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Why Choose a Career in Care?

Working in care is a fulfilling role which can come with many benefits – both in the short and long-term. If you’re considering a career in care, read on to find out more about the types of roles available, and how working at an Evermore Care Home can help you reach your potential.

Looking for a role that providers job satisfies?

It’s no secret that working in care can be incredibly rewarding. The role comes with high job satisfaction as you’ll make a real difference to the lives of people who need care every day. As well as this, care is a social role where you can build relationships with a diverse group of people and get to know care home residents and colleagues more and more each day.

Working in care is great for those who appreciate a lot of variety, as there’s never a dull moment – whether it’s laughing with the residents or joining in with activities! Every day is different at an Evermore care home and you’ll be involved with a huge range of tasks from medication to mealtimes, and lots in-between.

Don’t just take our word for, here’s what one of our senior carers had to say:

“There’s no such thing as a typical day at Ashton Manor, every day is different, which is part of the reason why I love working here.”

Our flexible working opportunities also provide an alternative to the normal 9-5, meaning you’ll be able to fit your career around your home-life and other commitments.

Does care work offer career development?

The care sector is a great choice for those who want the opportunity for career progression and with Evermore, we really want you to develop your skillset, for example, by training in particular areas (such as dementia care). Working together, we will help you focus your career progression with us to align with your interests and skills.

At Evermore, we believe in investing in our team’s development and offer consistent mentoring and support on the job. Not only will we help you to develop your skills and access opportunities across our services, we’ll also help you to achieve relevant qualifications (including the Care Certificate and the NVQ) and pay for professional membership fees if it’s applicable for your role. Head here to read about our Workforce Development Strategy.

What types of roles are there in the care sector?

Evermore Care Homes recruit a variety of care positions, from care assistants to lifestyle coordinators who organise the curriculum of activities and events for residents, to senior carers, managers, and deputy managers. Care roles are available for both days and nights – perfect for both early birds and night owls.

And it’s not just care related opportunities at our homes, we also have a wide range of roles that suit lots of different skills and backgrounds. For example, positions like head chef, cook, and kitchen assistant are available for those with a background in food preparation.

With other roles including housekeeping, maintenance, laundry assistants, and reception, so there’s something for everyone.

What are the financial benefits of working in care with Evermore?

Amongst the most notable benefits of working in care is access to the Blue Light Card, which allows you to obtain exclusive discounts from a mass of popular retailers, including shops, restaurants, travel agents, and more.

At Evermore, we’re proud to offer Medicash health plans to team members, which include a range of benefits including financial cover for health appointments, eye care, dental care and more.

Team members at Evermore also have access to a great workplace pension scheme, which can help provide peace of mind for the future.

Head here to view the full range of benefits available to our team.

How do I find out more?

Interested in working in care with Evermore? We’d love to hear from you, even if it’s just to have a chat about how a role at one of our homes could be a great place for you to work!

Evermore Care currently has vacancies at Ashton Manor – our care home in Lancaster. Head here to view available roles and submit your application.

Involving Children in a Visit

If you’re considering moving your loved one into a care home, one area that you may be worried about is the best way to keep the strong bonds between your children and their elderly relative. At Evermore, we’re always delighted to welcome children into our care homes and recognise the benefits that visiting children can have on our residents.

Why is it important for children to visit?

Data shows that retirees and children are becoming increasingly segregated, despite research showing the numerous benefits of children and elderly relatives spending time together. Aside from building crucial family bonds, intergenerational communication has been shown to improve confidence in both children and their older relatives. For the elderly in particular, children bring an uplifting energy which can increase motivation, improve wellbeing, and lead our residents to feel more willing to take part in activities.

For those who require dementia care, the results can sometimes be even more dramatic. The presence of children can counter-balance the low self-esteem that those with dementia may experience. In an interview in The Guardian in 2018, Ali Somers, co-founder of Apples and Honey – a nursery purpose-built into the grounds of a care home, said “There’s something about having children on site which makes residents feel more human and gives them permission to care about others. It boosts their confidence and feeling of self-worth.”

How can children get involved with a visit?

