Birch House Care Home in Peterculter

The team at Birch House is passionate about doing everything we possibly can to enrich our residents’ lives with activities and experiences that make them feel fulfilled and happy. Their interests and the things they like to spend their time doing vary as widely as their needs. From watching magicians and musicians to handling owls, snakes and spiders, our residents are often really brave about trying new and adventurous things.

We have some exciting ideas planned for the future, including rides in horse-drawn carriages and even beach buggies, which will be amazing for our residents as many of them are in wheelchairs. 

Home Manager Patricia and her team were recognised in the Scottish Care Home Awards 2022, as winners of the Specialist Service Unit of the Year.

This award is testament to the dedication of the whole staff team, who involve the residents in the running of the service, so that they feel empowered and have a sense of real achievement every day.

The team at Birch House supports the residents to be actively involved in the community outside their care home. With our own minibus, our residents enjoy trips out to the theatre, concerts and community discos as well as holidays further afield. We also work closely with Create Aberdeen, which provides arts and performance activities specifically aimed at people with additional support needs and learning disabilities.

With the help of the team at Birch House, one of our residents enjoys regular work placements in a bakery which has been set up especially for people with learning disabilities. Other residents have successfully completed adult education courses. Doing things like this is wonderful for their self-esteem and confidence.

Some of the residents really enjoy visits from a therapist who comes to the care home each week for one-to-one Reiki and reflexology sessions. As some of our residents have very complex physical needs, these sessions are really beneficial for their wellbeing. There is also a state-of-the-art snoezelen room at the home, which is a relaxing space for residents to experience multi-sensory stimulation with special lighting effects, sounds and tactile equipment.

Outside the home, many of the residents like to spend time in the patio gardens, which are a really tranquil space filled with bright colours, beautiful flowers and aromatic herbs, which are all wonderful for stimulating the senses.

Pat began her career in care at just 18 as a Care Assistant, developing a strong foundation in person-centred support. She went on to gain experience as a Support Worker and worked alongside community nursing and Marie Curie teams, supporting individuals with complex and palliative care needs while completing her HNC in Health and Social Care. Pat then progressed to university to complete her degree in Mental Health Nursing, beginning her nursing career within psychiatric services before moving into elderly care.

A year after qualifying, Pat took on the role of Clinical Lead Nurse in a care home and quickly progressed to Deputy Manager. Seeking further development, she moved to a larger, more complex service, gaining valuable leadership experience before achieving her goal of becoming a Home Manager. She has led Birch House since 2015, where she continues to focus on high standards of care, staff development and regulatory excellence.

Pat is passionate about improving residents’ wellbeing, ensuring both their clinical needs and personal aspirations are supported. She believes in building strong, trusting relationships with residents and their families and takes pride in creating a positive, inclusive environment. She particularly values Sanctuary Care’s ethos of enhancing quality of life and supporting a culture where staff feel recognised and valued.

Under Pat’s leadership, Birch House has achieved significant recognition, including the Scottish Care Specialist Care Award (2022), as well as National Care Awards for Carer of the Year (2023) and Best Newcomer (2024).

Outside of work, Pat is proud of the support she provides to her family and friends and enjoys spending quality time with them. She also enjoys dining out, countryside walks and gardening, which she finds both relaxing and rewarding.