‘Doing things differently’: newly appointed manager shares his vision for brand new care home

Paul Turvey, new home manager at the £9.5million Lace Hill Manor Care Home under construction in Buckingham, has set out his exciting vision for an exceptional, innovative home, shaped by those who live and work there.

Paul, 32, recently took the helm at Lace Hill Manor, a 62-bed private care home designed for residential, nursing and dementia care currently under construction in Needlepin Way, Buckingham, and set to open in February 2022.

The state-of-the-art home is set to offer an exceptional environment with large en-suite rooms, some with private patios, lounges, restaurants, communal areas, landscaped gardens, and luxury facilities, including an orangery, fitness studio, leisure suite, wellness retreat, and bar and bistro area, all sumptuously furnished and decorated.

Paul said:

“It is going to be an absolutely stunning home designed with superior care at its heart and laden with five-star facilities. I am so excited to be able to develop the team and shape the services at Lace Hill, embed our vision for a home that offers those living there not only the very best physical environment, but a place where they can live life to the fullest and celebrate their individuality.

“I’m not afraid of doing things differently and I want to bring in the latest innovative practices and push the boundaries of what the care sector has to offer.”

Formerly a manager at another home within the Maria Mallaband Care Group (MMCG) Paul brings with him 14 years’ experience in the sector, having started out as a care assistant aged 18 and worked his way up to managerial positions, including leading a specialist dementia care community, and is passionate about dementia care in particular.

The new home is set to offer up to 31 residential dementia care beds to meet the need identified locally, adds Paul:

“We are creating a stimulating and interactive environment, and investing in the team too, with the creation of two dementia care leaders to oversee that community. I really want to tackle that stigma around coming into a care home, and create an open culture where people are confident in being able to continue living as the people they are and have always been.

“There is also a huge emphasis on wellbeing, very much in keeping with the new Lifestyle Programme being rolled out by MMCG, which centres on wellbeing of mind, body and soul. So for example we are already in discussion with practitioners with the aim of offering holistic therapies such as massage and reiki within our wellness retreat.”

Other innovations will include the introduction of a concierge role to oversee the arrival of new people into the home, with each admission being treated ‘as a celebration’ says Paul. He also intends to include existing team members and those living in the home in the interview process for new recruits – allowing them the final say on new hires.

He adds:

“Everything at Lace Hill will be led by the people that live and work in the home – they will be involved in every decision, as they should be; this is their home, built around them.

“It’s also really important to me that we are integrated into the local community and we will be working with local businesses, charities and groups with the aim of making Lace Hill a community hub.”

Lace Hill Manor is also set to create upwards of 70 new jobs, including nursing and care staff, managers and auxiliary staff, and Paul has already begun the recruitment process, beginning with the senior leadership team:

Adds Paul:

“We are looking for superstars who will go above and beyond; people who embrace change and want to be part of something fresh, exciting, and fun.

“We have the rare chance to build a fantastic, happy, thriving community here, literally from the ground up, where those living with us can feel completely at home, and enjoy full lives, rich with laughter and experience. I cannot wait to get started!”