The Manager at Willowmead is Pat Ryland who holds a City and Guilds qualification in Advanced management for Care and is currently working towards an NVQ level 4. Prior to coming to Willowmead, Pat was the Registered Manager of Ayletts Residential home for the elderly in Broomfield for three years. Pats other employers are Essex County Council where she worked in the capacity of Care co-ordinator in a Brentwood Residential Home, also working for the NHS in the Runwell Psychiatric Hospital Wickford Essex. Whilst working at Runwell Hospital on an elderly mentally ill ward she gained extensive knowledge and insight into dementia and dealing with the differing care needs.

Residents can be secure in the knowledge that qualified staff at Willowmead consists of Chefs, a Handy man, Senior Care staff, Care assistants, Kitchen assistants, Domestics, Laundry persons and an Activity person. The home is staffed in accordance with the staffing notice issued by the Care Standards commission. Residents can be secure in the knowledge qualified staff will be on duty day and night. Many of the staff have been employed at Willowmead for a number of years and live locally. There is not a high turnover of staff at the home.

Staff Training

Willowmead is committed to train staff and develop further more to work towards the National Standards requirement of 50% of the care staff being qualified to NVQ 2 standard by 2005. All new staff receive induction training within a short time of commencing employment and further foundation training towards the end of the probationary period.