Somerset Care has six homes providing high-level nursing care to residents. Our nursing staff, supported by a team of health care assistants, make a positive difference to the lives of our residents.
Our nurses provide clinical skills and management leadership to the larger staff group, and in return we can offer the following:
- Preceptorship scheme for newly qualified nurses (dependent on availability)
- Career Pathways to senior management roles across the Somerset Care Group
- Ongoing professional training opportunities/maintaining CPD by updating and improving clinical skills
- Opportunities to make great relationships with residents, GP’s, other social care professionals and of course, families
Click on the links below to view testimonials from members of our nursing staff.
- Mel
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I started my career as a nurse with Somerset Care at the tender age of 22, quite by accident. Nearly 20 years on, I’m still here. I have had a couple of breaks for children and I even worked for a competitor once but have always come back.Within two years of my first appointment I was promoted to deputy manager and quickly went on to manage nursing homes after that. Age has never been an obstacle to achievement; you are judged on your performance.I have undertaken lots of training and development over the years to the benefit of my job and career progression, both clinically and in management. Line managers have nurtured my skills and aptitudes to best effect. These days I am the Nurse Advisor for the Somerset Care Group, working in the Central Office to support all of the services we provide.Throughout my time, I have worked with some tremendous individuals and groups of staff, committed and caring, hard working and funny. I have always felt valued and that my opinion mattered. Somerset Care believes in providing quality care to everyone, no matter how big their purse and putting service users at the centre of everything we do. They believe that their staff are their greatest asset and they invest in us all. Being a ‘not-for profit’ company means that there is not a huge pot of money available to pay us what we truly deserve but I know that they understand what we are worth.
- Barbara
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Joined Somerset Care as Deputy Manager for Popham House. I have been extremely well supported in my new role by both the Manager and the Deputy Manager for the Court. The opportunities that have been made available to me for training and updates has been most welcome and I have to say impressive. My previous experiences in meeting training needs has been an uphill struggle to say the least, the availability of training for all staff at all levels is without a doubt the best I have ever encountered in the private sector.I feel privileged to be part of the Popham Court Care Team. The Manager is exceptional, her dedication and inspiration is second to none. The other Deputy Manager has become a valued colleague that I have immense respect and admiration for, her advice and experience has been invaluable.The atmosphere and approach by staff members at both the House and The Court is warm, friendly, approachable but above all professional, I enjoy my working life and look forward to the challenges every day brings in a busy and thriving Home. I may leave tired and weary at the end of a day but never dissatisfied. The team spirit within both Homes is exceptional, and the desire to strive for excellence is abundant.
- Hazel
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I am an experienced health professional with expertise in the management of services, mental health, general and palliative care nursing, counselling and supervision. I have many years experience of working with loss, change, adjustment and stress. Having held positions of trustee, group head of nursing services, head of nursing home, charge nurse, residential services manager, clinical nurse specialist, counsellor and supervisor, my clinical and leadership skills are integrated and well honed. I have been involved in a diverse range of statutory and independent sector projects and in 1988 I helped to establish residential nursing services at the first AIDS Centre in Britain. After further training in counselling and palliative care I continued as a practitioner, trainer and manager in a variety of settings since then. I moved from London to Brighton in 1998 and later relocated to start work with Somerset Care as Nurse Manager in September 2003.I initially managed the nursing home and following re-structure and promotion I now manage a large care home with nursing across two homes on the same site. I have been very well supported by the Somerset Care structure with this transition. If vision and philosophy are the bedrock of any service, its human resources, its 'people', are the root and branch and It is clear to me at every turn that the Somerset Care Group aim to understand and value their growing workforce. There are challenging issues facing the care sector and a career in care and the notion of a healthy life-work balance for the less well paid raises important moral, ethical and political issues at every turn. However I am reassured by the way Somerset Care as a company demonstrate that they truly appreciate the valuable contribution of employees. I have worked for many different organisations and have an enduring insight into organisational culture. I have yet been impressed and comforted by the values enshrined in Somerset Care policy and practice and their overarching commitment to service quality and really excellent human and financial resources management.The Somerset Care Group care about quality and they care about their staff. We are encouraged and supported to reflect, to learn and to grow. Access to training and skills development is a given. I have completed my RMA, a specialist palliative care course and attended countless study days, conferences and clinical skills updates. I am company End of Life Care lead. Opportunities abound for special projects so I feel able to use and develop my talents and professional skills and those of the whole staff team. Every day is different and there are challenges of course, but we have fun and we feel a sense of achievement. We are a cohesive team and the company is a modern and inspirational one. Somerset Care strives to stay in touch with people who use the services and the people who provide those services. We are supported to do what we do and to do it well. There is plenty of scope to develop innovation and best practice at every level in the organisation and to recognise the achievements of our teams and our colleagues.The company does not compromise on quality and offer a vibrant and innovative culture and the opportunity to build amazing relationships with other health and social care professionals and to really make that difference in the world. I am delighted to have hitched my career wagon to the Somerset Care star and extremely glad that I joined the Somerset Care Group.