An Essex based care home has shown the importance of investing in staff by promoting two members into managerial roles.
MHA Alexandra House has a new home and deputy manager, with both positions being held by employees who have climbed the ranks within the home.
The home is purpose-built for 47 people with residential or dementia care needs.
New home manager Kerry Graves joined the home in 2016 as a deputy manager and started her new role earlier this month.
She said: “I am extremely happy to have started a new role in MHA and I am looking forward to what it brings.
“I have always had a passion for working in care and started off doing work experience as a care assistant.
“Once I joined MHA, I always wanted to be a home manager and worked very closely with the former home manager when I was deputy.
“The former home manager Hayley was very supportive and helped me to develop my skills.
“MHA has been great for my development, during my time here I have completed my Level 3 NVQ in Health and Social Care.
“The organisation as a whole is very supportive and has always encouraged me to develop.
“The future is daunting but exciting at the same time and I am confident in making the role my own.”
New deputy manager Elysia Mccoy joined the home as a care assistant before moving up to a senior care assistant and now will be joining Kerry as her deputy.
Elysia, who joined the home in 2017 said: “Both Kerry and Hayley have been very supportive of me and pushed me to develop and work my way up.
“I have wanted to work in care, and that’s why I studied Health and Social Care at college.
“Even though I live closer to another MHA home in Ipswich, I still commute to Alexandra House as I love working here.
“Things were tough, especially during the height of the pandemic but thankfully we managed to carry on and work through it.
“My new role is brilliant and I am confident that with the support of Kerry I can justify my promotion.
“MHA is great, the support and confidence you get from working in such a compassionate organisation really does help, and I can’t see myself working anywhere else.”