Barchester Peony Court Care Home

Hello! I am Charles, the General Manager here at Peony Court. I began my healthcare journey as a dentist, building a strong foundation in patient care before pursuing a Master’s in Healthcare Management. While studying, I worked part-time in care, where I formed meaningful connections with residents and saw first-hand the value of compassionate, person-centred support. Now, as a General Manager, I’m committed to creating a safe, respectful environment where residents feel valued, and teams are empowered. I love travelling and long drives; they inspire me and reflect my belief in learning from diverse cultures, something that enriches my work every day.

Hi, my name is Afi, and I previously worked as a Care Community Lead at Chestnut Gardens Care Home. I began my journey in care in 2022 as a carer with Barchester Healthcare, where I quickly discovered a passion for supporting others with compassion, dignity, and respect. Through dedication and a commitment to making a positive difference, I progressed into a senior carer role, developing strong leadership skills and a deeper understanding of person-centred care. I am proud to continue this journey at Peony Court as the deputy manager, supporting both residents and colleagues to deliver high-quality care.

Hi! I'm Chris, the head chef here at Peony Court.

I've worked in the catering business for well over 40 years and love what I do. Cooking isn't just a job for me it's my passion, I cook at work, at home, wherever and whenever I can! My favourite thing to cook with is Chicken, boring I know but it's so incredibly versatile, with the exception of puddings you can make pretty much anything with a chicken! I decided to move into the care industry because I find it so much more rewarding than restaurants, theatres and such. I get to engage with the residents, find out what they want and work to make it happen. I am so happy to be a member of the Peony Court Team, I've been made to feel welcome and supported, it's more like family than a workplace, something I've never experienced in my 40-plus-year career!

Hello! I'm Kerry, the second Chef at Peony Court. I have always had a love for cooking, seeing first-hand the care, purpose and dedication that chefs bring to preparing meals for residents inspires me to pursue this path. Cooking is much more than food; it is about creating comforting dishes and ensuring every meal is prepared with thought and attention.

Hello! I'm Nick, Head of Maintenance here at Peony Court.

Before joining the care sector I qualified and worked many years as an architect, designing and planning the building of houses, retail establishments, office blocks and some of the biggest purpose-built care homes and retired living complexes in Europe!

I made the move into the care sector because I wanted to work directly with the people, I get a buzz every single day knowing I can make a real difference to my team and my residents. It's incredibly rewarding and makes the hard work absolutely worthwhile.

Before I joined the care sector, I worked for many years in the hotel industry, managing housekeeping, hospitality and customer experience. Several members of my family have a history of working in care, and I thought, maybe that could be me as well. I'm a natural entertainer with a flair for bringing smiles to people's faces, and this was absolutely the right move for me. Here at Peony Court, I make a point of getting to know each and every resident and their families. I tailor the activities program to suit individuals; no one is the same, and everyone has different interests. It's my aim to be empathetic, enthusiastic and engaging with all of my residents. We have incredible activities and events here guided by exactly what our residents want, from pampering sessions to singing and dancing, chair exercises to arts and crafts, and diversity is absolutely key! I can't wait to welcome more residents and guests to Peony Court!

Hi, I'm Bo, the Activities Assistant here at Peony Court. From arts and crafts to games, themed events and one-to-one chats, I help create moments that spark joy and encourage participation.

Hi! I'm Jill, your friendly admin assistant. I'm the first person you'll be greeted by at Peony Court, and I'll even make you a cup of tea! You might even catch me singing along to the radio. I worked in the city as a legal assistant for over 25 years before we were hit by the pandemic, and was then made redundant. My own mum had been unwell for a while, and I thought, what better way to 'give back' than to look at the care industry here I am. This career move has been a massive awakening for me; it's a completely different environment in a sector that really matters! The team here at Peony Court are great and works as a team, we never say it's not my job, everyone supports each other, and it's a fab place to work!

Hello! I'm Donna, Community Manager here at Peony Court.

Caring has always been a significant part of my life. Before beginning my career professionally, I supported family members, and those early experiences showed me just how meaningful it is to make a positive difference in someone's life. They inspired me to pursue a career where compassion, kindness, and supporting others are at the heart of everything I do. Since then, I have built my career across a variety of care settings, developing a broad range of knowledge and experience. Before joining Peony Court, I spent six years working in Mental Health Services, supporting individuals with a wide range of complex mental health conditions and dual diagnoses. This role strengthened my skills in delivering person-centred care, building trusting relationships, and supporting people to achieve the best possible quality of life. I joined Peony Court when it first reopened in 2021 and have been proud to be part of the team from the very beginning. Watching the home grow and flourish has been incredibly rewarding, and I have enjoyed contributing to the warm, welcoming community we have created together. In 2026, I was delighted to be promoted to Care Community Manager, a role that allows me to lead and support our exceptional team while continuing to ensure our residents receive the highest standard of compassionate, person-centred care. What I enjoy most about my role is getting to know each resident as an individual and working alongside their families and our dedicated team to create an environment where people feel safe, valued, respected, and truly at home. I am incredibly proud to be part of Peony Court and to help shape the positive, caring culture that makes it such a special place to live and work.

Hi, my name is Karen, and I have worked in care for most of my life. I'm also a carer outside of work for my lovely Mum. I'm passionate about giving our residents the very best experience and making sure the whole team go the extra mile. I'm the Peony Court Falls Prevention Champion and Moving and Handling champion- the two roles fit together nicely, and I've learned a lot from our regular Champions meetings.

I’ve been working in care for over 10 years, and during that time I’ve taken on a variety of roles, including senior positions that have helped me grow my skills and leadership. Caring for others is something I’m truly passionate about. I love building meaningful relationships with residents, supporting my team, and making sure everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. I’m excited to be part of the Peony Court family and to continue making a positive difference every day.

I gained my BTEC Level 2 and 3 in Health and Social care at College, and have worked in a variety of care settings prior to the birth of my daughter. I joined Peony Court as a member of the Housekeeping team and was excited to be promoted to Senior Care in April 2023. My great pleasure is time spent talking with our residents, getting to know them as people, and the families as well. It's not just about the physical side of caring; it's the relationships we make that are so rewarding.

I'm Katie, and I've been with the team since the home opened in September 2021. I hadn't worked in a care home before, but had been a private home carer for a lady living with dementia. When she went into a care home, I needed a job and applied to Peony Court. I got into care after needing care myself when I suffered a stroke. I understand how the residents feel and the frustration they can experience when their bodies don't do what they tell them to! I'm one of the Dementia champions here. While we don't have a 'Memory Lane' wing here at Peony, we do have some residents with age-related memory difficulties, and it's our job to make sure their specific needs and preferences are understood by the whole team. I also liaise with families to make sure we have a rich life history of their relative, which helps to truly personalise the care and activities of the individual.

I was born in 2012 and was rescued from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home by a wonderful lady. I had many happy years with her before she sadly passed away, so I was on the hunt for a new family and was lucky enough to stumble on Peony Court! I moved in here in 2021, and I'm so happy! I like nothing better than curling up on a chair in the warm and cosy lounge, and no one needs to worry about mice; there'll be no pests in my house! I love my hoooman family at Peony Court, they are puurrrfect!