Meet the Balclutha Court Care Home Team

Our trained team of professionals work together to create the best possible experience for those living in the home, striving to deliver excellent care services in a warm, homely environment. You can find out more about some of our wonderful staff members below:

Alison Dickson

General Manager

Alison is the General Manager here at Balclutha Court.

She started at Balclutha Court as a newly qualified Nurse in 1991, she was the first staff nurse to be employed within the home and can still remember the first day she walked through the door, over the years she has been promoted and became General Manager in 2000. Alison is responsible for the day to day running of the home ensuring that all the staff provide excellent care to the residents and promoting a happy and friendly atmosphere. She never thought she would take up the post as General Manager, however it is the best thing she has ever done. Alison sees the residents and staff at Balclutha Court as her family and it plays a big part in her life. Alison loves to take part in the activities, especially if there is a chance to dress up, fun is key within the home. 

Alison is married and has a Border Terrier called Poppy, who visits the home regularly. She has always been a seasoned traveller, travelling far a field such as Mexico, Thailand and the Dominican Republic but since Poppy arrived things have changed for Alison, it is now more Gran Canaria and Arran. Alison enjoys eating out, shopping and spending quality time with her husband and Poppy and is also a big fan of Gary Barlow!

Julie Wilson

Deputy Manager

Julie began her career here at Balclutha Court as a newly qualified Staff Nurse in 1995. She was promoted through the years, first becoming Sister, then Senior Sister and then finally becoming Deputy Manager. Julie is responsible for assisting the General Manager in the daily running of the home and is a great support to Alison.

Julie lives at home with her partner, daughter, she met her partner within Balclutha Court a good number of years ago when he worked here as a Carer. Julie loves her family time, reading a good book and girlie days out with her daughter.     

Angelica Docherty

Senior Staff Nurse

Angelica started working at Balclutha Court in September 2013 as a Staff Nurse, and was promoted to Senior Staff Nurse in October 2019. She is responsible for ensuring a high standard of care is delivered to the residents.

Angelica is originally from the Philippines and has two gorgeous grown up children. Angelica is happily married and lives with her husband Billy, and Toffee, their beloved cat! Angelica has many hobbies, including handbag shopping, cooking and baking, watching films and listening to music. She also shares the love of travel with her husband—they are always off on their travels.

Heather McDowall

Charge Nurse

Heather trained at Stirling University and qualified in 1997. She first started working in Balclutha Court as a newly qualified staff Nurse. She was promoted to Charge Nurse in 2002. She is responsible for ensuring a high standard of care is delivered to the residents. In the absence of the General Manager, she ensures the home runs smoothly.

Heather’s hobbies are reading a good book, being creative around the house and gardening.

Sita Ali

Charge Nurse

Sita was recruited by the home in 2001 from Guyana as a Staff Nurse she was then promoted to Charge Nurse. She is responsible for ensuring a high standard of care is delivered to the residents. In the absence of the General Manager she ensures the home runs smoothly.

Sita loves spending time with her family, especially her Granddaughter. She also likes to return home to Guyana to be with her family and visit her sisters in Canada and New York. Her hobbies include relaxing at home and having “me time”, socialising with her friends and dining out.

Brenda Storey

Charge Nurse

Brenda is our Charge Nurse on the night shift. She came to Balclutha in June 2019 and is responsible for ensuring that a high standard of care is delivered to the residents.

Brenda has three daughters and lives at home with the two youngest. She enjoys having girly nights with them along with her mum and sister. She loves spending quality time with her partner and his son, even though they make her walk up big hills and mountains. Family and friends are really important to Brenda.

Rhona Findlay

Administrator

Rhona is the Administrator at the Home. She assists the manager with all aspects of the administration and finance within the home. Rhona started her career at Balclutha Court in 2000.

Rhona is married with two beautiful children, they often pop in to say hello to the residents and staff. Her family life keeps her extremely busy trying to balance work and kids activities. Rhona is a great music fan, she also enjoys walking, reading and spending quality time with her friends and family.

