OUTSTANDING NEW MANAGER FOR BUTTERFLY LODGE

Bristol’s loss is Plymouth’s gain in the case of care home manager, Clare Sinclair, recently appointed to the post at Butterfly Lodge in St Budeaux, who brings a Care Quality Commission (CQC) ‘Outstanding’ track record to her new position.

Paul Teasdale, director of Camelot Care which runs Butterfly Lodge, said: “We are delighted to welcome Clare as our new manager at Butterfly Lodge, and feel privileged to have at the helm someone who has already achieved the rare distinction of leading a home to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ report from the CQC.”

After a 30-year NHS career in nursing, specialising latterly in complex care on hospital dementia wards, Clare relocated from her native Cornwall to Bristol where she spent seven years managing two different dementia care homes.

Clare, 55, said: “I am so pleased to return to the South West where we have many family connections and long-standing friends, and I’m thoroughly enjoying working with the lovely residents and the brilliant staff team at Butterfly Lodge.

“We have 37 people in residence, and I’m finding Butterfly Lodge to be one of the best-designed homes I’ve come across for people living with dementia because it was purpose- built with their needs in mind.

“I’m really impressed by how peaceful and cosy it is – apparently thanks to the Swedish designer specifying excellent sound and thermal insulation – and the carefully considered layout gives lots of space for the ambitious activities my team provides for residents, or just to allow them to rest and relax.

“Plus the view out over the Tamar estuary and the local beautiful places of interest are an additional bonus for us all.

“Making the relocation during Covid has been challenging, but my husband, myself and our two teenage daughters are quickly settling into our new home and hoping to fit in kayaking – which we all enjoy – before the autumn sets in.

Clare’s husband Brian, who specialises in cleaning and building renovation of older properties has already been involved in restoration work at St Budeaux Church, while their daughters are on the cusp of beginning post A level and post GCSE courses, namely a degree in art and design at Plymouth University, with her younger daughter looking to start a career as a professional chef at Plymouth college.

Camelot Care is an award-winning provider of specialist dementia care and runs two other homes in Bridgwater and Wellington in Somerset.