Marigold House

Laura joined the team at Marigold House in April 2025, progressing from an internal role as a Service Manager within Care is Central.

As a Care Home Registered Manager, Laura is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the home, ensuring high standards of care, safety, and compliance with regulatory requirements. With a focus on supporting residents’ wellbeing and dignity, Laura leads and develops the care team, manages resources effectively, and works closely with families and healthcare professionals to create a warm, person-centred environment.

A humble person by nature, Laura does not like to boast . . . But we do! We are proud that Laura is an award-winning Registered Manager, winning the Regional Winner of the Frontline Leader Award at the Great British Care Awards in 2024, and the Highly Commended Frontline Leader at the National Great British Care Awards in 2025!

A Message from Laura:

My name is Laura and I am the Registered Manager at Marigold House in Leighton Buzzard. I have been in the care sector for 20 years and have worked in Domiciliary Care, Independent Living and Residential Care. I have a real passion for providing person-centred care, as well as providing a safe and engaging home environment for residents to thrive. Seeing residents maintaining their independence is one of the best parts of my job, and I get satisfaction from spending time with those who live with us.

I am very proud of the staff team that we have at Marigold, especially the way that all departments work together to provide the best atmosphere and experience for those who live and work at the home. Staff are encouraged to further their career within the company, and I really believe in promoting from within and helping our staff reach their full potential in social care.

I firmly believe that Marigold House is not just a house - it is a home for our residents.

Alice has been part of Marigold House since the very beginning, playing an integral part in the commissioning and early stage set-up of the home.

Alice is one of two Deputy Managers, overseeing a team of care staff and managing the care for a portfolio of residents. Additionally, Alice manages our Administration Team and our Enrichment Team, ensuring high levels of customer service and satisfaction for all those who live in or visit our home.

A Message from Alice:

I’ve been working in care since I was 18, but my passion for looking after others started long before that—helping care for my elderly grandparents. That experience really opened my eyes to how important kindness, patience, and dignity are when supporting people in later life.

Over the years, I’ve worked in a variety of care roles and developed a strong interest in dementia care. I love getting to know each resident as an individual and making sure they feel safe, understood, and valued.

As Deputy Manager here at Marigold House, I support both the team and our residents to make sure we’re providing the best care possible. I’m always happy to chat with families, answer questions, and help make everyone feel at home. Caring for others is something I’ve always been drawn to, and I feel proud every day to be part of such a rewarding and important job.

Jasmin has worked for Care is Central since 2024, initially starting as a Care Team Leader in our Independent Living Service. She joined Marigold House in June 2025 as one of two Deputy Managers for the home.

She manages a designated team of care staff and oversees the care for a portfolio of our residents. Additionally, Jasmin manages our Catering and Housekeeping functions, ensuring the home is maintained to a high standard and our residents can enjoy quality, nutritious, and delicious food.

A Message from Jasmin:

My name is Jasmin, and I am one of the deputy managers at Marigold House. I started my Career in domiciliary care, where I worked my way through different job roles, gaining a wealth of experience and meeting people from all walks of life.

I joined Care Is Central in March 2024 as a team leader for the independent living services and then joined Marigold House in June 2025. I am very proud to work for a company whose values really align with my own, and I can truly say that the residents are at the heart of everything we do. Care is my passion, and even though it’s hard work and at times stressful, I wouldn’t wish for a better job.

Sandra joined the Marigold House team in March 2025 and is the welcoming face of the care home, managing our reception and providing administrative support to the teams.

Sandra is on hand to welcome visitors, answer any questions and queries people may have, signpost people, and facilitate tours of the home. Sandra manages the care home's enquiries and referrals as well as bookings of our community spaces and guest suite.

A Message from Sandra:

I have been with Marigold since March 2025, after spending 25 years in Human Resources and Data Protection within the hospitality industry.

I have a genuine passion for helping and supporting people and have a compassionate approach. I enjoy creating a warm and welcoming environment for our residents, families, and visitors and building a friendly rapport with everyone. I am always ready to lend a helping hand or a listening ear.

