Leadership Team Grows at Orchard Care Homes with Two Key Appointments

Orchard Care Homes has announced the appointment of two new directors to its executive leadership team, strengthening its ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional care and nurturing a culture where colleagues and residents thrive.

Helen Baxendale joins as Director of Quality, bringing over 35 years of nursing experience and nearly three decades in adult social care. A highly respected registered general nurse, Helen is passionate about improving the lives of older people and helping families view care home living as a positive, enriching choice.

Throughout her career, Helen has held senior operational and director-level roles across the care sector, where she has led initiatives to enhance care standards and drive governance excellence. Since joining Orchard, she has spent her first seven weeks visiting homes, engaging with frontline colleagues and residents, and building strong relationships across the organisation.

Reflecting on her start, Helen said:
“I’ve received such a warm welcome from everyone at Orchard. I’ve had the opportunity to visit all our homes, meet residents, attend manager meetings, and engage with support teams. I’m excited to use my experience to strengthen our governance framework and help take our care standards to even greater heights.”

Joining her on the executive team is Fran Galbraith, newly appointed as Director of People and Talent. Fran is a Wakefield Girls’ High School alumna and holds a BSc (Hons) in Physiology and Pharmacology from the University of the West of England, Bristol. She brings over 25 years of senior HR experience from both national and international roles across multiple sectors.

A Chartered Member of the CIPD, Fran is a specialist in talent development, learning, and recruitment, and also brings a wealth of expertise in organisational design, reward, shared services, and change management. Her appointment signals Orchard’s strong commitment to developing its people strategy and enhancing the colleague experience.

Hayden Knight, Chief Executive Officer at Orchard Care Homes, said:
“Together, Helen and Fran’s combined expertise and leadership will be instrumental in driving our commitment to excellence and innovation. Their wealth of experience will be a tremendous asset as we continue to build a culture of continuous improvement and work towards our vision – to be recognised as the leading provider of specialist elderly care in the UK.”