Home Instead (Lancaster & Morecambe)

Having left the Royal Navy as a weapon engineer, where my role was to ensure all systems were maintained correctly and ready to use and also respond to emergencies, it was essential for me to carry on doing something that’s important and meaningful. Helping people to remain living in their own homes and helping out families in need definitely fits that bill! I was also very fortunate that during my time in the Royal Navy, I got to visit many interesting places including Tahiti, Pitcairn Island and Easter Island.

I’m really grateful to be in a role where I get to be involved in the local community and make a difference in so many people’s lives. Leading a team of Care Professionals and office staff who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of the elderly is a privilege. Watching them grow and develop while making a significant difference has a real feel-good factor to it.

In my spare time, I like to do anything that involves being outside and active! Whether that is hiking in the Lake District, mountain biking or just walking the dogs! When the weather is a bit more acceptable I also enjoy paddleboarding and kayaking. I’m an avid sports fan and enjoy watching all types of sports.

I began my career in care in 2001 when at college I took a placement at a day centre for the elderly and loved every minute of it. I then worked in a nursing home for a while before I joined a home care agency based in Kendal.

I worked my way through the company from care assistant to coordinator and loved the challenge that working in the busy office gave me. I stepped away from this role when I had my first child and returned to care homes to give me the flexibility I needed with a young family. I returned to home care as an administrator when my eldest child started school and, after that company, closing, I returned to the original care company I began working for at 18.

I took the role of care coordinator and moving and handling trainer. In this role, I was responsible for organising the care for my district and I maintained the moving and handling training for the whole company.

During my time here I obtained my Level 5 in leadership and management in health and social care and my moving and handling train the trainer qualification including moving and handling risk assessment training. In 2017 I had my second child and chose not to return to my coordinating role. I have been working as a dental receptionist in a busy dental practice in Milnthorpe for the last three years. Although this is quite a different role from my previous jobs, I have really enjoyed helping the patients, dentists, and other practice staff to ensure care and appointments run as smoothly as possible.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my partner, Rob and our two children, Maisie, and Joseph. I also love baking. During the first lockdown, we had a baking day every week and baked various things such as cake, bread, and even hot cross buns. I enjoy walking with my family and have participated in two cross bay walks, both for charitable causes. I enjoy reading, crime and mystery books. I also enjoy watching various sports and documentaries on television, again crime documentaries are my favourite. Pre covid I attended a yoga class weekly and am looking forward to returning to face-to-face classes when this is possible.