Barchester Highview House Care Home

Hi, my name is Elsbeth, and I am the General Manager here at Highview House.

I qualified as a nurse in 1993 and have always worked within the private sector, living and working in Newcastle upon Tyne. I worked for a local, family-run nursing care company before Barchester, making my way through their career ladder during my time there.

In 2013 my family and I made a quality-of-life decision to move away from life in the city to Inverness, where I have worked within the locality as a care home manager ever since.

I enjoy making a positive difference in people’s lives. My appointment at Highview will bring me into contact with a new group of people and I hope that I can touch their lives in a productive and meaningful way.

My greatest achievement to date has to be being nationally acknowledged as the 'Nurse of the Year' in 2015 for the excellent environment and care given to people living with dementia in my care home. I still find it very difficult to believe that a care home manager from Inverness was recognised for just doing her job.

My name is Jamie-Lee Harris, and I work as a nurse on the day shift. I have been a nurse for seven years, starting at a children’s hospital in Jamaica and then becoming a nurse for adults in Inverness. I have been at Highview House for just over a year, and I love it.

My favourite aspect of my job is the interaction with residents and relatives. There isn’t one day that I come to work and leave without having a good laugh! I want to help create a homely atmosphere here, so if you see me around, feel free to stop me for a chat.

Hi, my names Laura Johnson and I am a Care Practitioner and a Mental Health Nurse. I have been with Barchester for four years and have ten years’ experience in care. I am in the second year of nursing.

Working for Barchester allows me to make memories for residents – living life in the moment and creating experiences with short- and long-term benefits. I also enjoy working in the world of Dementia, and my stress and distress course helps with this, as it allows me to identify difficulties which the residents may not be able to express. I also enjoy compiling care plans, which ensure we support our residents to the best of our abilities and to the most of their needs.

Hello, I’m Anya McIntosh. I’m a day shift carer on Memory Lane. Working in the care sector, and for Barchester in particular, is incredibly rewarding. Joy is infectious, and we see the benefit of it every day. My favourite part of my job is being able to be myself with the residents. I love dancing and singing with them – whenever there’s a party or a karaoke session to be had at the home, I’ll be there at the front! Please feel free to stop and chat if you see me – I love the social aspect of my role.

Hello, I’m Melissa Fraser, and I’ve been a carer at Highview for the past five and a half years. I love how rewarding my job is and that each day is totally different. I particularly enjoy being able to assist residents when they are not necessarily able to express what the issue is. When I can improve their day, activity or even moment, I feel like I have done my job. The bond I make with residents is the best part of my job.

Hello, I’m Tim, and I’m a Care Practitioner. I moved to the Highlands from England after a holiday in 2024 when I fell in love with the scenery. I have been working in care since 2014, and I want to bring those years of experience to Highview House. I can use them to provide the highest possible level of care and service to you and your loved ones.

Feel free to stop and say hello if you see me at home. I’m delighted to spend time with residents and their families!

Hello, my name is Aiden Wylie, and I am the Activities Coordinator here at Highview House. My job is to ensure a mentally and physically challenging and varied calendar of activities. I want to involve all our residents in a warm and welcoming environment.

My career has been in education, but in 2022 I came to Highview with the ambition of offering a range of activities, trips and entertainment which lead to lasting memories and experiences.

Hello, I’m Sharon Laird. I have now worked with the Barchester Healthcare group in the Activities Department since July 2022, having previously been in the NHS for 40 years. I worked as a nurse and then a midwife before retiring from the health service. Now I have gone full circle from early life to retirement!

I thoroughly enjoy all the fun and entertainment that comes with the job.

Hi, my name is Stuart Sturgeon and it’s my honour to be head chef at Highview House. My career has been cooking in busy hotels and restaurants in the hospitality sector where I was responsible for creating challenging and creative menus.

Here at Highview, I need to learn every resident’s likes and dislikes, as well as their individual nutritional needs. I have the responsibility of creating their menu. It’s their home, and my team and I take pride in creating menus that we know they’ll enjoy.

I’m also responsible for assisting the Activities Team on theme days, parties and one-off events.

If you see me around, I’m always happy to chat!

Hi everyone, I’m Cath Hall. I’m the hairdresser at Highview, and I have been in that role for as long as I can remember. I’m the singing hairdresser – I was a professional singer for a while – and I feel like this helps the residents relax. I’ve worked in care homes across the Highlands for more than a decade, and residents trust me. You’ll hear me before you see me, but you certainly won’t forget me! Stop in at the salon for a chat or a trim.