The Gables

I am passionate about providing the highest standards of care and support to the people who choose to live with us, and ensuring that my team operate at the same level. It is a real privilege to care for your loved one, and my whole purpose is to ensure that we aim to be the best at what we provide.

I count myself fortunate to have gained so much valuable experience. My career in care started many years ago at the age of 16. By profession, I am a qualified Social Worker and have managed a wide range of community services, as well as residential and nursing homes. This role means I have worked with older people, people with a learning difficulty, people living with dementia and supporting people who are at the end of their life.

In my last role with Cinnamon Care Collection, my care home was rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, of which I am immensely proud. Throughout my career, I have met, cared for, and worked with some amazing people who have taught me so much.

My family and friends will say I am a bit of a workaholic, highly competitive and a perfectionist who won’t take second best in anything.

My family live in the North, so travelling to see them and my grandson is always a priority.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, theatre and walking my two dogs.

WHAT I DO: As Deputy Manager at The Gables, I work closely with and support the General Manager in the day-to-day running of the home, helping to maintain high standards across all areas of care and service.

I work closely with the Senior Carers and wider Care Team, providing guidance and support to ensure residents receive compassionate, safe and person-centred care. Building strong relationships with residents and their families is a very important part of my role, and I pride myself on being approachable and available whenever someone needs support or would like to discuss a concern.

I am passionate about the Cinnamon Care Collection Vision and Values and about supporting the team to make a genuine difference to the lives of the people who live at The Gables. I also play an important role in ensuring the home meets the required standards of quality and safety, including CQC requirements and the company's own Aims and Objectives.

Alongside my management responsibilities, I support staff development and training and am fortunate to hold the position of the home's Train the Trainer for Moving and Handling and PCS Training.

MY EXPERIENCE: I have worked in the care sector since leaving college in 2006, having gained my qualifications in Health and Social Care. I initially considered studying Midwifery at university, but decided to gain some hands-on experience in care first. I began my career as a Care Assistant at the age of 18 and quickly discovered how much I enjoyed working in care.

Over the years, I have progressed from Care Assistant to Senior Carer, Team Leader and Deputy Manager, and have also had the opportunity to work as an Acting Care Manager. I have gained my NVQ Levels 2 and 3 and a Level 5 Diploma in Management.

I joined Cinnamon Care Collection in 2017 and have had the opportunity to work across three different homes within the group. This has given me a broad understanding of the Cinnamon approach to care, as well as valuable experience working with different teams, residents and care environments. I bring this experience to my role at The Gables, supporting both the General Manager and the wider team to maintain the high standards we strive for.

ABOUT ME: I am married and have a teenage daughter, and outside of work I enjoy nothing more than spending quality time with my family.

I was an experienced horse rider when I was younger and competed in shows across the county before giving it up when I went to college. Recently, my daughter developed an interest in horse riding, which inspired me to get back in the saddle after many years. We now both have weekly riding lessons, which is something we really enjoy doing together.

I also love travelling and discovering different countries and cultures, and I am always happy to enjoy a girls' day out, particularly if it involves a little clothes shopping!

WHAT I DO: I am the Home Admissions Advisor for The Gables in Hagley and our sister home, Parkfield Grange in Stourbridge, having joined Cinnamon Care Collection in December 2022. I now work across both homes, supporting families and building relationships within the wider local community.

My role is to guide families through the journey of finding the right care for their loved ones, helping them understand their options and feel confident in their decisions. I am often one of the first people families meet when considering care, and I take great pride in making that experience as welcoming, clear and reassuring as possible.

I genuinely love what I do and enjoy meeting new people, hearing their stories and helping families navigate what can often be an emotional and unfamiliar process. I am also passionate about bringing the two homes together through our shared community, creating opportunities for families, local businesses and community groups to connect with both The Gables and Parkfield Grange.

MY EXPERIENCE: I have worked in the care sector since 2014, beginning my career with a home care provider as a Live-in Care Coordinator before progressing into Business Development and Customer Liaison Management. This gave me valuable experience supporting people with a wide range of care needs, while developing my knowledge of care provision and the wider health and social care sector.

After around two and a half years in home care, I moved into residential care and have since worked across the West Midlands, supporting residential, dementia and nursing care. This has given me a broad understanding of the different types of care available and, in particular, a real passion for supporting people living with dementia and their families.

Since joining Cinnamon Care Collection, I have developed a strong connection with the local community and have particularly enjoyed creating events, partnerships and opportunities that bring people together and showcase the care and hospitality offered across our homes.

ABOUT ME: I am a mum to a young and very cheeky daughter, and spending time with my family is one of the things I value most. I enjoy attending alternative fitness classes, which challenge me physically and have reinforced for me the importance of looking after both physical and mental wellbeing.

When I am not being a mum or keeping active, I enjoy getting lost in a good book or spending some quiet time colouring. I think having those quieter moments is just as important as keeping busy, and they give me the chance to switch off and recharge.

WHAT I DO: I am the Head Chef at The Gables, where I lead and support a team of six and oversee every aspect of the kitchen and dining experience. I create seasonal menus using fresh, high-quality produce, while ensuring dishes can be adapted to suit individual tastes, preferences and dietary requirements.