Karen Dillon

Head of Activities

Karen Dillon is our Head of Activities and has worked within the home since 2005, starting out as a Carer. Karen is very outgoing and full of fun. She has many hobbies, with arts & crafts being her favourite, and her passion for this can be seen in our life enrichment programme.

Karen is supported by Kay Millar and Anita Marsh, between them they ensure that residents are happy and have loads of fun.

They are very keen to involve the residents in the decision making within the home to enhance their experience. They take part in the residents' meetings, catering forums and assist the General Manager in interviewing new staff members.

Gerry Thomson

Head Chef

Gerry started work at Balclutha Court in 2012 as an Assistant Chef, in early 2019 he was promoted to Head Chef. He is responsible the daily running of the kitchen, ensuring that residents nutritional needs are met, providing a varied menu. He is also responsible for ensuring that there are high standards of cleanliness throughout the kitchen. Gerry’s team consist of two Assistant Chefs and five Kitchen Assistants.

Peter Boyle

Head of Maintenance

Peter started as Head of Maintenance at Balclutha Court in September 2021.   Peter is responsible for ensuring that the home and all its equipment are maintained to a high standard to ensure a comfortable and safe environment for the residents and staff.  Peter never stops! Nothing is a bother and everything is done with a smile.

He has so much time for the residents and always there to lend a helping hand!   Peter loves spending time with his grandkids at the weekend and loves his holidays.

Liz Gallacher

Housekeeper

Liz started at Balclutha Court in 1999 as a Domestic Assistant and was promoted to Housekeeper in 2008. Liz is responsible for ensuring high standards of cleanliness within the home and managing her team of four laundry assistants and five domestic assistants.

Liz is very family orientated, spending a lot of her time away from work with her grown up son, his wife & her young grandchildren. She enjoys going for long walks, reading and going holidays abroad.

Anne Foreman

Admin Assistant

Anne is part time Admin Assistant, assisting the Administrator in the finance and the administration of the home. Anne started working at Balclutha Court in 1992 and since then she has become someone everyone knows and loves to speak to. She is always happy and bubbly, you will always find her this way. She can multitask, answer the phone, count money, solve a staff members problem and have a full conversation with a resident all at the same time!!! Anyone who visits the home always gets a kind word.

Anne has two daughters and four grandchildren, they play a huge part in her life and when she is not at work she keeps herself busy spending time with the children. Anne’s hobbies are shopping, especially for unusual jewellery (you always know what to get her for a present) and reading, she often tells us of the latest romance story that she has been reading. She also loves to dress up and join in with the activities in the home. 

Jill Magee

Admin Assistant

Jill is part time Admin Assistant, assisting the Administrator in the finance and the administration of the home, she also covered when the Administrator was off on maternity leave. She has been with the home since 2004, starting when she was only a young girl of 18.

Jill is happily married and lives at home with her husband and their daughter. Her hobbies include reading a good book, socialising and travel.   

Care Team

We are members of the care team here at Balclutha Court. We thoroughly enjoy looking after the residents and spend time chatting to them and doing daily activities. We continue to develop our skills to support our residents on a day-to-day basis.

We enjoy our jobs and enjoy any training that helps with our continued development that enhances the delivery of great care to those we support. We look forward to meeting you!

Ground Floor Care Team

We are ground floor members of the care team here at Balclutha Court. We thoroughly enjoy looking after the residents and spend time chatting to them and doing daily activities. We continue to develop our skills to support our residents on a day-to-day basis.

We enjoy our jobs and enjoy any training that helps with our continued development that enhances the delivery of great care to those we support. We look forward to meeting you!

First Floor Care Team

We are first floor members of the care team here at Balclutha Court. We thoroughly enjoy looking after the residents and spend time chatting to them and doing daily activities. We continue to develop our skills to support our residents on a day-to-day basis.

We enjoy our jobs and enjoy any training that helps with our continued development that enhances the delivery of great care to those we support. We look forward to meeting you!