Meet the Leonard Lodge Care Home team

Hi, my name is Ella and I am the Head of Jubilee at Leonard Lodge.

Before joining Leonard Lodge, I worked in a 25-bedded nursing home for 7 years, starting as Registered General Nurse and later being promoted to the Clinical Manager for 3 years, having shown my capabilities in supporting older people

I joined Barchester Healthcare because the company's values are close to my own.

I am privileged to be part of a dedicated and compassionate team and I embrace the challenge of being able to inspire, direct and empower the staff to be their very best to actively and consistently deliver the core principles of care to an exceptional standard.

It is also my duty to give support to loved ones so that they feel secure, safe and treated with utmost love and respect.

I started working at Leonard Lodge in July 2001, I received my 10 year long service award in 2011. I commenced as a registered nurse and moved into the Unit Managers position in January 2002. I am a qualified General Nurse and well as a Mental Health Nurse, I have a keen interest in Dementia care and work very closely with relatives and health care professionals

I am married with 2 children and 2 rather annoying rescue cats. I have worked in a variety of roles, from office administration to peer mediation in a local school.

I lived in Italy for a number of years and love all Italian food, especially when somebody else cooks it for me!

I love to read, especially crime novels. I am a regular theatre goer with a passion for musicals. I like to sing and dance (albeit badly!).

I commenced my career with the British Transport Hotels Ltd working in Hull, London, Leeds, GlenEagles and Inverness, I came second in the apprenticeship of the year competition whilst in this position. I moved on to work for the Swallow Hotels where I became International Chef of the Year. In 1978 I held the world record for the most dishes cooked in one hour.

I hold gold, silver and bronze medals at various salons including Hotel Olympia. I have also cooked for the Queen and several Prime Ministers and leaders of other countries.

I commenced at leonard Lodge in September 2009 and enjoy meeting with the residents to ensure the menu meets their tastes and requirements.

I have worked at Leonard Lodge since the doors originally opened. I started as a Laundry Assistant and have worked my way up to Head Housekeeper. I pride myself in ensuring a clean, fresh and inviting environment for residents, visitors and staff. I have also received my 15 year Long Service Award, which was presented at our anniversary party.

I have worked in the care sector as a Nursing Home Administrator for the past 10 years for 2 small care providers with less than 10 Homes. I very much enjoy working in an environment where we can make a difference - each and every one of us - to our client’s daily life.

Prior to having my family in the early 1990s, I worked in the heart of London for the first 6 years of my career as a Records Clerk with the British Medical Association, meeting Prince Charles, our Honorary President, at a Grand Ball held in his honour. I then progressed to being the Records Officer at ‘The General Council of the Bar’ in Gray’s Inn and enjoyed rubbing shoulders at the Inn’s garden parties with the likes of Tony & Cherie Blair and Geoffrey Howe, to name a few. But once I became a parent, I worked part time for HSBC to be able to bring up my family. I now have a lovely 2 year old granddaughter, who takes up a lot of my spare time, along with the dog, pigeons and canaries!