Orchard Care Home Hires New Director Of People & Talent
Richard Waterhouse has joined Orchard Care Homes – with 23 care homes across the North of England and Midlands – as its Group Director of People and Talent.
Richard joins Orchard Care Homes at a crucial time for the industry with care staff attraction at its most critical. With conditions such as Dementia on the rise in the UK, the demand for quality care staff across the sector has never been higher.
Innovative, evidence-based Dementia care is a vital strand of Orchard’s business. Its Dementia Promise and five dementia care Reconnect Communities aim to refocus the way that dementia care is given in the UK. Orchard believes there is no other offering out there that truly puts people first.
Richard Waterhouse says:
“First and foremost I am looking forward to resetting the basics across the group. Looking at ways of working, attraction and recruitment, training, systems, and reward and recognition for staff. We are currently rolling out a Colleague Survey to address any needs and challenges our homes may be experiencing and to boost areas where we can offer more support to staff.
“The nature of a company which has grown organically through home acquisitions over the years, means that there is some streamlining to do to ensure we are all working together as efficiently as possible to a successful end goal. This being the welfare and care of our residents and their families, aligned with creating the best possible working environment for all our colleagues.”
In addition, Richard believes the key to staff retention in this field is to provide clear career opportunities and progression.
“We are working extremely hard to attract new blood to the sector from other sectors. By working with local councils, schools, and colleges, we are highlighting the future-proof aspects of care roles. We encourage our staff to move through the ranks by gaining recognised qualifications which we fund on the job. We are also looking into “new to care” partnership opportunities within local council initiatives too, whereby we provide work experience for a 12-week period and a guaranteed interview at the end of their placement, therefore ensuring we can provide the best introduction to the sector and applicants can make an informed decision on whether or not a role in care is right for them.”
Hayden Knight, CEO, Orchard Care Homes says:
“We are excited to have Richard on board to look at our group with fresh eyes. I am extremely confident that he has what it takes to attract and retain colleagues and provide a structure to help them develop their careers for the long term.”
