Barchester Upton Bay Care Home

Hi everyone, I'm Mevin, General Manager here at Upton Bay.

I hail from the beautiful island of Mauritius and began my career in care under the advice of my greatest influence – My Mum. For this very reason, it has always been a vocation for me.

I have a wealth of experience, having worked for both private and public health care providers, and I have ‘worked my way up’. Before joining Barchester, I was a Home Manager for a specialist dementia and mental health Care Home. I have also spent some years in London working for a large care provider where I progressed from Deputy Manager to a Senior Management role, which involved overseeing the smooth running of 16 homes specialising in nursing, dementia care and mental health. I have gained many qualifications, including NVQ 5 Management and Leadership.

I strive for excellence and will dedicate myself to ensuring those who live here will have the best quality of life possible. I am deeply passionate about bringing the absolute best out of everyone, and I care very much about the team around me. Most of all, I lead with my heart.

I live locally with my beautiful and devoted wife, Rachel, and we have recently celebrated our 10th Wedding Anniversary. I am also an avid Liverpool fan and will rarely miss a match! I love to cook, and I am a trained chef. Also, music and dance are a huge vice to me.

My story into care initially started on somewhat of a whim, in all honesty, I don’t think the twenty-year-old me quite realised the path I would be taking in those coming days, months and years. I fell in love with my role, the feeling of making a difference in someone’s day, big or small or even if this was for the smallest of seconds, in that moment to that person it mattered, and it mattered to me. Seeing the smiles, hearing the laughter, the happiness and the joy from others is what truly makes working in care so special to me. I progressed and transitioned through the roles of Care Giver, Senior Care Giver and Deputy Manager whilst attaining my qualifications and NVQs. I have predominantly worked in Residential, Dementia and Mental Health care settings, and my key area of interest is Safeguarding.

For any person, family member or loved one choosing a care home can understandably be an extremely difficult time, the worries, possible guilt and most likely the million and one questions racing around their minds, yet having an open door culture, a strong committed and well-trained team is something I feel can really help reduce those worries and anxieties. I am a strong believer that the only thing to change when moving into a care setting is the postcode, whilst being supported to live life to the very fullest, providing continuous opportunities to love, grow and laugh whilst promoting living life to the very fullest.

Barchester’s renowned reputation and ethos prove only too much that this career change was most definitely the start of yet another exciting chapter and very much an opportunity to share my knowledge and expertise with the rest of the team embarking on this upcoming venture.

Upton Bay will no doubt be an extremely special, happy home, providing the very most outstanding support and care, promoting togetherness and independence.

Outside work, I love to spend time visiting lots of different places whilst experiencing different cultures, not forgetting the tasting and trying new foods! I have quite a passion for art, I love to draw and paint. My friends and family are so very special to me, I love spending time with those that I love dearly, whether this be over a glass of wine in the sunshine, a BBQ or just a ‘natter’ on the phone.

Hello, my name is Monika and I am the Administrator at Upton Bay Care Home.

What was only ever meant to have been a two-week holiday in England ended up with me falling in love with the ‘Sunny South Coast’ and fifteen years later it has become the place I call home. I really do love Dorset.
Owing to my strong philanthropic streak and caring nature, I made the choice to work in care after 11 years as an Administrator at a University in Poland.

Most recently I worked as an Administrator in a specialist Residential Dementia care home. I enjoy the buzz and atmosphere of care home life and love getting to know the residents, their loved ones and their life history.

Whilst my role is to primarily oversee the day-to-day administrative duties for the home I will most certainly be immersing myself into day-to-day life at Upton Bay. I believe very much in the Barchester ethos of ‘celebrating life’ and this is something I personally live by.

Outside of work I am a volunteer with a number of local charities most notably Julia’s House, which is a children’s charity and I actively support them in my free time, I relish in it and love getting out into the community. I love walks on the beach and am a strong advocate for being environmentally friendly.

I am so proud to say I work for Barchester Healthcare with such a wonderful, unique, diverse and open-minded team that clearly shares the same passion for care as I do - It’s such an exciting time and I cannot wait to meet you all.

