Team case studies

We’re proud to champion talent from within. Meet three of our leaders who have risen through the ranks.

 

Alice Mitroi, RGN MSc - Home Manager

“I soon realised this was a special kind of place – not your usual care home. I felt supported and at home straight away.”

Alice joined Royal Alfred in November 2016 as a Staff Nurse. She became Deputy Clinical Manager the following year and stepped up to the role of Home Manager in 2020. With a master’s degree in health and social care and a diploma in dementia care, Alice is passionate about making a meaningful difference in the lives of residents and leading her team to do the same.

What first attracted you to working at Royal Alfred?
I was recruited through an agency and didn’t know much about Royal Alfred at the start. I soon realised this was a special kind of place, not your usual care home, and I quickly felt supported and at home.

What’s been the best thing about working with us?
The career development is second to none. I feel supported and stretched in a good way. Thanks to the professional development, I was given the opportunity to become Deputy Home Manager in 2017, rising to Home Manager at the end of 2020.

What are you most proud of?
I graduated from the University of Bucharest in 2015 with a master’s degree in health & social care and have been in the care industry since the age of 19. I’ve always wanted to progress in my career because I feel it’s a way to make an even bigger impact. I also have a diploma in dementia care and am proud of the work we do with our residents who have dementia. I’m honoured to be Home Manager and I’m so proud of my team.

A nurse in a red uniform with a name badge walks down a well-lit hallway, holding a purple folder and smiling at the camera.
A caregiver in red helps two elderly women, one in green and one in red, with a painting activity at a table. Art supplies, cups, and paper are laid out in front of them.
A group of elderly people sit around a table in a care home, painting and coloring pictures. A caregiver assists them. Various paints, brushes, and art supplies are spread across the table.
A nurse in a red uniform serves a plate of food to an elderly man in a wheelchair at a dining table. The man wears glasses and a burgundy bib. Bright flowers and tableware are on the table in a cozy room.
An elderly woman in a wheelchair wearing a red sweater is comforted by a nurse in red scrubs who leans down, placing a supportive arm around her shoulders inside a bright, indoor setting.
A group of eight smiling staff stand outside Belvedere House, each holding awards or certificates, celebrating their achievements together. The building’s sign is visible above them.
A man wearing glasses and a maroon shirt stands on a stepladder, holding a power tool, working near the ceiling of a room under renovation. There’s a window and exposed wiring in the background.
A group of people in uniform listen to a man explaining equipment in an industrial room with exposed pipes, wires, and electrical panels. Safety warning signs are visible on the machinery.
A man stands in a partially finished room, smiling at the camera while plastering a wall. He wears a black shirt and dark pants. A broom, orange bucket, and cleaning supplies are on the floor nearby.
A man in a dark uniform is kneeling on grass beside a small tree, placing or inspecting a small brown box at the trees base in a garden outside a brick building.
A large, two-story house with white walls, red brick details, and a sloped roof. The front garden has green grass, blooming daffodils, bushes, and a stone pathway leading to the entrance.

Nick Potroanchenu, Estates Manager

“I get to put all my different skills into practice.”

Nick joined Royal Alfred in 2012 as a Maintenance Assistant after working on-site during a refurbishment project. With a background in building and construction, he now leads the Estates Team, managing everything from facilities and safety to the charity’s fleet of vehicles.

What first attracted you to working at Royal Alfred?
It was by chance, really! I was working for a company refurbishing the ground floor of Belvedere House (now The Princess Wing) when I saw an advert for a maintenance role. I really liked the feel of the place and so applied.

What’s been the best thing about working with us?
The development and support I’ve received have enabled me to grow into my role. I love the variety too. Before coming to the UK, I trained as a builder in Romania and worked on large construction projects, and so I get to put all my different skills into practice.

What are you most proud of?
I’m proud of my team – I manage four people, as well as source and coordinate the work of many contractors. Together, we manage the estate, look after the fleet of vehicles, and are accountable for everyone’s health and safety. I find immense satisfaction in knowing a job has been completed successfully, the home is running smoothy, and the residents and tenants are happy.

Shirley Anne Campbell, Housekeeping Manager

“The Royal Alfred has been like a second home to me.”

Shirley began her Royal Alfred journey in 2008 as a Care Assistant and has since become Housekeeping Manager. A qualified nurse in her native Rhodesia, she brings decades of experience and deep compassion to her work.

What first attracted you to working at Royal Alfred?
I’ve always had a passion for helping others. I qualified as a nurse in Rhodesia in 1976 and so have been in the care sector for many years. I was first attracted to working at Belvedere House because after I moved to Woodmansterne in 2007, I had a chance to visit the gardens and I liked the look of the home. I started as a Care Assistant because my nursing qualifications weren’t recognised in the UK.

What’s been the best thing about working with us?
Working in the care sector is great – no two days are the same. It’s wonderful to be able to help someone enjoy a happy and fulfilling life. The residents have such wonderful stories to tell, and I like to think I make a difference in their lives. The Royal Alfred is such a welcoming, family-friendly place. When it snowed several years ago, my whole family came to help. And they all loved attending the functions here. I enjoy being part of a large and varied team. There’s always an opportunity to develop and when the new role of Housekeeping Manager came up, I liked the idea of a new challenge.

