Senior Management

As the director, I have been involved with Abbotsford since its inception in 1986 when my husband and I opened the first nursing home in Milton Road, Kirkcaldy.

I trained as a nurse in Glasgow then moved overseas working in hospitals in the Middle East and with children in the Far East before returning to England and working with older people in a care home on the south coast.  Like all staff, I aim to update my knowledge and skills to provide best practice and have over the years updating my nursing certificate by completing a BSc advanced nursing degree, a post graduate management diploma and a BA degree covering needs of people with disabilities / difficulties.

Abbotsford Care is a family run business and as a member of the family, I have worked in a range of positions within the company and feel I have turned my hand to everything having always assisted during my school holidays and weekends.

I studied Contemporary Performance Practice (BA 2:1) at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. I also have a Masters in Creative Producing for Live Performance and Theatre (Distinction). I have worked with theatre companies throughout the UK such as Untitled Projects (Glasgow), Independent Productions (London), Walk the Plank (Manchester) and Musical Theatre Consortium Music and Lyrics (Edinburgh). Keen to fuse business and art to develop a sustainable model of producing for experimental work, I currently work as a business consultant for independent artists and small businesses in a variety of sectors.

In 2013 the family business came calling and I came back to work for the company with a wealth of new skills and experiences. Since returning to Abbotsford I have completed my Level 3 in Health and Social Care to embed my knowledge of a life time of caring. Along with my colleagues, we have engaged in a process of change creating a revolutionary process of recruitment and induction for care staff which centres around the creative and intuitive carer. As well as recruitment, I plan and co-ordinate all marketing, events and new property development projects within Abbotsford Care.

I am keen to promote and sustain the community of Abbotsford, which I have been part of since I was wee and which I hope continues into the future. I pride myself on knowing all our staff and residents working with every unique individual to ensure they feel part of the family.

As a member of the Senior Management team I work alongside my colleagues to promote and provide a positive experience for people who use our services. I support care home staff as well as taking responsibility for other aspects of our care work.

I have a background of working in the care sector from being Director of Shelter Scotland, Assistant Director Action for Children, to managing care services in Argyll & Bute before joining the Care Inspectorate in 2002.

I have seen and experienced many of the changes in the care sector, but two things which remained central to the work: is employing good, reliable staff and listening responsively to the needs and wishes of the service users and / or their relatives

After leaving School in 1980, I worked in a private industry for 10 years, where my claim to fame was meeting Sir Alan Sugar – no he didn’t fire me! I then commenced a 28 year period of employment with Fife Council. I originally started off in the Finance Department, where it was recognised that I had an interest in Social care and was approached to work in Social Work Contracts for a 6 month period. This lasted 23 years. Amongst many of the roles I have undertaken, the last 10 years or so have been involved in Continuous Improvements within the Service. I am passionate about residents receiving quality care in the best of environments.

My working life started more years ago than I care to admit, as a Weapon Engineering Mechanic in the Royal Navy. After meeting my wife Eileen in Glasgow whilst serving on HMS Glasgow and following the births of Michael and Emma the Navy life was no longer so attractive so I looked for a new career. 

How I got into nursing is a long story, which I will tell you over a drink or two, but I trained as a registered Nurse at Forth Valley College of Nursing and Midwifery and after qualifying in 1994 I worked across the central belt at Stirling Royal Infirmary, Southern General Hospital in Glasgow and Falkirk Royal in medical wards. 

I then spent 4 years as a medical ward manager at Nobles Hospital on the Isle of Man before moving to NHS Shetland, where after starting at the Clinical Governance Lead, I spent several years working as the Assistant Director of Patient Services a role covering both primary and secondary care and working with the Shetland Council. 

In 2005 I moved to the National Waiting Times Centre NHS Board as the Head of Clinical Governance and Risk Management for almost 10 years. Following the birth of my first grandchild Eileen and I then moved to Liverpool to be 'close to the action' (My son is a staff nurse at Broad green Hospital) where I spent two years working as a Matron at Spire Wirral Hospital. During this time, I worked also as a staff nurse 1 night a week in a small nursing home to 'reconnect' with being a nurse delivering hands on care and to gain experience working in the care home sector. 

I then worked as a Regional Quality Support Manager for BUPA care homes UK although this opportunity was cut short by personal reasons which meant Eileen and I needed to move back to Scotland to help care for Eileen's dad who suffers from Parkinson's. 

I joined Abbotsford from my role as Matron at the Edinburgh Clinic where I was the Matron. I am passionate about ensuring people receive the highest quality of care by staff who are properly supported and trained and feels very lucky to be given the opportunity to work with the Abbotsford team. 

I enjoy hillwalking and I am a keen cyclist. In September I completed the Cycle 300, completing 300 miles in the month for Cancer Research. Originally from Cornwall I love the occasional pasty or two.