Get to know Michelle Garland, our Care Home Manager here at Gedling Village…

Hi, who are you?!

My name is Michelle Garland. I am the Registered Manager here at Gedling, since being appointed in 2022.

How long have you been involved in providing care?

I started in Health & social care when I was 17. I have worked within nursing, residential, dementia, mental health and on EMI units.

That’s so young to start in care work! What do you think the benefits of working across all different care types are?

Working across different areas of social care offers a unique opportunity to develop a broad skill set and gain a full and holistic understanding of people’s needs. By experiencing roles in residential, dementia, mental health, nursing, and community settings, we can build experience and confidence in responding to a wide range of situations. This variety not only strengthens problem‑solving and communication skills but also increases personal growth, as each setting presents new perspectives and challenges. Ultimately, working in diverse aspects of social care, fosters a well‑rounded, compassionate approach—helping individuals provide truly person‑centred support and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

What brought you to Gedling?

I have gained a lot of knowledge and experience with all the different areas I have worked in, and I am always eager to learn more. I have worked with Pearlcare at Gedling Village Care Home since 2015. I started as the Administrator, and I completed my NVQ level 2 in Business Management. I was promoted to Deputy Manager in September 2021 and became the Registered Manager in May 2022, completing my NVQ 5 by the end of March 2026.

What are the most important aspects of running a safe and fulfilling care home for your residents?

My main aim at Gedling Village Care Home is to ensure the safety of my residents and most importantly making sure they are happy and feel at home. As a manager, I am passionate about my residents being supported and for them to be able to make their own choices and decisions in their care planning and making sure all my residents have person centred care. I want to make Gedling Village as homely, inviting and safe as I possibly can. Whilst also making it imperative, we are as dementia friendly as we can possibly be.

Sounds like a great place to live! What about away from the home, what do you do to unwind?

I am married with three children and am very family‑orientated – This keeps me extremely busy! I love going on spontaneous day trips with my family, and I also enjoy spending time together on our holidays abroad.

Finally, why would you pick Gedling for your relatives?

Gedling Village really feels like a home from home. We have a warm, family-oriented atmosphere where everyone supports each another. We have a very caring team of staff, who love to get involved with activities. Our activities programme is excellent, offering enjoyable and engaging experiences that staff and residents participate in together. We are the first care home in Nottingham to introduce Pre-school Stay and Play sessions that integrates different generations, we also love to entertain and celebrate all special occasions!

You can see these activities and the lovely photos on the news section of the website!