We’re very excited to welcome a fresh new face to the Holywell Care Group family. David Fletcher is the new Manager at our Bridgeway Care Home – and he’s already settled in perfectly with the rest of the team and our wonderful residents. We managed to catch a quick 5 minutes with David to find out how he’s found his first few weeks with us and found out a bit more about the man that keeps it all going.
What’s your name and occupation? And how long have you been working at Holywell?
My name is David Fletcher, and I’m the new Care Home Manager at Bridgeway Care Home, part of the Holywell Care Group. I’ve been here for a little over a month now and I’m absolutely loving it so far.
What made you want a job in care – or, more specifically, at Holywell?
I’ve always had a passion for care. I consider myself a kind, friendly and compassionate person and I like to make it my mission to make people’s day! I’ve always dreamt of running a care home and qualifying as a nurse, so I’ve spent the last few years learning all about care – from the ground up. So, when I saw this role at Holywell, it seemed like the perfect place to progress in my career. I had also heard such wonderful things about the company and the people working at Holywell, which definitely contributed to my wanting to work here. Plus, my background is in Learning Disabilities, which made Bridgeway Care Home a great fit for me as that’s what the home specialises in.
What does a typical day look like for you?
As a Care Home Manager, I am responsible for everything that goes on in the home. I have the pleasure of working alongside a fantastic management team and clinical lead. This team works together to lead our entire workforce, including support workers, domestic staff, maintenance, training, activities, and kitchen teams, so we can deliver the highest level of service to our residents. I’m responsible for a lot of the paperwork, ensuring records, care plans and monthly audits are regularly reviewed, updated, and completed. So we’re fully compliant with all CQC and LCC regulations and requirements. I take pride in being a very hands-on manager. So, when I’m not doing paperwork or meeting with social workers, you can find me helping on the floor, with maintenance, activities, or even cooking up a storm in the kitchen.
What’s your favourite part of the day?
My favourite part of the day is first thing in the morning when I walk through the door and get to engage with my team and the residents. I usually arrive early so I can squeeze in a walk around the home and have a chat with everyone. Nothing is more important than getting to know your people and investing time in them. They’re at the heart of our company, after all.
Which of the Holywell values do you resonate with the most – and why? (Supportive / Protective / Compassionate / Connected)
Compassionate – That is me through and through. In fact, I was presented with a Leeds City Compassionate award from the Mayor of Leeds a few years ago for my contributions to the city. This was for a charity I helped set up that promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion in football.
When you’re not at Holywell, what do you get up to?
If you couldn’t tell from my last answer, I’m a big football fan! I’ve been a season ticket holder at my local club for over 29 years, so when I’m not at work I am often at the football.
That’s an easy one, it’s the people! Having originally started as an agency worker, I’ve worked in hundreds of different care settings, and no one comes close to the Holywell Care Group in terms of its people. The Holywell Care Group is such a passionate and diverse team of healthcare professionals. Everyone I have met here is so kind, caring and compassionate, everyone always has a smile on their face and takes the time to talk to you. It really feels like a family, and I couldn’t be prouder to be part of such an amazing group of people.
Thanks for those answers, David – we couldn’t agree more. Holywell is all about the kind and caring people that make up our hardworking team… And that includes you! David is making a great impression on our residents and we’re very lucky to have him leading our Bridgeway Care Home team.
Make sure you stay tuned for our ‘Day in the Life’ blogs to see what the rest of our team gets up to in their day-to-day!
