Our Team at Merlewood

At Merlewood, our people are at the heart of the care we provide. Our experienced and compassionate team works together to create a warm, welcoming home where every resident is known and valued as an individual.

From our nursing and care teams to our chefs, housekeepers, reception and Social Engagement Team, everyone has an important role to play in supporting residents’ comfort, wellbeing and quality of life. We take the time to understand each resident’s individual needs, preferences and routines, helping us provide personalised care while encouraging independence and choice wherever possible.

We are committed to recruiting people who share our values and supporting them with ongoing training and career development. Our excellent staffing levels also help our team spend meaningful time with residents, building relationships and providing the consistent, attentive care they deserve.

We are proud to be a Real Living Wage employer, recognising the important contribution our people make every day. By providing fair pay, development opportunities and a supportive working environment, we aim to build a skilled and committed team focused on delivering the highest standards of care.

Meet our general manager Debbie Vellender

Debbie brings more than 30 years of nursing and care experience to her role as General Manager at Merlewood.

After training as a nurse at St George’s Hospital, Tooting and Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton, Debbie spent more than 20 years working within the NHS, predominantly in medical and older people’s care. She progressed to become an Advanced Clinical Site Practitioner at a large local hospital, where her passion for caring for older people and building relationships with their families continued to grow.

Debbie joined Merlewood in 2013 as Deputy and Clinical Care Manager, bringing her extensive clinical experience into social care. She became General Manager in 2019 and today leads the team in delivering compassionate, personalised care to every resident.

For Debbie, one of the most rewarding parts of her role is getting to know residents and their families and working alongside a team of people who share the same commitment to exceptional care. After more than a decade at Merlewood, she considers its residents and staff very much a second family.

A team committed to exceptional care

Exceptional care depends on having people who genuinely care about the residents they support.

At Merlewood, our team works together to ensure residents feel safe, comfortable, respected and valued. We believe in getting to know each person as an individual, building meaningful relationships and understanding the routines, preferences and interests that make them who they are.

Our team is supported through ongoing training and professional development, helping them maintain high standards of care while developing their own skills and experience.

Just as importantly, we want Merlewood to feel like a home. That means creating an environment where residents, families and staff know one another, where people have time to talk and where companionship and kindness are part of everyday life.

Care Services