Heatherside Rest Home

Who are you?

My name is Nicola, although I am known as Nicky. I am the Registered Care Manager here at Heatherside. I have worked in health and social care since 1995, when I joined Heatherside as a care assistant. At that time, the home was actually owned by my parents! This aided my opportunity to enter a profession I truly love

Thats unbelievable that your parents owned the home. I assume they didn't appoint you as manager on your first day!?

Ha! No, over the years, I have worked my way up through a range of roles, gaining extensive hands-on experience and a strong understanding of residential care. I became a Registered Care Manager in 2020. Having spent almost my entire career at Heatherside, I have a deep connection to the home and a strong sense of responsibility in maintaining its values, standards and family ethos.

Wow, the fact that you’ve spent almost your whole working life here, you must feel a real connection to both the home and its residents?

Yes! I studied Health and Social Care at college, and from the outset, I knew this was the career for me. What continues to drive me is the ability to make a real difference to people’s lives, even if that difference is supporting them to maintain their independence for as long as possible.

This role does not come without its challenges, but these are what I thrive on. I am passionate about providing high-quality, person-centred care and ensuring that every resident feels respected, listened to and valued as an individual.

What do you think are the most important aspects of managing both a care home and the staff?

It is extremely important to me that residents living at Heatherside are offered genuine choice and control over their lives. Every resident is supported to make their own decisions, even if those decisions may appear unwise to others. I firmly believe that people should be able to continue living the life they had before coming into care, with dignity, independence and self-respect.

Staff development is also a key priority for me. I am committed to upskilling my team, offering opportunities for learning, training and encouraging their career progression. I am known for mentoring and supporting staff to reach their potential, and I actively encourage progression and promotion within the workplace.

A motivated, well-supported team creates a positive atmosphere and ensures the highest standard of care for residents.

I’d definitely work for you! With you being here so long, how do you keep the home feeling varied and exciting after all these years?

We regularly review our activities programme to ensure we are meeting everyone’s social needs. Activities are meaningful, varied and residents are encouraged to remain active and engaged both within the home and in the wider community.

What about away from Heatherside, what is your life like when you clock off?

Outside of work, I’m a married mum with 3 children, so family life is very important to me. These values naturally influence the way I work and the environment I strive to create at Heatherside.

In my spare time, I enjoy going to the cinema and long walks with my dog, which help me unwind. I also have a guilty pleasure for colouring, which I find very therapeutic after a busy day at work. Taking time to reset allows me to remain calm, focused and present in my role as the home manager.

Cinema and dog walking. I may start coming with you! I’m sure you’ve been in and seen a lot of homes in your role. What do you think makes Heatherside so special?

Heatherside is a residential care home with a strong home-from-home ethos. We focus on warmth, familiarity and genuine relationships rather than unnecessary extras. One of the things that makes Heatherside unique is our resident involved vegetable garden, where we grow our own produce. Residents are encouraged to take part as much or as little as they wish.

Aside from anything else, this helps them stay active, enjoy the outdoors and maintain a sense of purpose and routine.

We also place great importance on community engagement. Over the past year, residents have enjoyed trips to Milestones Museum, local garden centres and a recent outing around Basingstoke to view the Christmas lights. These experiences help residents remain connected to the world around them and continue enjoying life outside the care home.

That all sounds great and very engaging. What else is important that you offer at Heatherside?

We are always striving to offer a genuine, homely experience. Whilst we do not have a cinema, bar or internet café, what we do have is something far more important: dedicated staff who are caring, compassionate and extremely passionate about what they do, day in, day out.

Our focus is not on gimmicks, but on creating a warm, safe and supportive environment where residents feel comfortable and valued. The strong relationships between residents and staff are at the heart of daily life at Heatherside. We ensure care is personal, consistent and always, always, delivered with kindness.

Finally, why would you choose Heatherside for yourself or your relatives?

I would choose Heatherside because residents are supported to live meaningful, fulfilling lives, with choice, independence and their dignity at the centre of everything we do. Families can be reassured that their loved ones are cared for by a consistent, well-trained team who genuinely know and care about each individual that comes through our doors.

Heatherside is not just a place to live — it is a place where people are supported to continue being themselves.