Although my duties keep me mainly in reception, getting to know our residents is one of the most rewarding parts of my role. Working at Marigold House means being part of a team that truly cares—not just for our residents, but for each other. Every team member plays a vital role in creating a safe, welcoming, and happy environment.

Steve is a seasoned chef and joined us in March 2025 as the Catering Manager at the home, running our busy kitchen and managing the catering team whilst never getting too hot under the collar.

Steve has the recipe for success and ensures that our food service at Marigold House is of consistently high quality. Steve and the team provide a diverse range of meal options to cater for our residents, whether preparing traditional old-time favourites, comfort foods or whipping things up with a new delicacy, ensuring there is always something nutritious and delicious on the menu with lashings of care and compassion.

A Message from Steve:

I’ve always loved cooking and believe that food has the power to bring people together and lift spirits. As Catering Manager at Marigold House, my focus is on creating meals that are not only nutritious but also comforting and enjoyable for our residents. I take pride in getting to know everyone’s likes, dislikes, and dietary needs, so that mealtimes feel special and personal. What drives me in my role is knowing that a good meal can make someone’s day a little brighter. Being part of the Marigold House team is truly rewarding, and I feel privileged to play a part in making our residents feel at home.

Natalia and Lauren are our resident Enrichment Coordinators, ensuring that there is always something fun, engaging and fulfilling on offer within the care home.

Offering a wide range of activities, outings and events for residents, they work tirelessly to enrich the lives of people living at Marigold House and ensure no day is dull.

A Message from Lauren:

I have always wanted to be in a job that involves making people smile. When I found that Marigold House advertised for an Enrichment Coordinator, I immediately jumped to apply, and I was lucky enough to be offered the opportunity to work with a great team of people and a fantastic bunch of fun-loving residents to entertain!

I love that every day is different in Marigold. One day, we are knee deep in glue and paint, and then another day, we're off on a trip out for an afternoon of dancing!

A Day-in-the-Life of an Enrichment Coordinator from Natalia:

Every morning starts the same - we greet the residents and the team and check everyone is doing well and has what they need, telling them about the activities on offer that day. Our activity programme usually starts around 11 am, giving people time to get ready each morning. When people are ready, we escort them to each activity, having a chat and catching up along the way and ensuring they are comfortable.

We run activities in the mornings and afternoons and ensure they provide stimulation, enjoyment and exercise, planning our programme around people's physical, sensory, social and memory-enhancing needs. We love to hear from our residents and others about what kind of things people would like to experience or take part in, and we pride ourselves on our person-centred approach.

Activities that we facilitate have included:

- Virtual Reality Experience
- Chairobics Exercise Class
- Intergenerational Play with local schools and nurseries
- Bingo
- Pottery Making & Painting
- Music Jamming Sessions
- Learning New Skills such as British Sign Language
- Tea Dance Outings in Leighton Buzzard
- A visit to the local Reptile Centre
- Themed and General Knowledge Quizzes
- Flower Arranging
- Baking
- Cinema Experience in our on-site movie theatre
and many more!

Hi, my name is Victoria.
I am a Care Assistant here at Marigold House. I have been part of the Marigold team since January 2025. I started working in care during COVID, and even though these were stressful times for all, I was grateful to be there to look after vulnerable people and put smiles on their faces during these difficult times. I then moved on to work in the Prison Service; however, I found that I thoroughly missed caring for the elderly. I decided to go back into care and I certainly don’t regret my decision. Marigold House is completely different to any other home I have worked in. From walking in at the start of my shift to walking out at the end, I feel happy and valued. The staff go above and beyond for the residents, which is just so lovely to see. I am beyond grateful to be part of the Marigold family.

I began working in care at the age of 16, and it has been my passion ever since. From the very start, I’ve loved the warm, welcoming atmosphere of a care home and the privilege of supporting those who are vulnerable. What I enjoy most is the sociable side of the role, whether it’s sharing conversations with residents or working alongside such kind and caring colleagues. Everyone is so friendly and a joy to be around, which makes every day rewarding. Marigold is a truly special place to me, one of the best homes I’ve had the pleasure of working in, with staff who are not only professional but also wonderfully warm and welcoming.