Beech House Care Home

My name is Lucy Bolland, and I am the Nurse Manager at Beech House. I have worked for the company since 2013 and worked across three Bristol Care Homes houses, working as a nurse as well as a Deputy.

My nursing career started in the NHS, where I gained experience nursing on surgical wards as well as in women’s health. I then moved into care home nursing as this fitted around life with a young family.

Bristol Care Homes has given me many opportunities to develop my career while working in different environments, each with their challenges and rewards. As a company, I have always felt supported in my roles, and I particularly enjoy working with a dedicated team of staff.

My role involves working with an amazing team, and no two days are the same, which provides variety and keeps my job interesting while also always having the opportunity to learn and develop. Meeting new people and supporting residents and their families is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.

I live in the local area with my family and enjoy spending time with them and travelling in my spare time.

My career began back in the 1990s working in a community home as a support worker with clients with learning disabilities. This inspired me to undertake my Nurse training which I completed in Taunton. I have experience within the NHS for over 20 years including theatres, recovery, and ITU. I have also completed training as an anaesthetic practitioner. 2019 led me to a change of direction in elderly care. Since then I have worked up to the role of Deputy Manager I am currently undertaking my Level 5 in Leadership to enhance my knowledge and skills.

Outside of work, my hobbies include walking (I try to walk around 3-5 miles daily and this has all part of a health plan). I have recently begun running but after a clumsy moment and a fall, I am taking a break. I also enjoy playing Lawn Bowls in the summer and Skittles in the winter.

I love to travel whether abroad or in the UK and I like to plan in advance so I have trips to look forward to.

I’m Luke, the Operations Manager for Beech House. My role is here to make sure that the homes are well-maintained, and the environments are kept in the best condition possible. I’ve worked for Bristol Care Homes since 2020. I particularly enjoy the variety in my job role, especially across the 2 homes. It keeps me busy, and I get to meet a lot of different residents and relatives.

Outside of work, my passion is football. Between playing, coaching, and watching, it doesn’t leave me time for much else.

I’ve been working at Bristol Care Homes since 2017.

Bristol Care Homes is a great organisation to work for because they value their staff just as much as they value their residents, and their vision is something I am very passionate about. Having grandparents on both sides affected by dementia, I have the greatest empathy for the elderly and those who are living with it.

I want to make a difference in the lives of the residents by taking a holistic approach and providing relevant activities. Important and meaningful.

Within this company, there are excellent training opportunities for development and growth; in my case, I progressed from Activities Co-ordinator to Social Engagement and Well-being Manager in three years, something I am very proud of.

I enjoy spending time with my family away from work. I like singing, dancing, and taking my dogs for walks. Knowing how valuable life is, I like to live it to the fullest.

I’ve worked for Bristol Care Homes since 2021, and before that, I worked in housing and for the local authority. This background has enabled me to see ‘the whole picture’ and provides valuable skills that I utilise when families have funding queries.

Dealing with the local authority can be challenging, and I make it my mission to simplify the process for residents and provide an intermediary for them. I am passionate about improving the services within adult social care and share wholeheartedly the holistic approach which Bristol Care Home values.

When I’m not working, you will often find me hiking up a mountain as I love the tranquillity of the great outdoors. I have adult children, so I’m enjoying the peace and quiet before grandchildren come along!

I’m thrilled to introduce myself as your Care Quality Manager, a role I’ve embraced with great enthusiasm here at Bristol Care Homes. Since joining the family in 2018, it’s been my privilege to work across our group of four homes, ensuring that the care we provide not only meets but exceeds the highest standards.

My journey in the healthcare sector has been both rewarding and diverse. As a registered nurse, I’ve had the opportunity to directly impact the lives of those in need, offering care and support at a personal level. This hands-on experience has been invaluable, teaching me the intricacies of patient care and the importance of compassion in our daily interactions.

In addition to my nursing background, I’ve also had the pleasure of educating the next generation of healthcare professionals as a health and social care teacher. This role allowed me to share my knowledge and passion for care, shaping the future of our industry.

As your Care Quality Manager, my mission is to ensure the quality of care you receive is nothing short of exceptional. I’m dedicated to monitoring our services, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing changes that enhance your experience and well-being. My goal is to make sure that every resident feels valued, cared for, and happy.

Your feedback is incredibly important to me. It helps us grow and improve, ensuring that Bristol Care Homes remains a place where excellence in care is not just an aspiration, but a reality. I look forward to continuing our journey together, making each day better than the last.

With a background as a specialist neuro-physio, I am passionate about maintaining and improving the quality of life of our residents.

My role within Bristol Care Homes covers all aspects of our residents' lives, from activities of daily living to days away from the home. If required, I assess and advise on the optimal equipment to be used for daily transfers, where, along with the carers, we are always looking to maintain movement and independence as much as possible. In addition to this, I work with the activities coordinator to encourage their sessions within the homes to adapt to a resident’s particular needs. For example, encouraging the use of a particular hand when doing arts and crafts. If specialist seating or a wheelchair is required, I am able to advise and ensure that the correct equipment is provided, subsequently promoting participation in activities within and outside of the home.

Alongside this, I am contributing to the moving and handling training programme of our care staff in order to combine all the existing moving and handling guidelines with promoting optimal ergonomics for our residents. Should residents want to make use of an external physiotherapist arranged privately, in order to have frequent exercise sessions, I can oversee this programme and ensure any advice is integrated into the rest of their daily activities, as well as, where possible, arrange to meet the visiting physio and collaborate with them and our resident.

One of my main aims is to encourage the little and often approach; understanding how small changes in movement day to day can lead to tangible improvements in quality of life.

I have worked at Beech House since 2015 and lived in Bristol all my life.

I started life at Beech House as a carer, then quickly progressed to a senior carer. After suffering from long COVID in 2020, I started helping in the office and now work permanently as the friendly admin assistant. This hasn’t stopped me from enjoying meeting and chatting with the residents and their families, which is something I really love about my job.

Outside work, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, walking in the countryside and curling up with a good book and a glass of gin.