Ula Jakoniuk has been manager of Amberley Hall Care Home in King’s Lynn since December and previously ran Goodwins Hall Care Home, also part of the Athena Care Homes group

Why did you join the social care sector?
For me the question is ‘why did I choose to become a nurse?’ I was born into it. It’s a family tradition. My mum is a nurse and growing up I had the feel of nursing at home and shared her love of caring for people. When I reached that stage in my life where I needed to decide what to do, it was always going to be nursing. I left Poland 11 years ago because I wanted a change. I wanted to feel I was making a difference and in the UK as a nurse you can do that. There are different pathways here. In Poland I was working in an acute setting and I didn’t get to see that patient journey. I didn’t get to do the after-care and see them recover. I am interested more in people and a care home community gives you that opportunity to get to know our residents in depth, which is something really special.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I like the people; I like the hands-on side and I like being with the residents. At one time I didn’t think a management job would give me that satisfaction. However, it has given me that pleasure; I enjoy working with people and helping them develop. I like being a part of their progress. It feels like the dream job.

Who is your social care hero and why?
It is my mum, she is my hero. Quite often I reflect on how she worked in different periods of her life, while bringing up four children. She saw dramatic changes in the sector, so many advances. When she first started, they used glass syringes and I can’t even imagine that. I could always see she loved her job and you should do in life what makes you happy.

What is the one thing you would change about social care?
Paperwork. That takes away time that we could spend with our residents. I know why we have to do it, I’m sure most of us would rather be spending the time with our residents.

What, in your opinion, makes a great care worker?
You have to have that passion. Everything else you can learn. But if you don’t have that passion, then it won’t work. You must want to make a difference.

What do you do when life all gets a bit too much?
Recently I have discovered spinning classes, they are a very good stress reliever. I have the music on, lights down and fully concentrate on the pedalling. Nothing else matters. For those 45 minutes, it’s just me and the bike. That quiet time is really important.

What advice would you give your younger self ?
Keep going and don’t be afraid of taking leaps to progress your career. You need to be independent, and you need to be prepared. You have to prepare for a time in life when your mum and dad are not there to support you – you have to stand on your own. Otherwise, you will have massive unclosed chapters in your life.

Which famous people would you have to dinner and why?
Fame isn’t hugely important for me. I would rather have dinner with someone I am interested in. Maybe a politician, but I would want them to directly answer the questions I ask. If I had to name someone, probably Meryl Streep as I am quite interested in her. She is strong, independent and works on women’s rights. She has strong views.

What three items would you bring with you on a desert island?
This question seems to come up quite often in my house, and I ask my husband what he would take. He always says me! I would take coffee. The question is how would I make it, and I would probably need more items. I would take my favourite book, Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. I read that from time to time. I’m also quite sentimental, so a photo album – although that’s not really practical, it wouldn’t get me far.

What’s your secret talent?
I have quite recently started cooking and baking, I think I am quite good at making power (energy) balls