LindsAY
Altoft

Manager
Magnolia House

Lindsay is one of life’s all-rounders! She began life with Park Lane Healthcare working in the accounts department, handling all the residents’ families’ queries, fee payments, bills we had to pay and a myriad of other things too. She even used to organise all our special award days that our top performing staff receive for their efforts, many of which go way beyond the call of duty. If all of this was not enough, in her own time she studied at Lincoln University and gained a degree in social work, such was her calling for looking after the elderly and vulnerable in society. All of this led to her joining our regional team, ensuring our homes were compliant in all aspects of care delivery and it seemed the most natural thing in the world to place her as manager at Magnolia House when the position became vacant. Although a large home and with it large challenges, Lindsay works tremendously hard at all times to ensure that every resident feels that little bit special. 

She comments: 

"I love working in a home environment where everyone feels like part of a family, from our enthusiastic team of staff and the satisfaction that each day brings! I am passionate about Magnolia House and have a wonderful and dedicated team that support me and all those who live here. Having worked for the company for over a decade, I could not imagine being anywhere else. To provide loving TLC for the people in our care is the most rewarding thing you can do in life. Why not come and share the atmosphere of this home. It's a perfect blend of peaceful when you need it but lively when you want it."

NICKY
BEACH

Manager
The Hall

Ladies and Gentlemen, we introduce Nicky Beach! It is true to say she is a happy soul, and any stand-up comic would love her in his audience for sure! She fits in well at PLH, as business has to be fun too. 

But there is more to her than this, versatility being another attribute. She first joined us back in 2009 as a barmaid and eventually as bar manager at The Hall when we used to have a public house and restaurant attached. However, in a troubled world for licensed premises it was inevitable that this would close when measured alongside the massive popularity of The Hall Care Home and so as we converted the place to provide us with more care bedrooms and living space, she trained as a care assistant, rising through the ranks to senior care assistant, then deputy care manager and now manager of the entire home, bagging herself a colossal amount of experience and qualifications along the way. 

To those of you who know her, she needs little introduction, to those of you she is yet to meet, lucky you! Certainly, lucky mums and dads, grandmas and granddads. She’s modest and a good judge too, read on….

Nicky says:

"It has been a great honour to work with the guys at PLH for all these years and to be honest I don’t think I could ever work anywhere else for anybody else! They have backed me to the hilt, and I hope I have repaid them handsomely. The Hall role is a dream come true for me and to work every day in a location that is as lovely as our home is beautiful, is the ultimate for me. Come and see for yourselves, you’ll love it!"

DEBBIE
LEWIS

Manager
Croston Park

We welcome Debbie, a registered nurse who has enjoyed the last 38 years in healthcare as the new manager of Croston Park. She is a very passionate, energetic person, and dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the elderly through creating a positive work culture, and promoting a learning environment for all around her. Debbie has a background in developing quality standards having worked with the Kings Fund Organisation, and continues to have a specialist advisor role with the CQC. She has a keen eye for detail, and is always looking for continuous improvement. Still a practising nurse, you will see her working in the home in order to stay in touch with residents, and keep her ear to the ground when working with the care team. Debbie believes in developing a strong bond with those around her, encouraging accountability, transparency and opportunities for improved communication.

As she says:

"I'm delighted to have joined Croston Park, a home with a history of success, a wonderful reputation and is known and loved throughout the Croston community and beyond. It has a very warm ambience and welcomes everyone...there is a real sense of camaraderie and sincere family values. It's is a pleasure to join the team and support the home in continuing to thrive - as it has for many years - now and into the future.”

LEANNE
HATCH

Manager
The Manor House

Leanne epitomises the phrase ‘home grown talent’! She has been in working in care since she was just 15 years old, coming straight home from school and then back out again to do anything asked of her in a care home owned by a family friend. Now that’s dedication and at such a young age too!

Having enjoyed it so much, it was all she wanted to do and so upon leaving school she sought to move straight into working full time in care of the elderly. This was our good fortune as it was The Manor House she chose and she has been at the home ever since, working her way up through various care exams and the hierarchy of care on the floor. Known extremely well to all our residents and clients, our appointment of her as our new home manager has been a highly popular move, both from the ‘shop floor’ and also residents and relatives alike. She feels like the new girl on the block, but don’t let this typically understated assessment of her own talent fool you! Time spent with her, radiating warmth and complete understanding of our residents’ needs will leave you in no doubt that the home is safe in her hands.

Leanne says:

‘’I am, I suppose, one of the young ones to be a manager at my age. However, I have grown up so to speak in the 21st Century of care and easily learnt the more modern and indeed safer ways of delivering care in this highly complex environment. Creating the very highest standards of care and strict monitoring of residents’ needs are with us to stay and thank goodness they are. Having been on board when all of the new thinking about these issues came to the fore has meant that I found it more or less second nature to work in this way. If carers and indeed everyone can adopt these new standards into the loving TLC they naturally and emotionally feel compelled to give, then everyone wins’’. Wise words from a young lady.

LYN
PILKINGTON

Manager
Moorgate Hollow

Lyn has been working in care of the elderly for almost 20 years! She started as a care assistant and has worked herself up to her current position as manager of Moorgate Hollow, a big role in the right person’s hands. There is no job she asks to be done that she has not done herself, always the sign of a good boss! A passionate student of care, she has taken all levels of care NVQs, which include the Mangers’ Award at level 4 and is now completing level 5. She crucially has also gained her Dementia Care Mapping certificate from no less that Bradford University, the leading light in dementia care behavioural studies and continues to amass further knowledge of this debilitating illness, thus passing the wisdom of her learning on to others.

