud of achieving my NVQ 2 and 3. I am also proud about what I have achieved in my new role

What qualities do you think make you stand out?

Being caring, understanding, patient and a good listener

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

I like reading, dancing, swimming and cooking. I also enjoy going for walks, especially on the beach

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

I enjoy my job at Olive House and making residents happy