Barchester Drummond Grange Care Home

Hi, my name is Alina and I am the General Manager here at Drummond Grange. Welcome to our website!

Thank you for taking the time to look further into what we have to offer to you or your loved one. Here is an opportunity to look at some of our staff team in the home, who all play a vital role in day-to-day life.

I joined the home in 2008 previously in the role of Deputy General Manager before becoming the home's General Manager in September 2022. I qualified as a General Nurse in 2003 starting my career in Romania before moving to the UK in 2006.

I have 16 years of experience working with younger people and those living with Dementia and am passionate about ensuring all of our residents receive the best possible care and experience. I and my team look forward to welcoming you to our home.

I look forward to welcoming you to our home.

Anamaria Balaj
Deputy Manager
Anamaria is our Deputy Manager here at Drummond Grange. After training as a nurse in Romanian Ana came to Drummond full time in 2014 as a Carer and quickly moved up the ranks to Senior carer, Nurse, Senior Nurse, and Charge nurse before becoming the home's deputy manager in 2022. Ana has a real passion for not only providing the best clinical care for our residents but also for emotional and mental and is a massive advocate to the activity team and carers in supporting them provide the very best al round care for our residents. When Ana is not working she enjoys spending time with her family including her daughter Sara who often comes into the home to visit everyone.

David Krage-Smith
Administrator
David Krage-Smith has been the Home Administrator at Drummond Grange since 2021. Having worked in care homes for the past 6 years and before that working in management/HR roles, David has a wealth of experience. David is always willing to help wherever possible and it’s not unusual to see him with a hoover in hand.

Mary McDonald
Non-Clinical Service Manager
Mary is the Non-Clinical Service Manager here at Drummond Grange and has been here since the home opened in 1993. Mary has worked in many roles in the home including domestic and activities so holds a wide knowledge of all of the non-clinical roles here at Drummond. In 2016, she was named a Divisional Winner for Home Administration Champion in the Barchester Care Awards. When Mary is not at work she is kept busy with her four grandchildren who she spends a lot of time with.

Hello, My name is Chris and I am the Head Chef here at Drummond Grange. At Drummond Grange, we strive to provide a wonderful choice of beautiful, delicious and nutritious meals so that our residence needs are not only met but exceeded.

Brian Arthur
Head of Melville Community
My Name is Brian I have been a nurse all told for nearly 16 years. Having studied at Napier University in Edinburgh. I have worked with Barchester altogether for around 12 years I first joined as part of the night shift team which I have done for 7 years. Being in charge of a unit has its own challenges one of which I relish. Making a real difference in our residents' lives is a wonderful thing to see for most of our residents we become a surrogate family. It is important to us all that a strong family feel is important.

My life outside Drummond is all about my family including my two dogs and of course my football team shhhhhh. Be it as a resident, staff member or volunteer come join us you won’t regret it.

Gail Clapperton
Head of Pentland
Gail heads a team of dedicated nurses and carers on our Pentland unit. She qualified from the Royal Infirmary in 1991 and started working for Barchester in 2000 working in a few of our homes in various roles including charge nurse, deputy manager and home manager. She returned to work at Drummond Grange in 2019. She is very passionate about her work and involves herself in all aspects of the unit's workings. Gail is helped by her ‘assistant’ Rosie, her rescue dog who will often come to work with her.

Angelita Mamauag
Head of Buccleuch Community
Angelita is one of our Charge Nurses here at Drummond and is head of our Buccleuch unit. Qualifying as a nurse in the Philippines in 1992, Angelita spent time working as a nurse in Saudi Arabia before coming to the UK in 2006 to work for the NHS. In 2018 she started working as a peripatetic nurse for Barchester before becoming a full-time charge nurse in Drummond in 2022. When she’s not at work she enjoys Philippian church charity organisations and leading the church choir.

Laarni Tolentino
Charge Nurse
Laarni, is one of our Charge Nurses and head of our Melville unit here at Drummond Grange. She trained as a nurse in the Philippines qualifying in 1995 before coming to Scotland and continuing her training in 2003 as a senior care in our other Barchester homes before qualifying as a nurse and moving to Drummond in 2005. When Laarni is not at work she enjoys hosting her large family and adding to her large collection of handbags.

Katie Nicolson
Head of Activities
Katie Nicolson has been our Head of activities here at Drummond since August 2023 beforehand she worked as an activity assistant in the home for two years. Before coming to Drummond Katie had worked in many care roles over the years and studied Psychology and Sociology at Queen Margaret’s University and was awarded a Degree of Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology at the start of 2022. Katie loves being part of the Activity department here at Drummond Grange and bringing new and exciting opportunities and experiences to the residents. When she’s not at work Katie is a local Girl Guide leader and youth leader for her church's youth group.

Susanne
Resident Ambassador
Hi, my name is Susanne and I am Drummond Granges resident ambassador. I have been in Drummond Grange since March. As an ambassador, I want to keep the home a nice place to live help with other concerns and to be the voice of the residents. I have a husband and a four-year-old little girl who both visit the home often. Before coming to Drummond I worked in the financial industry as a manager and mentor as well as a health, well-being and engagement coach. I now use my previous skills to help in my role as ambassador and love that through this role I can continue to help others.

Susan Vaughan
Home Trainer
Hi, I’m Susan I joined Barchester in 2017, working across the 4 Barchester homes in the Edinburgh area. Coming to Barchester has allowed me to combine my passions of Health and Social care and training. Before my role in Barchester, I was a trainer in retail and a Support Worker for adults with learning disabilities. I am passionate about ensuring everyone who attends our Barchester training has a positive experience that allows them to carry on shining in the care homes for our fantastic residents

Outside work, I enjoy live music going to gigs and spending my free time with my family and friends. My daughter is a regular visitor to the homes and loves joining in the many activities that our amazing homes organise.

Ryan Irving
Activity Assistant
Ryan joined the activity team in February 2024 having previously worked in finance and investing. Coming to Drummond for a complete change and looking for a more rewarding and fulfilling job Ryan throws himself into everything he does with enthusiasm and energy and is loving his time here at Drummond.

Rosie
Pet Therapy Dog
Rosie is a regular face here at Drummond Grange especially in our Pentland unit as she is Head of Pentland unit’s Gail’s Clapperton’s dog. Everyone loves it when Rosie comes to work and she has very quickly become part of the team here at Drummond Grange.

Members of the Nursing Team

As a Registered Nurse at a Drummond Grange care home, we look after the physical, psychological and social needs of our residents to help us deliver the quality care they deserve.

We’ll look to you to create a safe and supportive environment for residents with a range of physical and mental needs, whilst also relying on our professional judgement to make critical clinical decisions. As a Registered Nurses (RGN), we have the autonomy to do things the right way

Care Practitioners

As Care Practitioners at a Drummond Grange care home, we carry out a range of tasks that help us give our residents the quality care and support they deserve. The role of Care Practitioner is the highest level of Care Assistant we have, so we are trained to lead, motivate and inspire a team of carers, as well as confidently take responsibility for resident medication, wound management, continence, physiological assessment and care planning under the guidance of the on-site Registered Nurse. This is a very rewarding and fulfilling role that will give us real scope to make a difference in the lives of our residents

Members of the Care team
Care Assistants
As Care Assistants at Drummond Grange Care Home, we help residents enjoy each day by making sure they get the quality care and support they deserve. We assist with daily living, providing support and companionship – and sharing great moments and memories too. Every day is different, and our work is as varied as it is rewarding. As Care Assistants, you could be doing anything from supporting residents with their food and drink and following care plans to ensuring that each of our residents has one-to-one time.