Care home's new owners plan for the future

Feb. 11, 2011 - PRLog -- Two people who were the inspiration behind the design and building of a new nursing home at Herons Ghyll, between Uckfield and Crowborough in East Sussex, are now running it.
Manor Gardens, which has 60 rooms with en suite wet rooms, was initially leased by another company but when it withdrew Kevin Powell and Joanne Ellison took over.
The business partners built Manor Gardens, in the grounds of the former Temple Grove School, after identifying a shortage of good quality care homes in the South East.
Between them they have 35 years experience in the nursing home sector and when the opportunity of buying the Herons Ghyll site came up they seized it to realise their ambition of creating a modern, purpose-built care home. It opened in 2009.
Joanne said: “We loved the location as soon as we saw it and knew we would be able to create a nursing home that was very bright, spacious and with lots of glass to enable the surrounding area to come in.”
Thirty-eight full and part-time members of staff, from Uckfield and Crowborough, are now employed at the home which is managed by experienced nursing sister Alison Barnes.
There are 31 residents now and as numbers rise more staff will be recruited. Respite and convalescence care is available as well as long term stay.
Facilities on site include a hair salon, shop and home cinema and plans for the future include welcoming people in need of day care, opening a library and planting a herb garden to produce supplies for the chef and add interest for residents.
There is a full activities programme and extensive menu with locally produced food. The home provides 24-hour professional care, tailored to the needs of each resident.