A new manager has taken to the helm of Chester’s intergenerational village, it has been announced.
The not-for-profit dementia specialist, Belong, named Caroline Ray as the new general manager in charge of its pioneering community.
The village is home to adults aged 60 and older, sharing their home with children aged 0 – 5 years from the integrated nursery.
This community of 'grandfriends' can choose to stay in 24-hour care households or within one of the 23 independent living apartments, interacting with the youngsters through a vibrant programme of activities or spontaneous village experiences.
On her appointment, Ms Ray, said: "I’m very excited that my next career step is at this wonderful community for all ages.
"Our intergenerational village has been attracting national and international attention since its official opening, last year, on the back of the compelling benefits being experienced by young and old alike."
The Chester village has recently experienced a surge of media attention.
Major broadcasters like the BBC, ITV and even international broadcaster Deutsche Welle have covered the positive impact this unique community has had on the well-being of older people.
The nursery children has also made remarkable developments.
Ms Ray's plan for her tenure includes expanding the village’s experiences and activities programme and raising awareness of its specialist day care service, Experience Days.
She is focusing on maintaining the group’s Gold Investors in People accreditation by offering various training and professional development opportunities to those interested in building a career in care.
Before her transfer to the Chester village, Ms Ray worked at the sister village, Belong Macclesfield.
Her leadership skills led the place to achieve an 'outstanding' score for its care provision from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the Platinum Gold Standards Framework status for end-of-life care provision.
Sue Goldsmith, Belong chief operating officer, said: "We’re very pleased to appoint Caroline to head up our Chester team.
"She has an intricate knowledge of our organisation, our customers’ needs and with her proven track record ensuring exceptional standards of care, we’re more than confident she will be an asset to the village."
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