I first started working at Lulworth House in 2005. I have done a bit of everything; I started as a Carer, then worked up to a Senior Carer position. I moved into the Activities team after having my first child, then stepped up to work as the Chef for a while.

During my time here, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to finish my NVQ Level 2; I have now started to work towards my Level 3 and I am also part of the Dementia Champions programme. I feel very supported in developing my skills.

I want to support people to lead their best possible lives. My job role allows me to bring smiles to people’s faces and seeing the residents having fun, laughing and enjoying themselves makes me happy. It gives me great pleasure to know that I’m making a difference.

I feel proud of my professional achievements. I achieved my NVQ Level 2 and 3, and love learning new things every day while working. I am currently waiting to start my NVQ Level 5 and I am really looking forward to doing it and learning new things.

The team are all amazing and working together is a crucial and integral part of the smooth running of the Home. Working at Sonya Lodge is a privilege – this Home belongs to our lovely residents first and foremost and their care is our absolute priority.

Over the years there have been many positive changes in the Home. Most recently, it's been the training and development that has had the greatest effect for me personally. I’m really proud to support our team; I am looking forward to watching them grow and develop even further.

I enjoy my job as I have so much fun within the activities that we provide for our residents. I am very happy to be at Woodstock and to be part of such a supportive team. The best part of working as part of a team is that we all help each other out.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting back into caring again, as I find it very rewarding and feel like I am giving back. I enjoy the company of the residents, sitting with them and hearing all their life stories from the past.

Nellsar is fantastic at identifying people with the perfect combination of talent and self-motivation. Many of our staff have worked in numerous roles with various responsibilities and just kept learning. This has helped them progress and develop, using these skills to enhance the service.

I have worked a wonderful diverse range of roles throughout my time here. Since joining the Home in September 2019, I have worked as a Carer, a Chef and now I'm the Recreation and Well-Being Coordinator. My team and Manager are fantastic!

What I most enjoy about my job is the strong sense of teamwork and good communication. I take pride in my job and I'm always up for a challenge. I love being creative and have a passion for arts and crafts – it's where I excel.

Woodstock is a very homely and happy place to work. The food we provide has massively improved and our residents have more choice – even the puréed meals have improved with the use moulds and piping techniques.

Working very closely with my team, I have seen many positive changes take place over the years. Many members of the Catering Team have started to develop, including enrolling onto NVQ and Nutrition Curses. The knowledge we have now, is reflected in the quality of our residents' meals.