Sonia
Home Manager

On the 13^th of September 2012, I embarked on the hardest journey of my life. After a two hour flight from Portugal, I arrived at London Gatwick airport on a sunny afternoon. After all, England wasn’t grey as I was expecting. I was picked up by a staff member of Abbeycrest and I was taken to the staff accommodation, in Reading. My heart was so tight, my body was trembling, I couldn’t talk. I was missing home already. I had left behind what was so important to me, my family. I was only 22 when I joined Caring Homes, as a newly qualified nurse.

I didn’t always want to be a nurse, I only realised that I wanted to be nurse in 2005, when my Grandad was in hospital having a heart operation. I can’t explain what I felt in that day, but I was sure I wanted to be a nurse.

I still remember my first day at Abbeycrest like if it was today. I was overwhelmed, but I was very welcomed by new colleagues and was received with a smile and felt their warmth.

The process of adaptation was gradual and after a few months I felt confident and integrated. I was very lucky to have the opportunity to develop and grow professionally within Caring Homes.

I worked my way up and was appointed the Clinical Services Manager/ Deputy manager in 2016, I grabbed every opportunity I had to grow and develop professionally. I completed an NVQ in Leadership and Management in 2016 and signed the contract of Clinical Services Manager.

As I grew and developed professionally, I saw Caring Homes grow as well and the Learning and Development team are fantastic. They have an established and innovative team, who are always very supportive, and I am extremely proud to have been involved in some of their projects.

Caring Homes Group believes in investing in the development of our colleagues, and I empower and encourage the colleagues with my passion to care, throughout mentorship.

In March 2020, I took over the managers position at Abbeycrest, I have learnt a lot with the various challenges we have seen especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, I feel very lucky to have a good team around me

I learn something every day and many of those things I will carry for the rest of my life. I strive to build strong relationships, put a smile in the residents’ faces and always have one in return.

Everyone has a story to tell and I love to listen to their stories.

I knew that I loved my job the moment I realised that every simple gesture could make the day of my residents better.