Meet the Upton Bay Care Home Team

My story into care initially started on somewhat of a whim, in all honesty I don’t think the twenty year old me quite realised the path I would be taking in those coming days, months and years. I fell in love with my role, the feeling of making a difference to someone’s day, big or small or even if this was for the smallest of seconds, in that moment to that person it mattered, and it mattered to me. Seeing the smiles, hearing the laughter, the happiness and the joy from others is what truly makes working in care so special to me. I progressed and transitioned through the roles of Care Giver, Senior Care Giver and Deputy Manager whilst attaining my qualifications and NVQ’s. I have predominantly worked in Residential, Dementia and Mental Health care settings, my key area of interest is Safeguarding.

For any person, family member or loved one, choosing a care home can understandably be an extremely difficult time; the worries, possible guilt and most likely the million and one questions racing around their minds, yet having an open door culture, a strong committed and well trained team is something I feel can really help reduce those worries and anxieties. I am a strong believer that the only thing to change when moving into a care setting is the postcode, whilst being supported to live life to the very fullest, providing continuous opportunities to love, grow and laugh whilst promoting living life to the very fullest.

Barchester’s renowned reputation and ethos proves only too much that this career change was most definitely the start of yet another exciting chapter and very much an opportunity to share my knowledge and expertise within the rest of the team embarking on this upcoming venture. Upton Bay will no doubt be an extremely special, happy home, providing the very most outstanding support and care, promoting togetherness and independence.

Outside work, I love to spend time visiting lots of different places whilst experiencing different cultures, not forgetting the tasting and trying of new foods! I have quite the passion for art, I love to draw and paint. My friends and family are so very special to me, I love spending time with those that I love dearly, should this be over a glass of wine in the sunshine, a BBQ or just a ‘natter’ on the phone

I am the Community Lead at Upton Bay and I am so proud and excited to be part of such a great new home and team.

I am honoured to be one of the first people you and your loved ones will meet. I understand that it can be an emotional time moving into a care home, but rest assured, we will be offering the best care, comfort and companionship possible.

I have been working in the care sector since 2005. I love my job and I am very passionate about what I do as a Senior Care Assistant and I love making a difference and putting a smile on someone’s face.

I look forward to meeting you all and welcoming you to Upton Bay.

Emma is also one of our dementia champions

I am very happy and proud to be working here. All of my colleagues are so passionate about what they are doing and we all share Barchester's values. 

My journey into care work started in 2009, when I joined one of the local care agencies. I had a chance of working in different places and meeting lots of new people. At the same time, I gained vast experience working with a variety of clients who lived in their own homes, units and hospitals. As much as I liked doing all that, I realised that my passion is in elderly care.

I am passionate about improving people’s lives and I love to see the smiles on residents' faces. I worked my way up from being a bank care assistant and completing my NVQs in Social Care. I always seek to improve and to become the best I can be. After I finished my NVQ Level 5, I worked as a Deputy Manager in a domiciliary care agency in Bournemouth.  

I am feeling very excited about welcoming more residents into Upton Bay and changing their life for the better with the help of my wonderful colleagues. 

My name is Victoria and I am the Home Services Advisor here at Upton Bay. My background is in hospitality mainly working in sales and marketing. I am thrilled to be able to help families and our local community working side by side offering advice, guidance and care.  My bubbly, friendly personality I hope makes all of our new visitors feel safe and welcome when they come into Upton Bay to visit.

What was only ever meant to have been a two week holiday in England ended up with me falling in love with the ‘Sunny South Coast’ and fifteen years later it has become the place I call home. I really do love Dorset.

Owing to my strong philanthropic streak and caring nature, I made the choice to work in care after 11 years as an Administrator at a University in Poland.  

Most recently I worked as an Administrator in a specialist Residential Dementia care home. I enjoy the buzz and atmosphere of care home life and love getting to know the residents, their loved ones and their life history.

Whilst my role is to primarily oversee the day to day administrative duties for the home I will most certainly be immersing myself into day-to-day life at Upton Bay. I believe very much in the Barchester ethos of ‘celebrating life’ and this is something I personally live by.

