Meet the Manager at Homewell Spring

Growing up in Greece, Homewell Spring’s Home Manager Panagiota helped her family care for her grandparents. When they developed dementia, she saw just how much it mattered to keep loving and supporting them as the people she knew. That experience stayed with her and helped shape a career in nursing and care.

After qualifying as a nurse, she volunteered at a clinic supporting refugees before moving to the UK in 2014. Since then, she has worked across dementia care, complex nursing and care home leadership. Now she is looking forward to bringing a team together at Homewell Spring and creating a community for residents.

We sat down with her to talk about where her passion for care began, the moments that have stayed with her, and the kind of place she hopes Homewell Spring will become.

What first inspired you to work in care?

When I was five or six, my family looked after my great-grandparents. They both developed dementia later in life. At the time, people didn’t talk about dementia much, and we didn’t always understand why their behaviour was changing. To me, they were still my great-grandparents, and I loved them just the same.

As I grew older, I helped look after my grandparents too. I realised that I loved being around people and wanted to make a difference in their lives. That’s what led me to study nursing after school.

Where did your nursing career take you?

After completing my nursing studies in Greece, I volunteered at a clinic that supported refugees. I helped people access healthcare, see doctors and get medication, as well as supporting families with paperwork and children’s vaccinations.

In 2014, I moved to the UK to develop my career. I started as an agency nurse, working in different settings including dementia care, complex nursing, community care and care homes. Later, I became a permanent nurse, and my career in management grew from there.

I’ve worked in care leadership for more than 10 years now, and I wouldn’t change my career for anything.

What do you find most rewarding about care?

I love helping people stay safe while continuing to live life on their own terms. Moving into a care home doesn’t mean someone has to stop doing the things they enjoy. With the right support, they can still go out, see friends and try something new.

I once supported a resident who needed help with his care and medication but also wanted to fly in a Spitfire. He got the experience booked. Another resident, a lady in her 80s, went paragliding. Those experiences remind me why this work matters so much.

How did you move into care home leadership?

I’ve held nursing and management roles and supported the opening of new care homes. Commissioning a home became something I really wanted to do, so I focused the research for my Level 5 leadership qualification on it. I completed that qualification in 2024.

Bringing a new home to life takes everyone working towards the same goal. That’s a challenge I enjoy, especially because the result can mean so much to the people who will live and work there.

What attracted you to Anavo?

I connected with the idea of helping people “ignite the spark” and live life on their own terms. Anavo’s approach is person-led, and that really matters to me. I think about how I would want to be treated if I needed care one day, I would want people to listen to me and support the life I wanted to lead.

When I met the team, I could see that they cared about residents as people. That shared purpose made me want to be part of Anavo.

What kind of manager do you hope to be for the Homewell Spring team?

I’m approachable, and my door is always open. I want people to know I’ll listen to them and support them. Everyone has a part to play, whether they’re a carer, nurse or head of department, and often the best ideas come from the team.

Care can be difficult at times, so it matters to me that colleagues feel they belong. I want them to feel valued, heard and part of a team with a common goal. They are the heart and soul of the home, and they make the difference in residents’ lives every day.

What are you most looking forward to at Homewell Spring?

Welcoming the team and bringing everyone together. I want us to share that spark and create a place where people are happy to work, and residents are supported to live as they choose.

I’m also excited to introduce Homewell Spring to the wider community, show people what we believe in and create a real buzz around the home.

Thinking About a Career in Care?

If you love working with people and want a career where you can make a difference every day, explore the opportunities available across Anavo: Care Home Jobs | Careers with Anavo.