What’s changed over the years?
The biggest change in the care sector is the amount of paperwork that must be done. We pride ourselves on keeping up to date with the latest rules and relegations, and we’re continually developing ourselves and our service – it’s all done with keeping residents safe and protected in mind.

What advice would you give to someone looking for a career in care?
That good communication and a learning mindset are vital. It’s important we keep people updated with regards someone’s care – be that each other or our residents, their family members, and care colleagues from external services. We must be open to feedback. We don’t always get things right, and it’s important we listen to the residents and their families, and reflect, learn, and improve.

Finally, what are you most proud of?
Our teamwork. During Covid, we all went the extra mile – working wherever we were needed – financial team members helping with daily activities, our business manager doing the ironing, and our trainer working in the laundry. There was a real team spirit and commitment to keeping our residents safe. Whether we’re in care, housekeeping, maintenance, catering, or the office, it’s by pulling together that we provide a safe and happy home.

Three adults in uniforms sit at a table in a meeting room. One woman gestures while speaking, while the others listen and take notes. Papers and pens are on the table. The atmosphere appears focused and professional.
An accessible bathroom with beige walls, a large window, a wall-mounted sink, a mirror, a soap dispenser, and a shower area with a seat, grab bars, and a partial glass enclosure.
Two staff members in uniforms work in a hallway. One man sorts blue bins labeled with names, while a woman walks past a clothes rack with hanging shirts. Both appear to be working in a care or hospital setting.
A neatly made hospital bed with a brown quilt and a plaid blanket at the foot, in a warmly lit room with a chair, table, window with floral curtains, and a vase of yellow flowers.
A healthcare worker in a green uniform folds clothes in a bright, tidy room with large windows and patterned curtains. Medical equipment and a folded blanket are visible nearby.
A wooden hospital bedside table holds a white teacup and saucer, a napkin, and a blue folder. In the background, a dark jacket with medals hangs on a wardrobe in a warmly lit room.
A man in a white uniform places folded towels into a blue storage cart with labeled bins in a well-lit hallway.
An elderly woman with short gray hair and a colorful scarf sits on a neatly made bed in a cozy, well-lit bedroom, smiling gently at the camera. There are personal items, photos, and a lamp in the background.
A man in a pilot’s uniform sits on the edge of a hospital bed in a well-lit room with medical equipment, framed art, and a window with patterned curtains in the background.
A hallway with wooden floors, a brown leather armchair, a fish tank, coats and hats hanging on the wall, fire extinguishers by the exit, and framed pictures on the walls.

Life aboard the Royal Alfred

Anchored in community and full of heart. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for a window into life on the Weston Acres estate.

royalalfredseafarers

It was a pleasure to welcome the trustees of Age Concern Banstead to our training room last week for their strategic planning day.

We’re always happy to support local organisations doing such important work in our community, and it’s great to see the space being used for collaboration, reflection, and forward planning.

Thank you for choosing to spend the day with us – we hope the discussions were productive and inspiring.

#Community #LocalCharity #StrategicPlanning #WorkingTogether #Banstead #SupportingOurCommunity #Trustees #Collaboration #ageconcern

View Instagram post by royalalfredseafarers

Jan 21

Open post by royalalfredseafarers with ID 18083247790944886
It was a pleasure to welcome the trustees of Age Concern Banstead to our training room last week for their strategic planning day. We’re always happy to support local organisations doing such important work in our community, and it’s great to see the space being used for collaboration, reflection, and forward planning. Thank you for choosing to spend the day with us – we hope the discussions were productive and inspiring. #Community #LocalCharity #StrategicPlanning #WorkingTogether #Banstead #SupportingOurCommunity #Trustees #Collaboration #ageconcern

royalalfredseafarers

Do you remember when we showed you these being made? 🍽️

Earlier this week we shared a video of Kevin giving Sam chef training while they prepared these homemade Thai cod fish cakes — and here’s the finished article, enjoyed by our residents.

A lot of thought goes into our menu planning. Meals are planned well in advance, taking into account residents’ preferences, nutritional balance, dietary needs and variety, as well as giving our kitchen team the time and space to develop new skills and recipes.

By planning ahead and investing in our staff, we’re able to serve fresh, home-cooked meals that residents can look forward to, every single day.

#MenuPlanning #FreshlyPrepared #InvestingInPeople #StaffDevelopment #ResidentFocused #QualityCare #HomemadeWithCare #ProudTeam

View Instagram post by royalalfredseafarers

Jan 15

Open post by royalalfredseafarers with ID 17896488969383978
Do you remember when we showed you these being made? 🍽️ Earlier this week we shared a video of Kevin giving Sam chef training while they prepared these homemade Thai cod fish cakes — and here’s the finished article, enjoyed by our residents. A lot of thought goes into our menu planning. Meals are planned well in advance, taking into account residents’ preferences, nutritional balance, dietary needs and variety, as well as giving our kitchen team the time and space to develop new skills and recipes. By planning ahead and investing in our staff, we’re able to serve fresh, home-cooked meals that residents can look forward to, every single day. #MenuPlanning #FreshlyPrepared #InvestingInPeople #StaffDevelopment #ResidentFocused #QualityCare #HomemadeWithCare #ProudTeam