At Ashton Manor – our care home in Lancaster – children are always welcome to visit their elderly relatives. Families have the benefit of using our on-site tea room where they can enjoy hot drinks, biscuits, cakes, and juice are always on offer! For a more personal get-together, visits are also welcome to take place in your loved one’s private room.*

Our cinema room is another a great way to keep the children entertained and involve the whole family in a joint activity.

We also host a number of events throughout the year that children and their families can take part in and join in the fun with the residents.

At Evermore, we’ve seen how visits from grandchildren really lifts the mood of our residents and causes our resident’s faces to light up. They love chatting and interacting with the children, and our team members often note that it seems to have a great effect, especially amongst those with dementia.

Look out for our Events

Our next event is a special Jubilee celebration on June 3^rd. Why not bring the children to get involved with a range of activities we’ll be hosting throughout the day.

Look out for updates over on our Facebook page.

*Please note that visitors to private rooms are limited to 2 people whilst the Covid-19 pandemic is ongoing.

Getting Involved with Life at the Home

At Evermore, we understand the importance of creating a varied and cheerful lifestyle for our care home residents. That’s why we have dedicated lifestyle coordinators to ensure that your loved one’s individual interests are met.

Why are activities important?

There are many reasons why regular activities are important to a resident’s wellbeing – the most apparent being to provide structure and avoid boredom, which can in turn lead to feelings of depression. On similar lines, activities which encourage socialising with other residents can help to prevent loneliness. Physical health can also be aided with activities such as dancing, gardening, or games.

For those who require dementia care, regular activity is even more crucial as some dementia patients may withdraw from socialising, often due to low self-esteem. Studies also suggest that some activities — such as puzzles or storytelling — may help to reduce a decline in cognitive function.

What activities do we offer?

Our dedicated team of lifestyle co-ordinators ensure there’s never a dull moment in our homes. At Ashton Manor – our care home in Lancaster – residents can attend regular activities including bingo (with prizes!), quizzes, and board games. In addition to the regular schedule, our residents have also been enjoying armchair exercise classes, sing-alongs, and craft sessions including “Knit and Natter”.

One resident’s daughter commented, “I can’t believe the change in mum. She looks so well and is taking part in so many different activities, some that she hasn’t done in years.”

To ensure everyone’s passions are met, your loved one can request activities using suggestion boxes within the home. There are also regular meetings where residents can review recent sessions and suggest improvements.

How we tailor to your loved one’s individuality

Although we make sure that activities are based on resident requests and feedback, your loved one may wish to explore an interest outside of the group. In these cases, residents are given one-to-one sessions to develop their passions with a member of the lifestyle team.

We also offer reminiscence work for residents with dementia. In these sessions, a team member will help a resident go through old photographs or recall information – such as memories from an old job – with the aim to improve mental wellbeing.

As noted by a member of the lifestyle team, “it’s all about getting to know residents and what they like and working with that.”

Get in touch

If you’re considering moving your loved one into care, why not book a visit to one of our homes?

You can also see more of what our residents are getting up to over on our Facebook page.

Do you want to know more about how to finance care?

If you’re considering residential, dementia or respite care for yourself or your loved one, you may be worried about the financial costs and arrangements. The funding process can be confusing, but thankfully there are plenty of resources out there to help you. Here are some useful links we’ve picked out to help you find out more about paying for care.

Age UK – Financial assessment and contributions

The Age UK website addresses the core financial worries many people have when they’re considering moving their loved one into care.

This article explains the financial assessment – a process which works out how much you contribute to the cost of care. A handy table helps to break down the fees in relation to your loved one’s assets.

Age UK also addresses the worries you might have about the possibility of your loved one having to sell their home.

Carehome.co.uk – NHS funding

If you or your loved one have certain health needs – such as living with dementia – you may be able to get your care paid for in full through a package of care known as NHS Continuing Healthcare (NHS CHC). This page details the eligibility requirements and walks you through the process for assessment.

NHS – Paying for respite care

Respite care is the term for a temporary stay at a care home for situations where the family expects to be away for a short while, for example going on holiday.

Respite care can also be helpful for those who feel they need a break from caring for their loved one. It’s important to remember that taking breaks is crucial when it comes to caring for the person you love.

The NHS website offers great resources on how to pay for respite care.

If you’d like to understand more about respite care, take a look at our Q & A with Evermore’s Commissioning Director Gaye Clark.

