“As the residents were so much part of my everyday life, I’ve gained an amazing perspective; so much more than a manager working in a care home,” says Jeff. “I’ve literally grown-up living with our residents.”

Now, Wentworth Grange refers to its residents as ‘guests’, offering those who stay at the facility a more personal approach to care with the ethos centred around comfort, quality and homeliness. Rather than calling itself a nursing home, Wentworth Grange is branded as a residential hotel for the elderly.

“The day I started working here I remember the feeling of utmost pride. Everybody here who lives with us, lives with us in our family home and I think that’s quite a unique perspective on running a care home. I tell our staff that we have to not be a nursing home; this is a hotel that cares for you. Everything we do must add value to the guests’ lives.”

“We must surprise and delight our guests. When they come here, I tell my team, we have one minute from them coming up the drive to coming in and we have to impress them.”

Before starting work at Wentworth Grange 35 years ago, Jeff worked for the NHS as a registered nurse. The job gave him the '“best training possible” for his future role running Wentworth Grange, but after several years, he felt his career was “going nowhere”. Ready for a fresh challenge, returning to the family business felt like the natural next step. “I felt like I was jumping into a place that had possibilities,” he said.

17 years ago, Jeff’s father passed away, leaving him with more responsibility over the care home whilst working alongside his mother, Phyllis. Jeff remembers his father “always working with his hands, fixing or building something”, while his mother was always looking to make a difference with her work.

The family moved into Wentworth Grange in 1980, his parents risking everything to build the business. “We decided as a family to risk our shirts. We risked everything on this. These two seemingly ordinary people possessed the drive and the ability to take an idea forward – often against the odds – and thrive. They transformed themselves from busy professionals with two young sons into successful business people. They were inspirational to me as a young man looking for a way to succeed in life.”

The business now employs around 60 people and is considered one of the best care homes, not just in the North East, but in the United Kingdom.

Jeff takes a hands-on approach to running Wentworth Grange. Leading from the front, he takes pride in having done “every job role in the business”, from upkeep and labouring, to nursing and business development. There is nothing he would ask his team to do that he hasn’t already done himself.

“I learned from my dad how to work and how not to give up and then my mother had the real passion for care and good practice. Those things gave me a good start and a good framework to build from. It’s very important to me that we are not afraid to be different; to work hard and go beyond standard care and nursing. Coming here, my parents always wanted to do things differently and that’s still how we work. I’m always hungry for different and hungry for better.”

Jeff’s commitment to the business, his guests and their families is unparalleled. Constantly looking for new ways to improve the experience of living in his home, Jeff’s restless energy to innovate and the genuine respect he has for his clients is infectious.

We have a big responsibility to people’s mums, dads, aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas. We’ve got to do things the right way. The team all know that I’m on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Any issue, no matter the significance, I’ll be there.”

When Wentworth Grange first opened, the standard of care for the elderly in Northumberland was poor. Nursing homes continued to get a bad reputation. They could be seen as depressing places; places where ‘people go to die’. The residents of care homes were often perceived as being no longer independent or ‘losing their identity’. The Lee family were determined to create a care home that proved the stereotype wrong, endeavouring to open a high-end care home that prioritised their guests’ comfort.

Jeff actively avoids nursing home suppliers, favouring companies that produce more luxurious products. Right down to the towels and bedding, Jeff and his team ensure their guests are provided with the home comforts that can make a huge difference to their quality of life. If a supplier comes to him pitching that their company supplies all the nursing homes in the area, he quickly looks somewhere else. “If somebody comes to us and says, ‘we supply all of the nursing homes in the area’, I say, ‘no thanks’.