New manager ready to welcome community back into Hillcroft House

The new home manager at Hillcroft House in Stowmarket has big plans for the future of the well-established care home.

Victoria Barber hopes to get residents and relatives more actively involved in the running of the home and extend the activities which are on offer to include relatives whenever possible.

Victoria has worked in a variety of different roles in the public and voluntary sectors in both health and social care for more than 18 years and relished the chance to work as Home Manager at Hillcroft House.

She has worked as an Operations Manager for a hospice and as a Service Manager in the NHS with a focus on leading services that provide care to those with life-limiting illnesses and care at end-of-life. Prior to joining Healthcare Homes, Victoria held the position of Registered Manager for another care home in Suffolk with an Outstanding CQC rating.

“Although I have worked with lots of different groups of people It’s the first time I have worked in a home exclusively for people living with dementia which I am enjoying,” she said.

“My previous home was independent, so it is nice to be part of a bigger group where you can share experiences and expertise.”

Victoria is a qualified Level 5 Diploma Coach with Neuro-Linguistic-Programming and is registered with the National Council of Psychotherapists. She is passionate about mental health.

“Hillcroft House has a long standing history in Stowmarket and I am keen to raise our profile and renew links in the community as well as with relative and other groups. I am looking forward to welcoming relatives and other groups from the community back into Hillcroft House as covid restrictions allow, along with building and progressing my team to enable us to provide the best care possible to our residents.”

Hillcroft House is part of the Healthcare Homes family of 48 homes and 11 homecare branches in the east and south of England.

The home was originally a school and the house is a Grade II Listed building that dates back over 200 years. The home has been tastefully extended but retains links with the original house to provide modern facilities top care for up top 42 residents, many who are living with dementia.

Pip Rich