Hi, my name is Ola, and I'm a Home Services Advisor at Upton Bay.

I am on hand to meet and chat with you, to answer any questions you might have while deciding and looking for the perfect home.

My role includes supporting potential residents and their loved ones when considering care in our beautiful home.
I truly enjoy building connections within our local community.

Outside of work, I run a volleyball team and have a family with two children.

Hi, everyone, my name is Karen, and I am thrilled to be the Activity Co-ordinator at Upton Bay Care Home.

I first worked in the care sector in 2010, starting in domiciliary care and progressing to Care Coordinator. I have since gained a wealth of experience in dedicated Dementia and Residential Activities, working as a Peripatetic Activity Co-ordinator in 16 out of 20 homes within a group. Then, in 2018, I was part of a team that commissioned a new luxury care home, where I was an Activity Team Leader.

I enjoy making wishes come true for residents - In February 2015 I organised my first Wedding in a care home, the lady resident who was living with Dementia was unable to travel to Hertfordshire for her Granddaughters wedding so I brought the wedding to her, so I organised a Wedding Blessing at the home, we had a Vicar, A choir, all of the bridal party, the flowers, a buffet, a wedding cake, champagne, the full works. This really made this lady's day a special day for her. In 2017, I organised a smaller Wedding in the garden, and this was a special wish for a gentleman resident to see his Granddaughter married. Organising these special moments gives me a lot of pleasure, knowing I have made them feel special and to give families that happiness and see them smile.

When I am not organising Activities or Events, I like to spend my own leisure time walking along Sandbanks/Bournemouth beaches, or gardening.

My passion is the Theatre, seeing the latest Musical in London's West End. Since the age of 4, I have been dancing - ballet, tap, jazz, modern and ballroom Semi-professionally and in the Amateur world. I have been singing since I was 12, and I have performed in over 32 musicals and many musical concerts. I am a lifelong member of Poole and Parkstone Musical Theatre Productions. My last performing concert was A Century of Song, and the last Musical I performed in was Anything Goes with BMT. My most treasured performances have to be singing with Barry Manilow at the BIC and performing on BBC South in a talent show.

The most important people in my life are my 3 stepsons, daughters-in-law, and 7 step-grandchildren. My Cats are my world, Louis, my Blue Mitted Ragdoll and Reggie, my Chocolate Point Birman. In 2011, after 30 years of married life, I lost my beloved husband; however, I can’t thank Poole and Bournemouth Hospitals enough for looking after him so well.

I cannot wait to welcome our residents into their wonderful new homes and help to bring smiles, joy and laughter to each day.

Hi, my name is Alain, and I am the Head Chef at Upton Bay.

My career in Hospitality and Catering started in 1995. I’ve worked and trained in France, managed beach resorts in Ghana, and I am now very settled and happy in the UK.

I started working as a Chef in the care industry in 2007. I chose to join Barchester as their standards and expectations are so high. I believe a good Chef is an artist and should be able to create delicious menus from the local, seasonal produce on offer.

We have a strong, passionate team here at Upton Bay, and we are looking forward to welcoming our residents to their new home.

Hello, My name is Elsa, I am the Head Housekeeper at Upton Bay. I strive to ensure our home is looking pristine at all times. I respect that this is our resident's home, and take pride in making it a beautiful living environment for them all.

I lead an excellent team whose high standards and attention to detail keep Upton Bay immaculate at all times.

I have been with Upton Bay since January 2021, when I helped with the opening commission.

Having started here as the Second Chef, I have always had a passion for maintenance and was able to help with the bus-driving trips that we offer to our residents.

Gardening has been a part of my life for a long time, so I also took on the position of Gardener. Over time, my role developed into a Maintenance Assistant, so when the Head role became available, I jumped at the chance.

I love making sure everything is safe for our residents, keeping the home and gardens clean and tidy and generally looking after the home.

Upton Bay is a special place, and I like to think I helped to make it that little bit better.