Outside of work I am a volunteer with a number of local charities most notably Julia’s House, which is a children’s charity and I actively support them in my free time, I relish in it and love getting out into the community. I love walks on the beach and am a strong advocate for being environmentally friendly.

I am so proud to say I work for Barchester Healthcare with such a wonderful, unique, diverse and open minded team that clearly share the same passion about care as I do - It’s such an exciting time and I cannot wait to meet you all.

I first worked in the care sector in 2010, starting in domiciliary care and progressing to Care Coordinator. I have since gained a wealth of experience in dedicated dementia and residential activities, working as a peripatetic activities coordinator in 16 out of 20 homes within a group, and then in 2018, I was part of a team that commissioned a new luxury care home, where I was an Activities Team Leader.

I enjoy making wishes come true for residents: in February 2015, I organised my first wedding in a care home. The lady resident who was living with dementia was unable to travel to Hertfordshire for her granddaughters wedding, so I brought the wedding to her. I organised a wedding blessing at the home; we had a vicar, a choir, all of the bridal party, the flowers, a buffet, a wedding cake, champagne—the full works.

In 2017, I organised a smaller wedding in the garden, and this was a special wish for a gentleman resident to see his granddaughter married. Organising these special moments gives me a lot of pleasure, knowing I have made them feel special and to give families that happiness and see them smile.

I cannot wait to welcome our residents into their wonderful new home and help to bring smiles, joy and laughter to each day.

Karen is also one of our dementia champions

My career in hospitality and catering started in 1995. I’ve worked and trained in France, managed beach resorts in Ghana and I am now very settled and happy in the UK.

I started working as a chef in the care sector in 2007. I chose to join Barchester as their standards and expectations are so high. I believe a good chef is an artist and should be able to create delicious menus from the local, seasonal produce on offer.

We have a strong passionate team here at Upton Bay and we are looking forward to welcoming our residents to their new home.

I have been with Upton Bay since January 2021 when I helped with the opening commission.

Having started here as the Second Chef, I have always had a passion for maintenance and was able to help with the Bus Driving trips that we offer to our residents.

Gardening has been a part of my life for a long time so I also took on the position of Gardener. Over time my role developed into Maintenance Assistant, so when the Head role became available I jumped at the chance.

I love making sure everything is safe for our residents, keeping the home and gardens clean and tidy and generally looking after the home.

Upton Bay is a special place and I like to think I help to make it that little bit better

Mark is also one of our speak up champions

Hello, My name is Elsa, I am the Head Housekeeper at Upton Bay. I strive to ensure our home is looking pristine at all times. I respect that this is our residents home, and take pride in making it a beautiful living environment for them all. I lead an excellent team who's high standards and attention to detail keep Upton Bay immaculate at all times. 

Elsa is one of our speak up champions

Hi, my name is Ola, I'm the Administrative Assistant at Upton Bay. I enjoy engaging with all our residents, families, staff and guests. I love to help everyone with their queries and am always available to make you a cup of tea or coffee. Outside of work I run a volleyball team and have a family with two children. I can be found smiling at reception and will help anyone who needs my assistance. The team here are fantastic and we hope to make your visit to us a great experience. 

Hello, my name is Sue, and I work within the Reception team at Upton Bay. I look forward to welcoming you to our lovely home. I thoroughly enjoy showing guests around our beautiful home and assisting with any queries. We are always happy to welcome you and make a lovely cup of tea or coffee for you and your guests.  I love working as part of the Upton Bay family and look forward to meeting you soon.

My name is Paul and I am a Care Assistant at Upton Bay. I thoroughly enjoy helping our residents get washed, dressed and ensuring that they have everything they need to make their day as pleasant as possible. Making a resident smile is very important to me and I try to achieve this every day.

My name is Ellie and I am a care assistant at Upton Bay. I love caring as I can help others who are sometimes vulnerable and it gives me great satisfaction to make things easier for them. I love all our residents and being part of the team.

My name is Puvana and I am a Care Assistant here at Upton Bay. I really like helping with personal care and making sure that all our residents and clean and dressed. It is then good to see them eating some healthy food and gaining weight so they feel like joining in with our other residents.

