AMITOLA COMMUNITIES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director - the Gravers Co - Owner & Christmas Lodge Co - Owner
I started my nursing training in 1981 and qualified as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RMN) in 1984. As well as joint owner of the Gravers I have been registered manager since 1985.
I have been involved with people contending mental health problems and learning disabilities for as long as I can remember. An ethos of mutual respect and responsibility, whilst being sensitive to distress was instilled in me at a young age, and inspired me to forge a career in this area. I formed strong personal relationships with our residents over the years and many of which shared their stories with me, something that I felt very privileged to share.
I started working in the care sector as a general care assistant in 2004 after completion of a GNVQ 2&3. After developing new skills through both practical work and educational resources, I went on to become a senior care assistant for the elderly suffering with several different types of Dementia and other mental health illnesses. During my role, I completed several trainers courses in order to teach courses within the care sector including: ROSPA Safer People Handling, Alzheimers Society Courses - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow and Tomorrow is Another Day and also completed a course between the Alzheimers Society and the University of Worcester looking at use of anti-psychotic medication. In 2008, I accepted the role of Unit Manager in which I Completed my NVQ Level 5 in Management & Leadership.
I started my role as Home Manager here at Christmas Lodge in November 2015. Both, the recovery focus and person centred care in which we provide within Amitola Communities assists in a strong working professional team dedicated and highly committed to providing individual support & recovery programmes for people with complex and enduring mental health problems, in order to maintain independence, life skills and a feeling of self-worth and confidence. To work alongside our residents, achieving positive outcomes and positive impacts on their lives, makes Amitola Communities an excellent company to be a part of.
Having worked in the care sector since 2002, gaining valuable work experience as a general care assistant until 2005, then Senior Care Assistant until 2010, I was given the opportunity as Deputy Manager at The Gravers. In 2012 I successfully completed my NVQ 4 in Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care and have been co-Manager with Mr Graver since 2013.
Job Titles:
- Director - the Dexters Owner and Manager, Christmas Lodge Co - Owner
I qualified as a registered general nurse in 1976 in Lincoln and moved to York in 1977 to undertake training to become a psychiatric nurse, I opened and became manager of The Dexters residential care home in 1985 and have continued to add to my skill set with Advanced Diplomas in Care, Human Relations and Reflexology.
This is not just a job, it is a vocation, a way of life that I am very privileged to be a part of and the beauty of it all to me is that you never stop learning. I feel extremely fortunate that for almost 3 decades I have been able to make a difference to peoples' lives by providing a holistic, accepting environment that has always felt like home.
I joined Amitola Communities in December 2013 as the Manager of Christmas Lodge, I now also co-manage The Dexters with Mrs Dexter. This offers me the opportunity to work with a large staff team and many clients, which makes for a varied and exciting, but very rewarding role.
Job Titles:
- Director - the Gravers Co - Owner & Christmas Lodge Co - Owner
I started my combined nurse training in 1972 and the following 4 years in York and Scarborough qualified as a Registered Psychiatric and General Nurse (RMN, RGN). I then went on to work in a managerial position within residential care for social services, prior to opening the Gravers in 1985.
Over the years I have never lost enthusiasm, this is our life and I am very passionate about making a difference in our resident's lives, our approach will always be resident-led, respecting that everyone is individual. My drive today is just as strong as it was on day one, life is for living and learning and I'm very excited about the future, embracing new ways of working to continue to enhance our services.
I joined the group in May 2013 to lead the strategic planning and to support the management team in the operation of the organisation.
Having previously held senior management positions in corporate organisations it was a fantastic career change for me, allowing me to meet and work with some really great people in a much different environment than I was used to.