Siobhan Creighton, director of HR at The Royal Star & Garter Homes, is retiring after 17 years with the charity.
Creighton helped bring about some of the most significant changes in the charity’s 103-year history, which is now recognised for the excellent care it provides to ex-servicemen and women and their partners living with disability or dementia. .
She says: “The Royal Star & Garter Homes is so much a part of me that it’s going to be hard to walk away, but I know it’s the right time. I’ve had many opportunities and my journey needs to end here and for someone else to take it on forward.”
Prior to joining The Royal Star & Garter Homes, Siobhan served nine years in the Women’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC) as a data telegraphist, before living and working in Ascension Island and Australia.
She joined the charity in 2002, when it was still based at its iconic home on Richmond Hill. Since then, The Royal Star & Garter Homes has moved and invested money to open new state-of-the-art homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe. It is recognised as one of the best providers of dementia care in the country and is committed to at least doubling the number of veterans it supports.
Creighton says: “There has been a transformation from institutional-style care delivery to a more modern person-centred approach. It’s been a huge journey.”
Praising staff, she continues: “They have changed from being task-focussed to being person-centred. They have been amazing, and we have always supported and invested in them. They buy into the culture, which is fantastic, and they give back. I’m very proud of them. They make the home really. If the staff do their job you get these amazing results and the residents are looked after.”
Looking back on her 17 years, she adds: “I’m so proud of the journey the charity has taken to modernise. Its been so brave and forward-thinking and it’s been great to be on the journey with it. I would like to thank the executive and governors for their valuable support over the years.”
Chief executive Andy Cole says: “We cannot thank Siobhan enough for all she has given to a generation of our residents and staff. Siobhan will be hugely missed and the whole charity wishes her a very happy retirement.”
Kate Silver has been appointed as the new director of people, joining from the Ministry of Defence.