Getting to know the residents is an important part of my role. I believe food should be about much more than simply providing a meal; it should create enjoyment, bring back memories and give residents something to look forward to each day. I take pride in creating food that is both beautifully presented and full of flavour, while making sure the dining experience at The Gables feels personal and welcoming.

MY EXPERIENCE: Being a chef has been a lifelong career for me, and over the years I have built up a wealth of experience across a wide range of kitchens, restaurants and culinary environments. I trained in France, Italy and Texas, and have worked in Michelin-listed restaurants and prestigious hotels across Cornwall and the Cotswolds.

My career has also given me the opportunity to work alongside and learn from a number of well-known and celebrity chefs, as well as being involved in opening new restaurants for several household-name restaurant chains. This included helping to establish kitchens from the ground up before opening, developing kitchen operations and ensuring teams were ready to deliver consistently high standards from day one.

Alongside my work in professional kitchens, I have always enjoyed sharing my knowledge with others. I have taught student chefs, helped develop the skills of aspiring cooks and represented well-known restaurants at food festivals, where I delivered live cookery demonstrations and talked audiences through recipes, techniques and the reasons behind different methods.

I have a particular passion for patisserie and have been fortunate to receive several accolades for my cooking throughout my career. I bring all of this experience to The Gables, combining professional culinary standards with an understanding of how food can be adapted to create dishes that are enjoyable, familiar and meaningful to the residents.

ABOUT ME: I grew up in and around Worcester in a traditional family, where food and cooking were an important part of family life. My mother, who was from the Black Country, taught me many of my first recipes, and I still return to some of those recipes today.

I have two daughters who are now becoming accomplished cooks themselves, and I enjoy passing on the knowledge, skills and love of food that was shared with me.

For me, cooking has always been about more than the food itself. It is about bringing people together, creating experiences and taking pride in what you put in front of someone. That is something I continue to bring to my role at The Gables every day.

WHAT I DO : I absolutely love working at The Gables as the Wellbeing and Lifestyle Lead because every day is different, and every day brings an opportunity to make a positive difference in someone's life.

Not only do I value the residents, but the families, too. Families are such an important part of a resident’s life. I love seeing families join in with activities, celebrations, special events and visits.

My Role is making sure the residents I am meeting their needs and values are met. To make sure they’re staying active, connected and independent.

This could be anything from chair- based exercises, movement classes, games, music, reminiscence activities, one-to-one interaction, or simply just sitting down, having a drink and a nice chat to get to know one another.

I support both physical and emotional well-being. My main focus is to make sure the residents are building confidence as well as ensuring the families that they are being well looked after.

I try to bring energy, positivity and purpose to The Gables through fun, inclusive well-being sessions. I genuinely love what I do. Working in a care home is far more than a job; it’s a privilege.

Finally, the best part of my role is building relationships with residents and seeing the positive impact that a little encouragement, kindness and enthusiasm can have.

MY EXPERIENCE: I have worked at 3 care homes before starting at the Gables. The one home I previously worked at, I did 5 years there and can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed it and met some great people.

Working in a care home has shown me just how powerful meaningful activities can be. It’s taught me so much about the Residents and their Dementia and how every person experiences dementia differently.

ABOUT ME: I enjoy my fitness; I go to the gym and enjoy doing people's hair & make-up. I am a self-taught/qualified make-up Artist and have been doing this since I was 17; it’s something I am very passionate about.

I enjoy the gym, running, and being sociable with my friends. I am a very family-oriented person and love people’s company.

I have always enjoyed going to the gym; it gives me a sense of achievement, improves my well-being, and helps me stay physically and mentally strong. I feel like the gym is a good challenge for me and helps me when it comes to doing my job. I feel more positive about myself.

WHAT I DO: As Maintenance Manager at The Gables, I help ensure the home is safe, comfortable and well maintained, both inside and out. From routine maintenance and preventative work to responding quickly when something needs attention, I take pride in keeping the home running smoothly and minimising disruption for residents.

I believe that the small details can make a big difference to someone's comfort and wellbeing. Whether it is maintaining the building, looking after the grounds or resolving an issue quickly, I aim to make sure The Gables remains a welcoming, comfortable place for residents to call home.

MY EXPERIENCE: I am a qualified plumber by trade and have spent much of my career working in practical and maintenance roles. I started working at the age of 12 in a local butcher's and later spent 13 years working as a butcher for Tesco.

After working alongside a heating engineer on a building site, I decided to pursue a career in plumbing and returned to college to gain my qualifications. Before joining The Gables, I spent 16 years working in maintenance at a nursing home, giving me extensive experience of maintaining a care environment and understanding the importance of safety, reliability and attention to detail.

ABOUT ME: Outside of work, I enjoy keeping active and spend a lot of time at the gym, often training six times a week. I am also a keen road cyclist and have taken part in cycling challenges to raise sponsorship for charities, including a ride from Weymouth to Dudley which I completed in just 10 and a half hours.

I am also very proud of my adult son and enjoy seeing him achieve his goals, from graduating from university in Wolverhampton to passing his driving test. Family is very important to me, and I enjoy spending time together whenever I can.