My name is Tharziga and I am a care assistant here at Upton Bay. I love my job and find it very rewarding. Even to see a smile of a resident's face when you have helped them with a small task is so satisfying. I particulary enjoy watching a new resident improve in social skills and health as they eat, drink and chat more easily once they have settled in to their new home.

My name is Sylvia and I am a care assistant at Upton Bay.It brings me great pleasure to see smiles on our residents faces when we have a giggle and a chat. I love to care for everyone and it makes me very happy to be part of this team. We are like a family.

My name is Elsa, I am a Care Assistant here at Upton Bay. I love working with elderly people and aim to make each one of them smile every day. My friendly, patient personality reflects in the care that I give.

My name is Jo, I am a carer here at Upton Bay. I really enjoy making our residents smile and laugh. I love my job and feel part of the team.

My name is Lauren, I am a care assistant here at Upton Bay. I love helping our residents with all their needs and making everything a little easier for each and everyone of them.

My name is Dan and I am a Care Assistant at Upton Bay. I have recently joined as previously I worked in my home town Johannesburg in South Africa. I love to make the residents smile and take care of their every need.

Hello, my name is Sarah, I am a night Senior care assistant at Upton Bay. I look forward to getting to know all the ladies and gents who come through our doors at Upton Bay!

My name is Dan and I am a senior carer here at Upton Bay. I have been working in care a long time and have a lot of experience within this field. I am keen to learn and am embracing this new challenge of being a senior. The team at Upton Bay are really lovely and I am getting on well with all of the residents.  I have a gentle, calm nature with a huge smile and want to help as much as I can.

My name is April, I am a care Senior carer here at Upton Bay care home. I have worked in care for many years and thoroughly enjoy being part of the team. I particularly enjoy helping vulnerable elderly residents and with a warm, kind, nurturing approach I can help make that day a little bit better. We have a great team here and we all support each other. 

As Senior Care Assistant, I support residents through the night to ensure they are safe and comfortable. 

Nights in a new environment can be a worry for residents and their families, so I understand the importance of patience and empathy during these times, and do all I can to help residents settle into their new home, even if that means a cuppa and a chat in the small hours. 

Hi, my name is Ashley, and I am a Senior carer here at Upton Bay. I have a wealth of knowledge from experience working in other care sectors. I enjoy looking after all our residents and working with the team to ensure that all their needs are met. I like to work with both dementia and residential residents and help with personal care, medication, nutrition and ensuring that each resident has a personal plan.

Hello, I'm Emma, Senior Care Assistant at Upton Bay Care Home. I'm delighted to be on hand for anything our residents may need, and truly see your loved ones as my own! 

I have a wealth of experience in the care sector and bring knowledge, professionalism and compassion to each day at Upton Bay. 

Hi, my name is Katie White, and I am a Carer here at Upton Bay. I really like the team and residents here and my job is really interesting. There are so many different parts to care and I love making a difference to our residents and helping them with their individual needs. I particuarly enjoy engaging with everyone and helping with any small tasks.

I am truly proud and very honoured to have been chosen to be part of such a great new home and team here at Upton Bay.

I have worked in the care sector since 2015 and it is my absolute passion. I love my role as a Care Assistant and making a big difference to someone’s day is such a great feeling; nothing beats it. 

I look forward to meeting you all with a big smile and a warm welcome to Upton Bay. 

I am passionate about delivering a high standard of care. I’m so proud to be part of the team at Upton Bay I am married with six children and I enjoy family time, gardening, reading, travelling and musicals. I look forward to welcoming you and your family to Upton Bay.

Hi my name is Jade, I am really excited to be a part of the Upton Bay team.

I am passionate about care work, and I find it so rewarding. One of my favourite parts of my job is putting a smile on someone’s face, and ensuring they receive the best possible care.

I am an outgoing individual. I love to travel and see the world, and I enjoy cooking- I love a curry the: spicier the better!

Hi, I'm Liz, I'm a care Assistant at Upton Bay. I hugely enjoy my role of supporting the daily wellbeing of our residents, and find achieving even the smallest tasks with residents very rewarding. Each day is an opportunity to encourage their independence and above all, have fun and be happy. 

