A NEW manager has been appointed to Minehead Nursing and Residential Home, which has more than 100 employees providing a range of high-quality care services, including residential, nursing, and specialist dementia for adults of all ages.

Louise Heppenstall brings more than 15 years of management experience to the role and has ‘bold new plans to enhance the lives of the residents’ in her care in the Periton Road home.

She started her career in retail with supermarket firm Tesco and worked her way up to become a department manager.

Four years ago, Louise embarked on a significant career change and became a carer at a residential home in South Molton.

Her complementary skills of caring for others alongside her management expertise were soon acknowledged and two years later she was promoted to assistant manager at Minehead Nursing and Residential Home, which is part of the Eastleigh Care Homes group.

Now, as manager, she said her priorities were ensuring all residents were given the best personalised care and that her team felt valued and supported.

Louise said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to be the new manager.

“It is a warm and caring place, where the wellbeing and happiness of our residents is our top priority.

“I have really found my vocation working in the care sector and as a home manager it is very rewarding to have a role where my management skills are utilised alongside my passion for caring for others.

“I have many exciting plans for the home, including more regular forums for families of residents and employees.

“I also want to increase our interaction and engagement with the local community by hosting more events and getting our residents out and about in our minibus as much as possible.”

The home is set in a modernised Georgian building surrounded by expansive gardens with views over North Hill and the West Somerset coastline.

Residents are kept active and entertained with a full schedule of activities, and dogs and other pets are welcomed.

The home even has a donkey which is a popular and regular visitor to residents.