Having been based at Moorgate Hollow for 9 years as deputy manager prior to her current post, she knows every nook and cranny of the place and of course, all the residents and their families….

As Lyn says: ‘’this is a people industry where trust plays a massive part. I cherish the opportunities and challenges of life at Moorgate Hollow and to witness our care delivery making a real difference to someone’s dignity and well - being, is just so satisfying. I also could not live without my staff team at every level, all of whom play a vital role in the trusting lives of others. I would ask the reader to come and see for themselves how we can change for the better the daily life of a loved one and enable them to make new memories.’’   
Wise words from a smart lady.

SHEILAGH SWEENEY

Manager
Moorgate Croft

Ann is our prized Aussie! Although born in the UK, her parents moved ‘Down Under’ in 1968 and she spent over 30 years there, where she completed her nursing training to a very high level. She took a degree, no less, in Nursing Management and since then has complimented this with a Diploma in Neurological Care, NVQ Level 4 and the Registered Managers’ Award!

She is no stranger to Park Lane Healthcare, either! She ran Moorgate Lodge for us for five years before departing for a new challenge elsewhere. However, we enticed her back to Moorgate Care Village to manage Moorgate Hollow following the retirement of our previous manager and when the opportunity came up to manage Moorgate Lodge again, the nursing facility in the Village, she jumped at the chance of putting her considerable nursing skills back to the test. As a company, we are delighted to now have our old friend back at the Village as manager of Moorgate Croft.

Ann says: ‘’Nursing is in my blood and frankly I wouldn’t be truly happy without it in my life. We work really hard at the Lodge and feel very strongly that everyday dialogue with our residents and their families is sacrosanct. Communication is everything. I have a happy demeanour and life is too short and too precious to be any other way, in my view. I also like to bring a little bit of sunny Australia to the home and indeed everywhere I have been. I hope this shines through!’’

All I know is that at PLH, we feel safe in her hands! 

CHRIS
LANE

Finance Director

Chris’ titles would stretch right across the page, were we to list everything he Excels in! A chartered accountant by profession, working in both accountancy practices and then later in industry, unlike any other accountant we have ever known, he busies himself on all aspects of care delivery. He is the guy responsible for overseeing the entire financial operations of the company, reporting back to fellow board members on up to the minute data which allows us to make quick financial decisions on all aspects of the business. However, he spends much of his time in dialogue with the managers, supporting them on all aspects of daily care, ensuring correct staffing levels, equipment and environment are catered for at all times. Not an easy task. As he says:

"The challenges facing the sector are on the news and social media almost daily, and we need to run twice as fast as the pack to ensure that we keep up. Whilst I am the ‘numbers’ person, to understand those numbers you have to get into the heart and soul of the business, otherwise they are meaningless. I don’t feel I can ever relax without having the total involvement I need to feel within every facet of the business."

This approach has served PLH and Chris well.

ANTHONY
MITCHELL

Operations & IT Director

Anthony gained a university degree in Business Computing, before taking up positions at two of the leading technology companies, EMIS, followed by Accenture. In these positions he worked closely with the NHS and doctors’ surgeries, delivering IT to the healthcare market. With several years of industry experience under his belt, he decided to join the family business, Park Lane Healthcare, in 2006. In his position as IT Director, he was able to bring the very latest technology to both the care side of the business and of course the accounting side. However, wishing to gain extensive knowledge of all sides of the business, he embarked on a journey of numerous care courses, including delivery of care relating to dementia. As with all the owners and Directors of the company, Anthony has extensive knowledge of all aspects of care provision, from care plans and the dispensing of medicines, right through to taking a keen interest in dietary issues and relevant, bespoke activities for our residents. As he says:

"Knowledge is power in any business, but never was this statement more appropriate than in care of the elderly. This sector is ever changing to improve the needs of our residents, whether it be by the use of IT or more conventional means. I make it my mission to know as much about care as I can, and to ensure PLH is at the forefront of the advances in technology…without forgetting the benefits of traditional care delivery methods."

ANDREW
SHEPHERD

Human Resources & Health and Safety Director

Andrew gained a law degree, and worked extensively for the Crown Prosecution Service in West Yorkshire prior to joining us. Needless to say, with such a high profile role, he gained enormous experience in all aspects of law applied to a myriad of different situations, in a fast moving, pressurised environment. We approached him about a change of career path and I think it is true to say that neither side have regretted it. His deep examination of the legal aspects of running care homes in an ever complex world, where health and safety issues, the Mental Capacity Act and numerous other critical issues are at the fore, have proved vital in delivering the correct decisions for Park Lane Healthcare. He combines all of this with running our Human Resources team, overseeing the joining and leaving side of the company which is never an easy path to walk down. Whilst he loves to see exciting new future managers coming through our recruitment process, there are times when we need a strong hand to deliver less pleasing news also. Every business encounters this and we are no different, but are safe in Andrew’s hands. Andrew comments:

"It was a massive change for me to join PLH, but I have never enjoyed my working life so much! At the CPS I witnessed many of the less savoury aspects of life, whereas here, whilst we have trials and tribulations, there are so many wonderful and uplifting stories about both the residents and the staff who deliver such great care to them. I feel very lucky."

So do we!