Talk to us

If you have any questions about funding care or need further support, please get in touch with the team at Ashton Manor, our care home in Lancaster, and we’d be happy to help talk though the different options with you.

When is it the right time to consider residential care?

Many of us will come to a point in our lives where we decide that we – or a loved one – could benefit from additional support and care, when living independently at home becomes too difficult. The trigger could be something physical such as a fall or sudden illness, or the need may emerge more gradually through increasing isolation and loneliness, which can lead to depression and other mental and physical health problems. Either way, considering residential care for yourself or a loved one can feel quite overwhelming – from choosing the right time to consider a care home, to making the decision together or on somebody else’s behalf, and knowing what kind of care will suit your individual needs. 

What does residential care mean?

Residential care is suitable for people who are finding daily life at home difficult but don’t require nursing care, and provides the chance to be looked after and lead a fulfilling life.

Residential care offers residents access to 24-hour care that helps them cope with day-to-day life, promoting both physical and mental wellbeing. This can include help with washing, getting dressed, eating meals, mobility, taking medication and getting ready for bed, for example, as well as supporting with social interaction and taking part in activities.

When to consider residential care?

Moving into care is life-changing for both the person moving into care and their loved ones, so the decision can be a difficult one to make, particularly if you’re making it on behalf of someone else. There are a number of reasons people start to think about residential care, including:

Finding daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, washing or dressing a struggle, or feeling increasingly unable to cope at home.
Not having a support network to rely on, feeling isolated, or friends and family no longer able to cope or provide the level of care needed.
Finding it difficult to manage the daily running of a home or having concerns for safety at home.
Residential care has been recommended as a result of a care needs assessment or appointment with a healthcare provider.

If you’re making a decision on behalf of a relative, you may feel complex emotions, including sadness and guilt. Here you can read our advice about why you shouldn’t feel guilty for moving your loved one into care.

Residential at Ashton Manor

At Ashton Manor, our Evermore Care home in Lancaster, care assistants are on hand to assist with every level of a person’s care. Our individually tailored care packages are regularly reviewed so they are flexible and responsive to changing care needs over time.

Each resident has their own beautifully decorated bedroom with en suite wet room and can enjoy luxurious communal areas that include lounges, dining rooms, landscaped gardens, a cinema room and hair salon. All with expert 24-hour care support on hand.

At Ashton Manor, we encourage continued involvement of family and friends; our relationships with loved ones can often improve as we spend quality time together without the stress and pressures of full-time care.

How to take the next step

If you think residential care might be the next step for you or your loved one, we’d be delighted to show you round our state-of-the-art care home with your own personal tour. Our team will be on hand to answer any questions about our care and the home. Just give us a call on 01524 566 007, drop us an email at enquiries@evermorecare.com or fill in the enquiry form on our website.

It’s easy to spot Conner, he’s the one walking around Ashton Manor with a huge smile on his face!

He’s a hit with residents and staff alike, Conner’s role as Senior Carer is vital here and he settles for nothing less than top quality care.

Talk us through you background in care, was it always something you wanted to do?

A career in care interested me from a young age, both my Nan and Grandad had carers and I loved to see the smiles on their faces after the care team had visited. From then on, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.

So, I started the day after my 18^th birthday! 10 years down the line and I’ve covered every aspect of care, it’s so rewarding. It’s been tough through lockdown as many residents couldn’t see their families for months, having a strong relationship with those who work at Ashton Manor has really helped them through. I see the residents as my second family, and we are theirs.

What attracted you to working at Ashton Manor, how does it differ from other care homes you’ve worked in?

I’ve worked here since it was scaffolding, I’ve literally seen it develop from the ground up! But, I don’t see it as a care home, it’s a manor, the features here go miles beyond standard homes. We’ve been involved in some incredible on-the-job training to help us get to grips with the high-tech aspect of providing care.

We have QR readers on each bedroom, the staff scan it as they enter the room so we always know exactly who has been seen to and when. Our residents still want to be independent – and the technology here aids that – we’re able to offer independence, with a safety net!

The residents agree that it feels more like a hotel. Because Ashton Manor is brand new, it has bespoke design running through it everywhere, which really makes a difference to how we manage things.

Out of all the care homes I’ve worked in, it’s top of the list!

What does a standard day look like for you?

