Dementia specialist care operator Belong has appointed Patrick Butler as the general manager of its new village in Chester.
Butler will head up the team when the care village and its nursery open their doors in spring 2022.
He has more than 30 years of care experience, including leading numerous care facilities across the region.
Most recently, he held a number of senior positions with Bupa Care Services, overseeing multi-site environments with nursing, dementia and residential care provision, as well as taking up a regional director role.
Belong said Butler’s experience in childcare when he ran nurseries in Shropshire in the 1990s will also lend itself well to the post, with Belong Chester set to become the organisation’s first care village with an on-site nursery, and the first of its kind in north-west England.
The nursery will provide a high-quality care environment for up to 25 children from birth to five years, offering shared learning experiences for children and the village’s residents, as well as a blueprint for intergenerational practice.
“I’m passionate about care for all ages and, having previously worked in the city, I'm pleased to be back and looking forward to setting the highest care standards from day one. Our goal is to build what will become the premier dementia care service in West Cheshire,” he said.
Belong chief operating officer Stacey McCann added: “We’re delighted to welcome Patrick to the team. He is incredibly passionate about care and his empathy and engaging manner have enabled him to foster strong relationships as he’s earned his reputation as a care leader in the region.”
Also joining the Belong Chester team will be Caroline Newton, who will be responsible for all care as the CQC-registered support manager.
Newton moves from the CQC Outstanding-rated Belong Atherton care village in Greater Manchester.
She was named ‘Best Carer Who Contributes to Activity Provision’ at the 2018 National Activity Providers Association gala.
