Mercia Grange

I was keen to join the Mercia Grange team as soon as I visited the home as a District Nurse. The team worked so well together and there was a strong family feeling here. I really wanted to be a part of that.

I love being able to make a difference to a resident’s day, and having compassion, empathy and good communication skills are key to that. When you’re busy, it’s easy to become focused on the task that you need to achieve, but it’s important to spend some time listening to residents and understanding what they’re experiencing. It can make all the difference to a person.

I joined the home in 2019, and there’s a lot to get involved in as we continue to drive for ever-greater quality care. One of my biggest challenges has been to set up a new induction programme for new colleagues. I’m looking forward to helping to make a positive impact on the lives of residents and their families
as home manager.

I’ve worked in events and sales but I wanted to work in the care sector as I love to help people and I think there’s no better way to do that than to work in care. I’m very much a people person and I love dealing with lots of different people each day, getting to know them and how I can help them.

I’ve not worked in the care sector before, so there’s a lot for me to learn – and quickly – but I’m up for the challenge and everyone here at the home is very supportive. In the past, I’ve juggled full time work and study, so I’m confident I can make a success of things.

I’m excited about working in such a high quality home. The team at Mercia Grange really are fantastic and I’m looking forward to working with them to fulfil residents’ lives.

Why did I want to work at Mercia Grange? I have previous experience of working in activities in a care home, and my friend, who works here, told me that Mercia Grange was a lovely place to work. So when a role came up here, I applied. 

There are all sorts of qualities that make a good Lifestyle Coordinator: being kind and caring, having empathy, seeing each person as an individual, and being able to work as part of the wider home team is important. It also helps to be creative and fun, and to be a good communicator.

I love spending time with residents, especially when we can get together to have a group chat. Seeing people happy, and knowing that you’ve played a big part in making them happy and smile that day, is the best feeling.

I’m new to Care UK – I only joined the team here at Mercia Grange in 2018 – but I’m really enjoying being part of the great team at the home, and bringing a smile to residents’ faces. 

It makes my day to see residents having fun and enjoying themselves. 

One of the highlights of my short time here has been RAF Day. We had a great turn out and everything was excellent, from the weather to the food! Our residents are all very different, so my challenge is to find different activities that they like to enjoy. It’s certainly important that a person in my role is able to think creatively. One-to-one time is also key to ensuring residents get to do the things they want, even if it’s just having a chat. It’s often the little things that can make a big difference to a person’s day.

I’m an experienced care home chef, and have been working in the catering sector for over 20 years. I’ve cooked for a prime minister, celebrities and even my beloved football team, Liverpool. 

I moved to Mercia Grange in 2018 because I wanted to be part of a team setting the standard in a brand new care home. I love seeing the residents looking happy and relaxed after a meal which they’ve enjoyed. Knowing that my team and I have made them happy is a great feeling. I enjoy meeting new residents and their families too, as well as getting to know my colleagues. We all have very different experiences and come from different backgrounds but we join together to deliver the best for residents.

Away from work, I like to unwind by watching films or sports (mainly football). When you’ve been on your feet at the home all day, it’s great to sit back with a cup of tea and a biscuit!

My background is in the hotel industry. I’ve set up a large four-star hotel and have worked as a general manager in a big hotel too. When I fancied a change recently, I was really attracted by the ethos of Care UK. The organisation believes in providing hotel-style levels of quality and comfort to residents. That really appealed to me, and I felt my skills would be a good fit. 

Mercia Grange is a beautiful new home - and it’s a pleasure to work here. One of the best parts of the day is when I bring residents’ laundered items back to their rooms. I love seeing all the residents and having a chat. I haven’t been at Mercia Grange long, so I’m still getting to know everyone, and their fascinating life stories. 

Outside of work, I’m a big animal lover: I have a dog, a rabbit and a cockatoo. When I’m not caring for them, I like to unwind with a glass of something and my favourite American boxset!

I decided that I wanted to work for Care UK because its values were very much in line with my own. The organisation also has a great reputation for delivering quality care, and this is borne out in the superb care regulator ratings it has achieved in its homes across the UK.

A large part of my role involves supporting colleagues to deliver the highest standards of hygiene. I work with them to ensure the correct procedures are followed around personal protective equipment (PPE), handwashing and cleaning. I love what I do because I’m passionate about our residents and helping them to live fulfilling lives in a safe environment.

What do I enjoy the most about working at Mercia Grange? There are so many things! The wonderful atmosphere and beautiful surroundings, the fabulous residents and amazing team. I also love being a nurse. For job satisfaction, few other jobs come close.

I love this job. I’ve worked in various care homes and in hotels, but I wanted to join Care UK because I’ve always heard good things about the organisation.
Working in the care sector is very rewarding, although it can be challenging too. There’s a brilliant team here at Mercia Grange, and I’m enjoying being part of what is a very family-oriented home. It’s a great feeling to put a smile on a resident’s face by getting their room the way they want it, or encouraging them to help with my checks. Or even just having a chat with someone. It means a lot to me that I can support residents in any way.

I’ve spent 20 years’ working in offices as a Personal Assistant, Secretary and Business Administrator, and, before joining the Mercia Grange team I was an Administrator in another care home. I wanted to join Care UK because it is a hugely reputable care provider.The mornings are always my favourite time of the day because there are lots of happy faces coming through the door, and I look forward to what the day has in store. I get a lot of satisfaction from ensuring that the office is running smoothly. Time management skills are crucial in this busy role, as are good people skills, and having some computer know-how: we use lots of different computer and information systems.I enjoy conquering new challenges, and I thrive on the fact that every day is different. I’m also proud to be the Colleague Voices Representative for Mercia Grange.