There’s no such thing as a typical day at Ashton Manor, every day is different, which is part of the reason why I love working here.

Some aspects roll over day to day, such as checking the handover sheets, speaking with the Chefs, the medication round, and checking in with the Doctor or District Nurses.

After we’ve completed all the formal parts of our shift, we’ll tend to the residents to make sure they have everything they need, even if it’s just a chat.

Of course, there’s daily activities going on all the time, so we all get involved in those. Our new lifestyle coordinator has been brilliant and hosted a range of fun things for everyone to take part in.

What is the most rewarding part of your role at Ashton Manor?

Because I’ve been here since the start, I’ve watched the residents build relationships with each other and it’s wonderful to see. Trust also quickly builds between carers and residents and that’s so important to our role. ‘Trust’ is a big word in care, and it must be respected.

It’s been great working with all the different teams here as well. We’re running a huge operation, and everyone has a part to play. I personally love being hands on, I like being out on the floor and interacting with others. Working at Ashton Manor has made all that possible, they’ve given me a clear route for progression and provided specialist knowledge training so I can continue building my skills.

How do you help new residents settle at Ashton Manor and why is it important for you to get to know them individually?

We greet everyone with a happy smiley face. It’s vital that we make sure they feel comfortable coming into the home for the first time, so we give them lots of reassurance. We know the world outside is a bit doom and gloom, but we do everything we can to create a positive atmosphere in the home.

Getting to know the residents on an individual level helps us understand their needs and wants more. It’s called person-centred care and I’m all for it! They have their own routines and care plans, and no one is forced to do anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.

Respite care is becoming increasingly popular, why do you think this is?

Respite care can be a lifeline for some families. They just need a break from being a carer and that’s where we step in. Given the current situation we’re offering respite on a 4-week minimum, but that may change in the future. The respite residents get involved in all the activities, mealtimes and meeting new people, which is always lovely.

It’s a great stepping stone for some residents, they treat it like a holiday! We find that most people that come for respite want to stay longer and will eventually move in. Offering these short stays helps the residents overcome apprehension about moving out of their house.

The family looking after them get to focus on other things as well, so they appreciate these interval stays as well.

If you would like to find out more about respite care or to book a tour, call us on 01524 566 007 or email us at enquiries@evermorecare.com.

We’re back with Head Chef – Paul Burns! Paul has spiced up the food offering at Ashton Manor by listening to what the residents want, tailoring dishes around their individual needs and certainly cooking up a storm for each meal.

Find out how we’ve turned dining into an experience for all of our residents.

State-of-the-art kitchen

It was crucial that we got the facilities at Ashton Manor up to specification with modern equipment to help Paul and his team create magic in the kitchen.

“It’s all state of the art and no corners have been cut, we have more equipment than necessary at the moment, so we’re ready for when we hit full capacity”, Paul reveals, “I’ve had full reign over the kitchen and worked with the team to ensure we have everything we need”.

Outside of the kitchen, it was also important that we created comfortable dining spaces for our residents to enjoy their food. The dining rooms on every floor have been uniquely designed, so each one has a fresh and comfortable feel, where residents can sit back, socialise and enjoy what is being served that day. On arrival, you’ll notice cool hues of colour in the communal spaces, which promote a calming atmosphere to enjoy mealtimes.

Tailoring tastes

We understand how important mealtimes are for our residents and so in our efforts to make the dining experience the best it can be at Ashton Manor, we have regular meetings with the residents to really find out what makes their taste buds tick.

Paul explains that through these meetings he discovered the residents were hungry for an all-day breakfast. So, he made it happen!

“During the residents’ meeting they spoke up and asked for an all-day breakfast, so that’s what we did. Residents were invited down to pick and choose what they wanted, whenever they felt like it.”

And the normal menus have already been a hit. “The residents love traditional food like a roast dinner, soup, and fish and chips on a Friday”, Paul explains, “we always include a vegetarian option for each meal, as having the choice is appreciated”.

Paul works to a four-week menu which allows for variety without becoming repetitive, sticking to ‘Fish Fridays’ and roast dinners on Wednesdays and Sundays. But outside of those regular dishes, Paul works to mix it up, keeping things interesting.

When we get good feedback and residents asking for more of a particular dish they liked, we’ll cater to that. The team noticed that soup hits the spot for many, so Paul and his team quickly reacted by preparing fresh soups every day.

