Broughton House Care Home Welcomes an Old Friend

Helen Pervaiz, 52, recently began work at Broughton House Veteran Care Village, after 30 years of working in the NHS as a community psychiatric nurse.

Her return brought Helen fond childhood memories of frequently visiting her grandfather, Henry Atkinson, a former serviceman who lived there for several years before his passing.

Helen, mother of two from Bury, said: “We used to come to Broughton House every week or two, and it was always a special time for me.”

Since 2008, Helen has been specialising in caring for the elderly and those with dementia, in care homes across Tameside and Glossop, until the opportunity to work at Broughton House Veteran Care Village arose.

Helen even put her return to Broughton House down to fate: “I’d not been back since he passed away and it’s been a wonderful and emotive experience coming to work here. It’s as if it was meant to be – that job had my name on it.”

Helen is responsible for overseeing, managing and supervising the nursing team and working with staff at all levels across the care village to ensure excellence in its standards of clinical care – physical, emotional and psychological – and the promotion of wellbeing for each resident.

She said: “It’s an absolutely golden opportunity for me, as it combines my passion for the care of the individual with a desire to continually drive and raise standards across the home.”

Karen Miller, chief executive of Broughton House, said the matron has a key role at the home: “For our residents, matron is a trusted person who ensures the best standards of care are met and provides professional support for our nurses and carers.”

Karen went on to speak very highly of their latest employee: “Helen has immense experience, is calm and well-organised, has warmth and empathy, and gets things done in the right way. She is also a focal point for our staff, and it’s an important post as it involves overseeing a large team. In an increasingly complex healthcare environment for staff, they know they can turn to matron when they need support, assurance and guidance.”

Broughton House has cared for more than 8,000 veterans since it opened its doors o the ex-service community in 1916. It has recently been redeveloped into a complex with a 64-bed care home, including two 16-bed households dedicated to veterans with dementia, as well as independent living apartments, an array of modern facilities, a museum, gym, hairdressing and barber’s salon, and a restaurant and bar for residents.