The management team at St Benedict’s Nursing Home in Glastonbury has been boosted with the appointment as deputy manager of experienced health care professional Peter Hansraj.

With 37 years’ experience in health care, Peter’s previous roles have included orthopaedic specialist nurse and nurse manager with the NHS, and clinical lead in the private mental health sector at a specialist college for adults with brain injuries and learning disabilities

Peter said: “Dementia care is a specialism which is less well understood than many, and it’s a condition for which there is no cure at present.

“But that doesn’t mean we can’t make an important difference to the lives of those we support, and St Benedict’s is a well-run home led by a team of experienced managers that I am glad to join.

“I am genuinely driven to help others – it’s something that was nurtured by my parents and I see my work as a vocation.

“My new role as deputy manager gives me the opportunity to share my skills and assist in the process of clinical supervisions, and also to contribute with clinical governance matters.

“Every day is a learning opportunity, both for myself and the rest of my colleagues: we learn from each other, and we learn from the residents. It’s such a rewarding environment.”

Ann Barclay, manager of St Benedict’s Nursing Home, said: “We are delighted to have Peter on our team.

“His enthusiasm and cheerful personality are infectious, and with his natural teaching ability he is already passing on his clinical knowledge and expertise to staff in the home.”

Outside work Peter enjoys gardening, the company of his ginger cat Lego, travelling and keeping abreast of world news. He and his wife, a counsellor and occupational therapist, have two adult children, currently both at university.

St Benedict’s Nursing Home is run by specialist dementia care providers White Care Group who also run St Cecilia Care Home in Shepton Mallet and The Rectory Care Home in Taunton.