For residents who need special considerations, Paul is no stranger to making sure everyone is happy.

“We have a special diet, allergens and intolerances section on our likes and dislikes sheet, and we’ll prep and cook those meals separately to avoid cross-contamination. It’s the same with soft diets, we dress the food nicely on the plate, so it looks just as good as someone else’s meal.”

Reinvented mealtimes

Unlike other care homes we have ensured our mealtimes are resident led. ‘Resident led’ meals involve offering a lighter option at lunch, such as soup, a sandwich or an omelette, with the main or larger meal served in the evening.

Though this doesn’t seem out of the ordinary for most people, in the care home sector the larger meal is often eaten at lunchtime and a lighter snack offered in the evening.

We wanted to change that.

Getting out of bed later in the day is common as we age. For many residents, lunch is their first meal of the day, so it doesn’t make sense to present them with a large roast.

Our reinvented mealtimes mean that our residents feel livelier in the daytime, they’re more willing to take part in activities and engage with carers and visitors. The outcome is our residents lead a fuller life with increased mobility, and with more uptake on activities they’re more likely to have a better nights’ sleep.

The experience of dining

“Overall, I want the residents’ dining experience to be like an event. I want them to feel like they can put their best clothes on like they’re going out for a meal (if they want to!) – I want it to be special for them. This is Ashton Manor and it needs to be treated like a manor – the building is amazing, so the food should reflect that.” Paul Burns, Head Chef at Ashton Manor

Now that our new residents have settled in; they are starting to socialise in the ground floor dining room. Paul has already noticed how well they interact with each other: “People want to sit with each other and have a chat, we’ve had music playing – there’s even been dancing! They really bounce off each other and it’s lovely to watch”.

This is why the dining experience at Ashton Manor is so important, it’s more than just a meal, it becomes the social point to the day and brings everyone together.

As a care home that specialises in Dementia Care, it’s vital that we pay extra attention to residents who are living with it. When it comes to food, we know this can play a huge role in evoking happy memories, and so we talk to residents about food that was served at home and through their younger years, which Paul incorporates into mealtimes.

Paul and his team are also working on a book with images of each meal, to help residents remember exactly which dish they liked. In addition, we also use plates that are coloured differently to the tablecloths to help avoid confusion, making dinner times easier and more enjoyable.

As Paul puts it: “That’s the attention to detail we take for each person living here. We treat each person as an individual because every person is different”.

If you would like to find out more or book a tour, call us on 01524 566 007 or email us at enquiries@evermorecare.com.

Here at Evermore, we know that keeping in touch with friends and family is essential for our residents’ happiness, which means supporting them to communicate with their loved ones is an important part of what we do. Here are a few ways we’re helping our Ashton Manor residents to stay connected to the people they care about most.

Our visiting ‘pod’

Having in-person contact with family and friends is incredibly important, which is why the impact of the pandemic restrictions has been so devastating for people living in care homes all over the world.

Our priority is always to keep our residents safe and healthy, but we also know just how vital contact with loved ones is for their wellbeing, so we’ve invested in a new ‘visiting pod’ which allows residents to safely meet visitors in a comfortable and natural setting. Specially designed with non-intrusive glass screens, the pod provides a comfortable location for both residents and their families and is already making a huge difference. Unlike ‘window’ visits, the pod offers a floor-to-ceiling view, a furniture layout that helps families feel like they are together in one room and, particularly important at this time of year, no one is left outside in the cold!

Helping to connect digitally

Connecting digitally has been more important than ever this year, but even when life returns to normal, technology will be valuable for our residents to connect with relatives and friends who live further away or lead busy lives and cannot visit in person regularly.

The older generation may be getting more tech savvy, but we understand that not everyone is an expert WhatsApper or Zoomer! Our team are on hand to support, so whether it’s a quick initial tutorial needed or more in-depth assistance for each call or message, we understand how beneficial it is for our residents to see friendly faces and hear familiar voices. Many of our residents have their own smartphones and tablets, but those who don’t are welcome to use our Evermore iPad to connect with their loved ones.

In the near future, we’ll also be introducing Relatives Gateway, which is an app that will allow residents and their families to securely share messages, photos and a video link. It will also give our carers an efficient way to provide wellbeing updates to loved ones.

