Staff, residents and relatives at Balhousie Lisden love the home’s family feel – and part of the key to it all is Maria Hazel.
Originally from Aberdeenshire, Maria holds a degree in Event Management and previously spent her days supporting brides and grooms on their big day before making the switch to work for Balhousie during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Starting out
In less than three years, Maria has become well-acquainted with all aspects of life at the Kirriemuir home, having a spell in almost every job.
She started out as an Activities Coordinator, then headed up Lisden’s Covid response, then worked as a Senior Carer before moving into her current role as Home Administrator.
“Working in a care home wasn’t something I ever thought I was going to do, but I applied because I thought it would be a nice way to ease myself back into the world of work after being off for a year during the pandemic,” she admits.
“Going from helping run weddings to working in a care home was never something I thought I’d do, but now I wouldn’t have it any other way!”
Learning curve
Maria openly admits she was blown away when she first arrived at Balhousie Care, but her willingness to learn and can-do attitude helped her settle right in.
Soon, she realised she had found a place she felt right at home.
“I was never interested in the care sector before I came to work for Balhousie,” Maria says.
“I didn’t know anything about care homes, or anything about different disabilities, so it was a huge eye-opener when I came here. I quickly realised I really do enjoy it, though.
“It made me come out of my comfort zone, and Lisden is such a family environment. It doesn’t feel like work when I come here – every day is so much fun.”
Embracing a challenge
As Home Administrator, Maria is crucial to ensuring Lisden runs smoothly, providing the residents with the highest quality care.
“My role now is a bit of everything,” she adds.
“There’s a lot of shopping for different things for the residents and around the home – I enjoy that part! I also deal with pay and wages and new staff, so there’s a lot of responsibility but that’s something I really enjoy.”
Why Balhousie Care?
Maria may not have had her heart set on a career in care – but now, she can’t imagine herself working anywhere else.
What’s more, she wants others to join Team Balhousie, too.
“Lisden is such a lovely place to work,” she says. “It’s so inviting and there’s such a lovely feel about it.
“I would tell anyone to give it a go. I’m really socially-awkward and I wasn’t sure I’d ever enjoy it, but it’s really taken me out of my comfort zone, allowed me to meet so many new people and I absolutely love it.”
