I became involved with social care in 1996 working as a volunteer supporting homelessness, addition and mental health. This then included working with the probation service.
Moving from Wiltshire to Devon, I then trained as a midwife, something I very much enjoyed but it proved that social had my heart. After training, I worked at management level in various care homes – supporting living working with nationwide companies, gaining experience in LD, mental health and forensics.
My first registered managers role was for a home in Tavistock. During my 7 years there, I took the home from inadequate to good, where it had a great reputation in the community and with professionals.
I watched my grandparents support my great-grandparents at home and my family support my grandparents at home. Recently, with my mother-in-law, I supported my grandmother-in-law at home.
I have immense respect for everyone that supports their family at home and hope to provide that same home-from-home care at Coppelia.
Outside of work, I am a volunteer at my local village hall, supporting jumble sales, dog shows, flowers shows and the annual village fete. As a family we enter Royal Cornwall Flower Show every year. I also helped support the residents of my home by entering the hanging basket competition, where we came second. We are hoping Coppelia will enter and be successful.