Hi, my name is Maria and I am a Carer here at Upton Bay. I love to sing and dance which our residents love. I am always bringing joy and laughter to everyone and often have them up and dancing. I love working with elderly people and want to help them as much as I can.

As Care Assistant, I'm dedicated to providing high quality care to your loved ones, and take pride in promoting dignity and self expression. 

Hello, I'm Jody, and I'm a part of the care team at Upton Bay. I am hugely enjoying my role in this wonderful care home, and it has been so lovely to meet all of the ladies and gents who have chosen to call Upton Bay their home. 

I'm delighted to be a part of the team at Upton Bay, and have the chance to implement my care knowledge and experience at this lovely home. 

It's a pleasure to be supporting our residents to live fulfilled lives, and I take great pride in ensuring each person's needs are met with dignity and compassion. 

It's a pleasure to offer dedicated care to our residents at Upton Bay, and I look forward to meeting more as our community continues to grow. 

My passion is care. Whether it be a assisting people with their morning routines to look and feel their best, or being a friend to residents in times of need, I pride myself on always giving our ladies and gentlemen my best self, and being intuitive to their needs. 

Every day at Upton Bay is different and exciting, and I'm delighted to be a part of such a lovely home. 

My name is Emily and I am studying Social Care at college. I work part-time as one of the activity’s team and love my job.

I get such enjoyment out of helping every resident and making them smile when they join in an activity such as art or music.

My name is Chloe and I am an Activities assistant here at Upton Bay. I love all the residents and find pleasure helping them enjoy all the amazing activities we run here. In particular I like one to ones with individuals especially when I give manicures and paint nails. I am so pleased that i can be part of this lovely family.

I'm so happy to be joining Upton Bay in the Activities Team! I have discovered a new passion for delivering person-centered life enrichment, and am hugely enjoying learning all about our ladies and gentlemen day by day. The stories they tell and the zest for life they have is infectious. I look forward to meeting your loved ones and family members, so that we can help make Upton Bay their home moving forward! 

Melody is also one of our dementia champions

My name is Victoria, I am the Sous Chef here at Upton Bay. I love preparing nutritious meals for our residents and my love is to bake. This is very popular with our residents as they all enjoy the cakes and biscuits that I bake. I particularly enjoy it when there is a birthday and I can show off my skills by producing a delicious cake with an array of toppings. I love to see smiles on our residents faces when they enjoy the dishes that I prepare. 

As Kitchen assistant at Upton Bay, I'm on hand to aid in the delivery of high quality meals, as well as supporting all nutrition and hydration needs of our residents. I take pride in maintaining excellent hygiene standards, and can be relied upon to bring positivity to each day here. 

As Kitchen Assistant at Upton Bay, I'm on hand to ensure our residents enjoy a luxurious dining experience. Whether it be a hearty breakfast, or delicious three course dinner, our ladies and gents can rely on me to deliver excellent service with a smile. I love assisting our Chef team to develop new dishes, and catering for our special events.

My name is Erano and I work part-time in housekeeping here at Upton Bay. I take pride in my work and try to focus on keeping the carpets and bedrooms clean and tidy. I enjoy doing the deep cleaning to make sure that everything is looking nice for our residents.

Hi, my name is Nafisat, I am a housekeeper here at Upton Bay. My work means a lot to me. I have three children and study part time but I really enjoy making sure all our residents have clean and tidy rooms. I also work in the laundry making sure all the clothes are clean and returned to our residents. I love my team.

My name is Liezel, I work as a housekeeper for Upton Bay. I love helping residents with their washing and helping to keep clean their rooms. The home is beautiful and it is lovely to work with such a friendly, professional team.

Hello, I'm Sita, Housekeeping assistant at Upton Bay Care Home. It's my pleasure to keep our residents home clean, tidy, and truly feeling like their home! 

Hello, I'm Bal, Housekeeping Assistant at Upton Bay. It is a pleasure to keep our residents home to an impeccable standard. I take great pride in my work and my eye for detail ensures I am always a step ahead when it comes to housekeeping. 

My name is Celia and I am a volunteer here at Upton Bay. I thoroughly enjoy chatting to the residents and helping them if they need assistance.