The Old Rectory

I started in care with work experience in a care home in Bournemouth when I was still in senior school this would have been around 1985. I then studied elderly care and working with children.

I have always worked caring for the older person, I have worked in care homes and in home care and private care. I have been in senior management roles within the care sector for around 10 years and I have worked my way up completing my Diplomas, 2, 3, and 5 in Health and Social Care.

I have also worked with children in a hospice for around 8 years.

I am very passionate about caring and I have very good people skills.

I have been involved in several fundraising events from parachute jumping & army assault courses to riding on lawnmowers around a course at high speeds (but had to give this up when I was in my late 40s due to racing too fast and crashing) as I do like to do things that are risky!

I like to spend my free time with family and grandchildren. My family and I have enjoyed camping for many years and we now go caravanning most years. I also love dogs and cats.

My perfect Friday evenings are spent catching up with family and friends for a drink.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Shelly, Head Chef of The Old Rectory, Stalbridge.

I have been cooking for many years, working my way up through various kitchens and I now have the pleasure of cooking for the wonderful residents at The Old Rectory. I am passionate about food and like to cook traditional hearty food that everyone can enjoy.

I have a background in baking, and l especially like to bake and decorate cakes. I have even won awards with my celebration cakes, at Cake International UK.

Outside of work my husband and I are renovating a 1960s bungalow, and I spend many an hour with a paintbrush in my hand.

My name is Sharon, and I have worked in the care sector for over 35 years. I first applied for a job in a care home as a carer on a supper shift as I was a young mum to four children and could only work once my husband finished work and was able to look after the children. My duties were to help prepare and serve supper to the residents and then assist with personal care and supporting the residents into bed. I remember coming home after my first shift and saying to my husband that I absolutely loved the job and enjoyed meeting so many lovely people. I worked in the same care home progressing from carer to senior carer to head of care and then to manager. I went to college and completed my NVQs in care and management.

I was a manager for about 12 years but missed spending time with residents so decided to apply for a job in a dementia unit. I really found working in this area of care so rewarding.

I have been at the old Rectory for three years and love making a difference in our residents’ lives. They are my second family, and I enjoy my work although it can be challenging at times. I have had the privilege to meet some lovely people along the way.

I am now just a few years from retirement and hope to continue to work until then. I will then look forward to spending time with my children and grandchildren. I would like to say to anyone thinking about a job in care, just do it, you will love making a difference to some lovely people.

My name is Tammy, I am a senior carer at The Old Rectory in Stalbridge, Dorset. I have been working for Bramley Care for two years next year.

A little bit about myself and past work experience.

I started working in care when I was fifteen years old. I worked weekends and holidays in a very small residential home, which gave me the desire to make the caring industry my career.

I went on to work in a high-dependency dementia care unit within a nursing home, this was alongside going to college to obtain a BTEC National Diploma in Caring Services, which I passed with a distinction.

I then had my family, married and continued to work mostly evenings and nights in residential care homes. As my children went to school, I decided to gain more experience and started work at Poole General Hospital. Worked mainly in the stroke unit for around seven years then moved on to the acute medical assessment unit. It is there I had the opportunity to go to Bournemouth University where I passed my Adult Nursing Diploma. I stayed with the NHS for a few years then wanted to provide more person-centred care. I nursed in a few nursing homes and went onto become a deputy manager. This position gave me great all-round experience.

Due to my own ill health and family bereavement, I decided to step down from nursing concentrate on where I started and go back to caring as a care assistant. A location move brought me to Bramley Care, where my current senior carer role fulfils me very much. My job includes managing and administrating medication, shift supervision, providing care and support to the residents and supporting the staff.

The Old Rectory is an older building with lots of character, beautiful gardens and a friendly atmosphere. One relative stated, “When he came to look around The Old Rectory for his mother, he could see how caring we were and that he didn’t need to look anywhere else “.

In my spare time, I enjoy going on days out. I play Skittles for Sturminster Newton and absolutely adore Dachshund dogs (my retirement).

I hope a little insight into me and how I feel about where I work will encourage you to visit/ enquire about The Old Rectory.