Meet the Challoner House Care Home Team

Hi, my name is Sarah, and I am the Senior General Manager here at Challoner House. Welcome to our website!

I head up a team of highly trained care staff at Challoner. Prior to starting this position, I worked in healthcare for 20 years and have been with Barchester since 2009. I come to Challoner with a wealth of experience, both in care and management.

Before joining Barchester, I worked in various healthcare settings for over 20 years. I run a team of highly experienced nurses and care staff here at Challoner. I have brought to Challoner my wealth of knowledge and experience, and I am committed to providing the highest quality of care and nursing.

Please feel free to pop in and meet me and my lovely team at any time.

I joined Challoner House 18 years ago as a care assistant, I then went on to train as a Nurse through the Barchester Development programme and have just been promoted to clinical deputy manager.

I joined Challoner’s team in January 2012 as an Administrator, and my duties included processing the recruitment of new staff, finance and general administration, alongside welcoming visitors into the home. 

Prior to this, I worked for 3 years at Southampton General Hospital in the cardiothoracic radiology bookings office, and as a receptionist in the cardiac MRI unit.  During my time at the hospital, I gained valuable administration experience, in addition to achieving a distinction pass in touch-typing, however, I wanted to broaden my skills, and have an opportunity to learn about financial administration as well as some areas of HR, which is what drew me to working for Barchester.

I was working full time as Challoner’s sole Administrator up until 2017, when I then had a year’s maternity leave to enjoy raising my daughter. Since returning, I now work two days per week and job share the Administrator role with my wonderful colleague, Lizzie, of which we have a very supportive working relationship that ensures the efficient running of our department. 

Lizzie and I are always happy to assist with enquiries and show new visitors around the home, so please come and say hello.

I joined Challoner team in June 2023 as an administrator, and my duties include recruitment, Finance and general Administration, alongside welcoming visitors into the home.

Prior to this I have worked in the care setting as an administrator and have also worked in Southampton university and doctors surgeries doing general admin work. At Challoner House I work as a job share with my colleague Dani Maker.

I have worked for many years across different trades, my main trade is a painter and decorator and my secondary trade is carpentry, I have worked mainly in the hotel industry and I am now happy to be part of the team at Challoner House.

I have worked here since 2014, where I started in the kitchen, and also did night shifts as a carer. I have hopped between departments before settling into housekeeping in 2019, and then being promoted to Head Housekeeper at the tail end of 2019. I am thoroughly enjoying this new role!

My name is Gary Cook and I have been working at Challoner House since April 2011. I started here as a senior carer and then got promoted to Lead Senior Carer.

When the Care Practitioner course was introduced, I was one of the first people in Barchester to complete the programme. After about 9 months, with lots of training and support from the nurses and my mentor, I passed and have been working as a care practitioner ever since. 

I work alongside the nurses and assist them in their everyday duties, from administering medication to wound care.

I love working with older people and enjoy the challenges that it brings.