A job which started making tea for residents in Rosleigh Care Home when she was a teenager has now seen Fiona Fewster being appointed manager at the home.
The 34-year-old will have day-to-day responsibility for the running of our 50-bedroom home in Lytton Street which provides long-term, short-term and respite care, as well as specialist care for people with complex needs such as alzheimers, dementia and physical disabilities.
Roseleigh is one of only a handful of homes to be awarded a five-star rating by Middlesbrough Borough Council.
Fiona’s journey at Roseleigh started in 2004 when she joined on an apprenticeship.
She says: “Because I was 17 at the time, I was not allowed to provide personal care, so I helped with things like making tea for the residents, serving lunches, ensuring rooms were clean and tidy and helping with activities.
“From there I became a regular carer and have been here ever since.”
Fiona was appointed as deputy at Roseleigh in 2014 and stepped into the manager’s role on two occasions when the former manager was on maternity leave. This included the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March which had a huge impact on Roseleigh and care homes in general.
Fiona says: “It was a tough time for everyone, and nothing could have prepared us for something like this but we have got through it and are now finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
“Having worked here my whole career, I am delighted to have be appointed manager and am looking forward to working with the staff and residents to ensure Roseleigh remains the happy, wonderful place it always has been.
“I am proud of what I have achieved given how everything started and I can’t think of a better place to be than Roseleigh.”
Julie Wood, Regional Manager at Constantia Healthcare, the family-run company who owns Roseleigh, said: “Given her experience, and in particular her hard work and dedication over these difficult and challenging 15 months, Fiona was the logical choice to become manager at Roseleigh.
“In her new role she will play an instrumental part in ensuring Roseleigh continues to be the home of choice for people seeking residential care in Middlesbrough.”