Hi there, my name is Emma, and I am a Community Lead. I am so proud and excited to be part of such a great new home and team.

I am honoured to be one of the first people you and your loved ones will meet. I understand that it can be an emotional time moving into a care home, but rest assured, we will be offering the best care, comfort and companionship possible.

I have been working in the care industry for 16 years now. I love my job, and I am very passionate about what I do as a Senior Care Assistant. I love making a difference and putting a smile on someone’s face.

Outside of work, I have a beautiful, loving family, a husband, 3 grown-up children, a dog and a cat. I love going for walks, come rain or shine and enjoy picnics out in the countryside.

I look forward to meeting you all and welcoming you to Upton Bay.

Hi, my name is Emma, and I have joined Barchester to be part of the team at Upton Bay as a Senior Care Assistant and was promoted to the Community Lead role. I have been in the care sector since 2012 and find it the most rewarding of careers. I love to make people smile and to be able to support people to live their best lives, however possible.

I feel so lucky to have been chosen as part of this wonderful new team in a fantastic setting.

My name is Ashley, I am a Community Lead here at Upton Bay care home. I have worked in care for many years and thoroughly enjoy being part of the team. I particularly enjoy helping vulnerable elderly residents, and with a warm, kind, nurturing approach, I can help make that day a little bit better. We have a great team here, and we all support each other. 

Hi my name is Rose and I have worked in care for a number of years, I am passionate about delivering a high quality of care. I’m so proud to be part of the team at Upton Bay

I am married with six children and I enjoy family time, gardening, reading, travelling and musicals.

I look forward to welcoming you and your family to Upton Bay.

Hello, my name is Sue, and I work with the Reception team at Upton Bay. I look forward to welcoming you to our lovely home. I thoroughly enjoy showing guests around our beautiful home and assisting with any queries. We are always happy to welcome you and make a lovely cup of tea or coffee for you and your guests.  I love working as part of the Upton Bay family and look forward to meeting you soon.

Hi, I'm Ivy, Senior Care assistant at Upton Bay

Hello, my name is Sarah, I am a night Senior care assistant at Upton Bay. I look forward to getting to know all the ladies and gents who come through our doors at Upton Bay!

My name is Dan and I am a senior carer here at Upton Bay. I have been working in care for a long time and have a lot of experience within this field. I am keen to learn and am embracing this new challenge of being a senior. The team at Upton Bay are really lovely and I am getting on well with all of the residents. I have a gentle, calm nature with a huge smile and want to help as much as I can.

Hi, my name is Katie White, and I am a Carer here at Upton Bay. I really like the team and residents here and my job is really interesting. There are so many different parts to care and I love making a difference to our residents and helping them with their individual needs. I particularly enjoy engaging with everyone and helping with any small tasks

Hello everyone my name is Kirsty and I am truly proud and very honoured to have been chosen to be part of such a great new home and team here at Upton Bay care home.

I am very excited to be one of the first faces you and your loved ones will see when you join us at Upton Bay, I understand that it can be very difficult and emotional when you or a loved one moves into a care home but please be rest assured we will provide the absolute best care possible, making the transition as easy as possible.

I have worked in the care industry for almost 6 years now and it is my absolute passion, I love my role as a Care Assistant and making a big difference to someone’s day is such a great feeling, nothing beats it.

Outside work, I have a beautiful family, partner, two children and a Yorkshire terrier called Teddy. We love putting on our wellies come rain or shine and to go off exploring, we are so lucky with our surroundings. I love to bake, mainly sweet things as I have a very big sweet tooth and I love spending time with friends and family.
I look forward to meeting you all with a big smile and a warm welcome to Upton Bay.

Hi, my name is Maria, and I am a Kitchen Assistant here at Upton Bay.

I support our chef in preparing and serving nutritious meals for our residents.

I love to sing and dance, which our residents love. I am always bringing joy and laughter to everyone and often have them up and dancing. I love working with elderly people and want to help them as much as I can.

