Meet the Hawthorns Care Home Team

My name is Deborah Flower and I have been a Qualified Adult Nurse for 29 years.  I have worked at the Hawthorns for 17 years as Neuro Manager and prior to that worked as a junior sister for 7 years on a Neuro Rehab Ward for the NHS.

I qualified as an RGN in 1990 at Cleveland College of Nursing and Midwifery. I worked as a staff nurse at DarlingtonMemorialHospital as an Anaesthetic and Recovery nurse until 1994. I commenced employment at Hawthorns Care Centre on the Nursing Unit in August 1994 initially on night duty. I became Nursing Unit Manager in 2002. I have completed various clinical and academic courses including Diploma of Nursing, ENB Care of the dying patient and their family, Infection Control and Clinical services during my time as unit manager. The standard of care has been maintained and enhanced. The unit has an excellent reputation in the community and is well recognised as providing a high standard of care. The unit provides a variety of care including long term chronic disease, palliative/end of life care, intermediate care and long term care if the elderly frail. 

I have worked in administration and finance since 1999 in various roles within different sectors. I have been at The Hawthorns since August 2019 ,where I started as an Admin Assistant. I took over the role of administrator in April 2020, and I am thoroughly enjoying my role. 

I was nominated for and won “Divisional Administrator of the Year 2022!"

I am passionate about providing excellent customer service to our residents and relatives, and myself and my team make sure our fantastic colleagues are supported with all of their admin tasks.

Hi, my name is Claire and I'm the Head Chef here at the Hawthorns.

My passion and love of food started when I was young, my mother and father have eclectic and adventurous tastes and this was reflected in my home life. Never one for just plain food, I cooked up Italian, Thai and other dishes on a regular basis. Holidays also provided an insight to food and culture which I then brought back and tried out, my favourites being Australian, Russian and Egyptian. This led to a career in catering and a degree in Hospitality Management from Robert Gordon's University, Aberdeen. I have worked in a variety of hospitality environments, including the Caledonian Thistle Hotel, Aberdeen and Edinburgh Universities, within the fine dining team cooking for Prince Phillip, Puccino's Cafe Bar and now here at the Hawthorns where I have been for the last 15 years! 

Mary Raunikar Page is a HCPC-registered music therapist. Originally from the US, she trained in Arizona and is qualified to practice music therapy in both the US and the UK. Mary utilises music-based activities to help residents maintain mental health and well-being and to achieve neurological objectives.  Her primary instrument is the harp, which she applies in her sessions for relaxation and enjoyment. Outside of Barchester, Mary plays the concert pedal harp for various functions around the northeast and records tracks with cosy themes.