Hadleigh Nursing Home

I have worked Nursing & Social Care industry for just over 43 years. I started my journey as a volunteer, I then trained as a nurse in Sunderland and then went into care homes in 1988. I have worked for small providers and corporate organisations. I have spent time in the last 10 years commissioning new care homes and have been involved in new companies. I am passionate about caring for older people and those living with Dementia. At Hadleigh Nursing Home there is a friendly family feel and I have a team that I am very proud of. Everyone strives to deliver the best possible care and enrich the lives of our residents. I relocated to Suffolk in 2022 with my family. Out of work Allison loves to spend time with her family and very spoilt dog Poppy.

I trained with Anglia Ruskin and then once qualified started as a ward nurse in the care of the elderly at Colchester General. I started my Nurse career later in life and was originally working in London for Barclays Bank and NIG Skandia. I have been a nurse for over 14 years, my last role was as a Senior Specialist Urology Nurse and I was in that role for 7 years. Before this, I worked for a community nursing team. Before this, I worked in school nursing leading clinics for 5 to 18-year-olds I also worked as a Renal dialysis Nurse.

Becoming a Nurse was my greatest achievement and have since loved working with families and patients, to help promote good quality care for all. I moved to Hadleigh 5 years ago and have been greatly impressed by the community and the wonderful surrounding areas. I enjoy spending time with my family and animals who are important to me. I have been given a wonderful opportunity to work at Hadleigh Nursing Home with a wonderful team to help promote patient-centred care and enhance residents' lives and wellbeing.

I worked in hotels for 18 years before I joined the team at Hadleigh Hall Nursing Home. I am passionate about making meal times special for our residents with great service and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. My experience in events and wedding coordinating makes me adaptable with a keen eye for the smaller details. I take great pride in exceeding both resident and relative expectations wherever possible. With a strong person-centred approach, Hadleigh Hall Nursing Home feels just like a family and I am proud to be part of a team delivering a first-class experience for our residents. I am lucky to reside in the wonderful area of Hadleigh and outside of work, my family and I love exploring the countryside and all that our new “UK” home has to offer, having arrived from South Africa last April.

I have worked in the healthcare sector for 22 years, 17 years as an Administrator. I started as a Night Care assistant, then as a Housekeeper. I enjoy my job and love working within the Healthcare sector. The job is varied with every day bringing a new challenge. I love the daily interactions with the residents and their families. In my spare time I like to spend time with my family, especially my grandson’s Charlie and Kingsley, and travelling to our holiday home in Spain.

As the wife of a serving soldier of 24 years, now a veteran, we moved into Hadleigh in 2002. My first job in Hadleigh was as an activity coordinator in a care home in 2003. After a year, I changed my job role to that of a teaching assistant/pastoral care in a local school, supporting charity work within the community and welfare within the Army community for 10 years. I spent one year as a member of the Town Council. In 2014, I joined the Hadleigh Dementia Action Alliance for 6 years and worked at a local residential care home for 5 years as a carer and the activity coordinator, before moving to Hadleigh Nursing Home in 2019 as the Lifestyle Coordinator and a Senior Carer role.