Residents’ families can also join us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, to keep up-to-date with everything that’s going on at Ashton Manor.

Keeping in touch the traditional way

Many of our residents grew up in a different environment so for those who prefer to keep it traditional, support for phone calls and letter-writing is always on hand too. In fact, we are big fans of old-fashioned mail here at Ashton Manor as we know receiving letters, postcards, and photos that can be kept and treasured is valuable too. For residents who may be struggling with vision or reading and writing, our team are ready to help.

Understanding every resident

Every resident at Ashton Manor has different preferences and capabilities when it comes to communicating with their friends and family and we make sure we get to know everyone as an individual so we can best help them stay in touch with their loved ones. This forms part of our initial assessment of a resident’s care needs when they first move into the home, and as their needs change over time we are able to adapt with them.

With so many options and things to consider, thinking about choosing a care home for yourself or a loved one can be a daunting and stressful time. We’ve put together some tips and advice to help you with your research.

Understanding the care you need

The first step in choosing a care home is to work out what type of care you need. From specialist nursing or dementia care, to simply a safe and comfortable environment for people who are feeling isolated or need a bit of assistance with day-to-day life, different homes will specialise in different types of care so it’s important to understand what you need.

If you’re choosing a care home for a relative, where it’s possible to do so, have a conversation with them about what’s most important to them – after all this will be their home, possibly for the rest of their life. You may also find it beneficial to involve other close family members or talk to friends who’ve been through a similar process to get their advice.

At Ashton Manor we provide the highest quality residential, nursing, dementia, and respite care and our person-centred approach means we carefully consider each resident’s individual care needs. You can read more about our different types of care here.

What to look for in a home

Location

Many people have strong relationships in their local communities and so choose to stay in the same area to maintain these connections. For others, moving into care presents the opportunity to move closer to family or friends, making it easier for them to visit and provide extra support. The website carehome.co.uk is a great place to start your search for homes in the areas you’re considering.

Reviews

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator for care homes in England and undertakes regular inspections to make sure homes are meeting government standards and to identify any areas of concern. As a new home, Ashton Manor was assessed by the CQC before we welcomed our first residents to ensure the building and environment is fit for the purpose intended but we have not yet had our first CQC inspection since opening, which is why you won’t see that information online just yet. (You can find our listing here.)

It’s also a good idea to read reviews of homes from residents and their families. The leading UK care home review website is carehome.co.uk, which has reviews for over 17,000 homes. Again, as Ashton Manor is a new home, only our first residents’ families have been in a position to write a review but we’re been really happy to read the positive comments so far and are sure there will be many more to follow in the future! You can find our profile here.

Facilities and lifestyle

It’s important that you feel the facilities and activities on offer will make your chosen home a comfortable and enjoyable place to live. From the specifications of the bedrooms and bathrooms to the design of the communal dining and living areas, quality of the food and access to relaxing outside spaces, there are many ways in which homes differ so it’s important to consider what’s most important to you.

You will also want to be confident that life in the home will be enjoyable, with stimulating activities provided in an environment that helps residents to get to know one another and build new friendships.

At Ashton Manor we’ve created a lively and modern place to live and our residents are part of a warm and inclusive community. We organise an interesting schedule of social activities for those who choose to participate. Have a look at our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages to get a feel for life at Ashton Manor.

Understanding fees and funding

Funding care can be one of the most worrying and complex parts of the process so it’s important to be aware of the options available to you while doing your research. Be sure to get a full understanding of the costs of the homes you’re interested in, which care home managers can help you with. You can find more information about funding care here.

Contacting and visiting homes

Once you’ve done your initial research, contact the homes on your shortlist and have a chat with the home manager. You can discuss with them how the home would meet your care needs, fees and the availability of places, to make sure your fundamental needs are met before taking your enquiry further.

Following your initial conversations, if you’re still interested, it’s recommended you make a visit in person so you can see the environment for yourself, meet some of the team and get a feel for what life is like in the home. If possible, visit with the person who will be moving in as it’s important to make sure they’ll feel comfortable there. Age UK have put together this handy checklist of things to consider when choosing a care home, which you may find useful.

