Chris has been at Barty House for 3 years, and he says “It really doesn’t feel like I am coming to work, it’s like my second home. The home and grounds are my baby!”

“We have a great team here, everyone gets on and does their job and more. I can’t ever see myself leaving I enjoy it so much!”

There is always plenty to do here, as the home holds so many activities from the birds of prey to the Dog Show or creating a memorial garden or Santa’s grotto with reindeer for the residents, and the local community come and enjoy it too!

Chris loves listening to the residents’ stories, as he finds them so fascinating. One of Barty’s residents was in the Tank Regiment and he gave Chris his books to take home and read. The home also had a Pearly Queen who lived until she was 107, she was so interesting as she had seen so many changes in her lifetime.

When talking about his role at Barty, Chris said “I really enjoy it here and want to progress, so I invested in taking my NEBOSH qualification. It was really hard work and I was up until 3 in the morning writing my last assessment, but I want to push myself and eventually, I hope to move into Health and Safety.”

Prior to working here, Chris started his own maintenance company looking after twenty-three blocks all over London but had to continually chase invoices and that didn’t really work with a young family. He’s also been a scaffolder and also worked for the police as a community support officer But this is the first time he’s really felt settled in a job, which he really loves!

Chris has two children, Summer Rose (8), and Elliot Lee (1). They come into the home quite regularly and really enjoyed the dog show where Summer Rose won the best young handler award. She is very helpful and helps look after Elliot Lee. Being so close to home it allows me to spend time with them and I get them ready for School in the morning.

In Chris’s spare time he coaches AFC Mottingham football team. Having played semi-professionally until he injured his knee, he moved into coaching. He also likes to go to the cinema, socialising, listening to music and going to sporting events.

Chris is slowly getting used to fame, as apart from having his photograph taken for the home’s brochure, he featured in Mid-Kent College’s big promotion. He was on everything from the bus tickets to the front of the prospectus, however, he didn’t actually know until he was sitting in the cinema on a date and his face came up on the screen – it’s safe to say, Chris was slightly embarrassed!

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