Barchester South Chowdene Care Home

Hi, my name is Anca, and I am the General Manager here at South Chowdene.

I am a dedicated Registered General Nurse with over 10 years of experience in the adult social care sector, specialising in nursing, dementia, mental health, acquired brain injury and complex care. Throughout my career, I have held leadership roles, including Deputy Manager and Home Manager, in the South West and North East of England, where I focused on creating safe, person-centred environments where residents feel valued and families have trust and confidence in the care provided.

I am passionate about developing strong, supportive teams and ensuring high standards of clinical practice, compliance and safeguarding.

As General Manager at South Chowdene, my goal is to lead a home where residents are proud to live, staff feel supported to grow, and families have peace of mind knowing their loved ones are cared for with dignity, respect and compassion.

I am a registered nurse with over 11 years of experience. I joined the team back in May after achieving my level five certificate in management.

Previously, I worked as a Clinical Lead Nurse for ten years for a different company, which I loved. My team were wonderful, but they closed the nursing unit, and I wanted to continue to use all my valuable nursing and management skills.

My role is to ensure all residents, families, and others are happy and are treated with dignity and respect. I am very friendly and enjoy responsibility. I also enjoy spending time with the residents and their relatives, building strong personal relationships with them. My main priorities are the residents, their relatives and the staff ,and I make sure I offer support to everybody.

I am a highly experienced administrative professional with over 20 years of expertise in secretarial and Personal Assistant roles. Throughout my career, I have provided comprehensive support to senior management and executives, demonstrating exceptional organisational, communication, and multitasking abilities.

I have a proven track record of managing complex schedules, coordinating meetings and events, handling confidential information with discretion, and ensuring the efficient day-to-day operation of busy offices. My experience spans a wide range of administrative functions, including document preparation, stakeholder liaison, and office management. I am known for my professionalism, reliability, and attention to detail. I thrive in fast-paced environments and take pride in delivering high-quality support that enables others to perform at their best.

I have proudly worked for Barchester for the past 18 years, beginning my journey as a Kitchen Assistant before progressing to Second Chef and then being promoted to Head Chef. My career reflects my passion for providing high-quality care through nutritious, delicious food and my commitment to continuous growth.

I genuinely enjoy working for Barchester and feel privileged to be part of the South Chowdene family. Our residents are at the heart of everything I do, and I am dedicated to ensuring they receive the very best dining experience every day. I believe that good food is essential for health, comfort, and happiness, which is why I am committed to preparing fresh, nourishing meals using quality ingredients and the highest standards of food safety and care.

It is a privilege to make a positive difference in our residents’ lives through the meals I create, and I take great pride in supporting their wellbeing with every plate that leaves my kitchen.

I’m thrilled to join the team! I bring a rich background in the performing arts and children’s activities, having spent seven years touring the UK performing in pantomimes, as well as running holiday camps and school residentials. After eight years working behind a computer, I’m excited to get back to hands-on work—spreading joy, keeping people active, and creating memorable experiences.

Outside of work, I’m a proud parent to three wonderful children—two girls and a boy—who keep me on my toes and inspire my passion for fun and creativity every day.