If you feel Ashton Manor could be right for you…

If you think Ashton Manor could be the right home for you or your loved one, we’re more than happy to talk to you about life here and answer your questions.

At Evermore our team are here to support you to make an informed decision about what’s right for you, so we also encourage you to come and see Ashton Manor for yourselves. If you’d like to book an appointment, you can email us on enquiries@evermorecare.com or call us on 01524 566 007.

Paul Burns is the man behind Ashton Manor’s glorious cakes, making him very popular with our residents!

We caught up with him to find out what brought him to Evermore, how he’s settling into his new role and his future vision for the Ashton Manor kitchen.

How did you get into cooking?

When I left school, I went to work in a fruit and veg shop in the local market and that’s where my love of food started. The job helped me to get used to the different ingredients and when I left I went to work at Lancaster Farms Prison as a pot washer, but I also helped with prepping the veg for the chefs. After that I got my first proper cooking job as an assistant chef at the former care home which is now Ashton Manor! They put me through all my training and qualifications, and I was there for about three years before I was offered a head chef position elsewhere. Since then I’ve broadened my skillset as bakery manager at Sainsbury’s before heading back into catering at Lancaster University and most recently at St John’s Hospice.

When this job came up, I jumped at the opportunity because it brings everything together and I’ve come full circle. It’s a really nice story really; it’s the right timing for me and I’m back where I started with so much more experience. It’s the job I’ve been looking for – it’s perfect!

What’s important to you in your role at Ashton Manor?

I want the people to be happy and to give them what they want, not just what they need. We’re trying to build something really special here and we want people to have a mealtime experience as good as you’d get in a hotel. Overall, it needs to be top notch quality: if I wouldn’t eat it then I won’t serve it, and nothing leaves the kitchen until myself and Lee (chef) are 100% happy with it.

Everything is thought about down to the last detail: we’ll fan the napkins out in the napkin ring, the tables are set correctly, if a resident is having food in their room the tray it’s served on will have a tray doily on. Our residents need to feel like they’re getting five-star service.

How do think your team will contribute to making Ashton Manor a good place to live?

I’m hoping that we can make it so mealtimes are more like events, each time a meal arrives at their table or room. It’s nice that we’re having conversations with people and they’re telling us they liked the cake we made or could we make this meal again soon, which we’re more than happy to do.

Are you strictly behind the scenes, or do you get out of the kitchen to talk to residents? 

Due to the pandemic, we haven’t been able to venture out of the kitchen as much as we’d like to, so far. We’ve brought food out and done a little bit of baking with some of the residents but we’d love to do more. We want to get to know all of our residents on a personal level so we can make their time at Ashton Manor the best it can be.

Have you got any exciting plans for your role?

We’ve been talking about events such as different themed nights for example, decorating the dining rooms and having an Italian night or a Chinese night. We’re doing an all-day breakfast so we’re making that more like an event because it’s something different and new. We’ve got the facilities to do so much but really, it’s down to what the residents want and we’ll work with them.

What made you choose to work for Evermore?

I was looking for something a bit higher up and this role is more of a head chef role with growth to be catering manager too as the business expands. Evermore also gave me the opportunity to start a kitchen and team from scratch which I’ve never done before. This job is perfect – I was looking for a career rather than a job and this is what Evermore is giving me.

What’s it like being part of the Evermore team?

It’s really good and I’m really enjoying it. We’re building a great team and you can see that. The management have been great and really supportive, they’re always there if you need help or advice.

As we’re a new team we’re starting from scratch and building those new relationships together. It’s a great environment, they’re a great business to work for and it’s genuinely a great place to work.

What are you hoping for in your future at Evermore?

I want to spread what we’ve got here across other locations and I think that’s the way it will work. Evermore Care is about quality, so I’ll be looking to create the menus at each location and act more as a head chef/catering manager across the group. I want Ashton Manor to be a success and so even when we do grow, we’re all one big team.

What type of people will you be looking for to join your team?

I’m looking for someone who’s keen and who wants a career, not just a job. I want someone in my team who’s ready to jump on board with our ethos, who’s enthusiastic and who has that caring side to them, because you need to have that here – the residents have to come first and that’s very important.

What’s your favourite cake to bake?

Bakewell Tart! It’s my signature dish and my go–to cake! That’s something I’ve worked on, mastered and perfected over the years.