Suja’s journey: from sponsored healthcare assistant to care manager

At Excelcare, there are many opportunities for team members to learn and progress, gaining new roles and opportunities. Here is the story of Suja Mathew, who joined Excelcare on a Senior Healthcare Visa Sponsorship and is now Care Manager of Buchan House Care Home.

Suja completed her Nursing degree in India and worked as the Vice Principal of one of the most reputable Nursing Colleges. Then in 2004, she moved to the UK through the help of Excelcare’s visa sponsorship programme. Suja was welcomed into Brook House Care Home as a Healthcare Assistant where she worked for two years, eventually being promoted to Team Leader.

During her time at Brook House, Suja took part in the Overseas Nursing Programme, which included her studying at university during the week and working at Brook House over the weekends. After successfully completing this, she received her Nursing PIN and was officially a qualified Nurse in the UK!

In 2006, the Excelcare team worked with Suja to change to a Nursing Visa, which led to her taking on the role of Unit Manager at St Georges Court Care Home in 2007. Suja really enjoyed her time at St Georges Court, but when Etheldred House Care Home was being reopened in November of 2007, she was ready to transfer to the sister home and take on the role of Registered General Nurse.

During her time at Etheldred House, Suja took on more training and received her NVQ Level 4 Registered Managers Award in 2008. As well as this, she undertook a mentorship programme in 2009 and became a signed off mentor for her team members. This led to her being promoted to a Nurse Management role in the home.

Suja worked at Etheldred House for 5 years before moving to Excelcare’s Buchan House Care Home as a Care Manager in 2012, to help set up their new nursing unit. Suja has been Care Manager at Buchan House ever since, completing a variety of training and upskilling programmes, including a one-year Dementia Diploma course in 2014.

Most recently, Suja has completed a level 5 Management and Leadership Course, and everyone is so proud of her. Samantha Crawley, Director of Care Quality & Transformation, said “What an achievement during what has been the most challenging time in the history of social care! Well done to Suja, she should be so proud of what she has achieved by completing this course.”

When discussing her time with the company, Suja said: “My Excelcare family have helped me a lot – personally and professionally – to achieve my goals and create a career pathway. I am so grateful for how they have supported me since I moved to the UK and look forward to progressing even further within the company. I would also like to give an extra big thank you to Ozzie Ertosun (Group Chairman) and Sam Manning (Chief Operating Officer).”

click here for more details or to contact Buchan House Care Home