Rising through the ranks: Former Kent care home volunteer lands senior role at New Romney home

A care home in Kent is proud to celebrate the inspiring journey of its acting senior carer, who started as a 14-year-old volunteer before rising through the ranks – which the home attributes to her determination and passion for the social care sector.

Georgia Hollis started volunteering at Fairways Care Home, in New Romney, as part of her Duke of Edinburgh award six years ago, spending time with residents, painting their nails and taking them for walks. Over the years, she has gone on to progress through various roles, including working in the kitchen, carer and shift leader, before landing in her current senior role.

Following in the footsteps of her father, who works on the maintenance of the home, and her brother who worked as a general assistant, Georgia’s interest was initially piqued after hearing the stories from her family about their time at Fairways. After spending a short time volunteering, Georgia was won over by the warm and welcoming environment and knew she wanted a full time role at the home, which specialises in residential, respite and dementia care.

Speaking about what makes Fairways so special to her, Georgia said: “I love interacting with the residents and seeing how the small things that we do can have such a big impact on their life. This is their home and we are here contributing to it by providing such a friendly and warm environment for them. It’s nice just knowing that they’re happy where they are and get to enjoy their twilight years with us.”

Georgia’s progress at the home and increasing responsibilities can be attributed to her bubbly personality, kind nature, and hard work. Her growth and confidence have been nurtured by both the staff and residents, who have enjoyed watching her journey over the past six years.

Speaking of her colleague, Alison Yarnley, Registered Manager at Fairways Care Home, said: “It’s always a joy to witness our team members grow and develop, and I’m thrilled for Georgia. We’re committed to providing a supportive environment for personal and professional development and I’m confident that with Georgia’s knowledge and experience already, she will excel in her new role as acting senior carer and continue to provide outstanding care to our residents.”

When asked what advice she would give to someone considering a career in care, Georgia said: “Don’t think that it’s an easy job, because it’s really not. It can be quite challenging and some of the tasks you have to do can be quite tough, but it is also so rewarding and you get a lot of job satisfaction out of it.”

And for those considering a care home for their loved one, Georgia said: “It can be quite daunting at first, but it’s ultimately the best thing for them going forward. There have been many occasions where family members have been unsure, but after visiting our home they see how happy their loved ones can be and decide that it’s the best thing for them and what they really want.”

Fairways strives to offer the best in care for its residents in a warm, comfortable, and relaxed environment. Its focus is on accessibility, compassion, and independence, helping residents to blossom and grow under its care.

For more information about Fairways Care Home, please visit https://aci.care/fairways/. Or for more information about ACI Care, visit https://aci.care/.