My passion is care. Whether it be assisting people with their morning routines to look and feel their best, or being a friend to residents in times of need, I pride myself on always giving our ladies and gentlemen my best self and being intuitive to their needs.

Every day at Upton Bay is different and exciting, and I'm delighted to be a part of such a lovely home.

As a Care Assistant, I'm dedicated to providing high-quality care to your loved ones and take pride in promoting dignity and self-expression.

Hello, I'm Jody, and I'm a part of the care team at Upton Bay. I am hugely enjoying my role in this wonderful care home, and it has been so lovely to meet all of the ladies and gents who have chosen to call Upton Bay their home.

My name is Erano and I work part-time in housekeeping here at Upton Bay. I take pride in my work and try to focus on keeping the carpets and bedrooms clean and tidy. I enjoy doing the deep cleaning to make sure that everything is looking nice for our residents.

Hello, I'm Sita, the Housekeeping assistant at Upton Bay Care Home. It's my pleasure to keep our residents' homes clean, tidy, and truly feeling like their homes!

My name is Liezel, I work as a housekeeper for Upton Bay. I love helping residents with their washing and helping to keep clean their rooms. The home is beautiful and it is lovely to work with such a friendly, professional team.

My name is April, I am a care Senior carer here at Upton Bay care home. I have worked in care for many years and thoroughly enjoy being part of the team. I particularly enjoy helping vulnerable elderly residents and with a warm, kind, nurturing approach I can help make that day a little bit better. We have a great team here and we all support each other. 

My name is Lauren, I am a care assistant here at Upton Bay. I love helping our residents with all their needs and making everything a little easier for each and every one of them.

My name is Sylvia and I am a care assistant at Upton Bay. It brings me great pleasure to see smiles on our resident's faces when we have a giggle and a chat. I love to care for everyone and it makes me very happy to be part of this team. We are like a family.

My name is Chloe and I am an Activities assistant here at Upton Bay. I love all the residents and find pleasure in helping them enjoy all the amazing activities we run here. In particular, I like one-on-one with individuals especially when I give manicures and paint nails. I am so pleased that I can be part of this lovely family.

My name is Dan and I am a Care Assistant at Upton Bay. I have recently joined as previously I worked in my home town Johannesburg in South Africa. I love to make the residents smile and take care of their every need.

My name is Sheeba and I am a night care assistant here at Upton Bay. I love working at night so that I can ensure that residents are settled and sleep well. If anyone needs company or a drink then I am happy to help.

My name is Louise, and I am a Senior care assistant here at Upton Bay. I love my job and all our residents. I particularly enjoy finding out about a resident's past and listening to the stories that they tell. Our team is like a family, and I feel proud to be part of the Upton Bay family.

I adore our residents and feel like we are one happy family. I enjoy the care and helping my colleagues carry out all the personal care and help that our residents need.

My name is Michelle and I am a Support Assistant at Upton Bay care home. My role is varied and I love that I can help residents with all aspects of their care including helping with mealtimes, reception, housekeeping and some types of care.

My name is Monica, I am a Night Senior here at Upton Bay. I enjoy all aspects of my work but in particular, making sure our residents are comfortable and well cared for at night. Sometimes it can be a bit lonely so I like to ensure that everyone has company if they need me.

My name is Koti, I am a care assistant here at Upton Bay. I thoroughly enjoy helping residents with their needs including mobility, making sure they are washed and dressed along with making everyone smile.

My name is Daniel, and my position here is Sous Chef. I love my job, especially putting a smile on residents' faces when they enjoy the delicious dishes we prepare here at Upton Bay. I also find the variety of dietary requirements of great interest and help put together pureed alternatives for those who require them.

My name is Bonifacio and I love working at Upton Bay. Keeping everything clean and shiny is my passion and I enjoy chatting to all the residents and keeping their laundry fresh.

My name is Yamina and I love to make the residents smile. I work hard to ensure every resident is clean and tidy for each day. I love my job and hope that I will work here for a long time.

I really love to please our residents and make them smile. I like to ensure they have everything they need and make sure they are happy.