Hayden Knight, the CEO of Orchard Care Homes, has appointed a new Operations Director to lead on the quality and operational strategy of its services to achieve positive outcomes for people in Orchard’s care homes.
Sarah Armitage, Operations Director for the West Yorkshire region, will focus on quality, operational excellence and improving residents’ experience, whilst building strategic partnerships with local authority partners.
Sarah has worked in the care sector for almost 15 years. Throughout her career in care, she has contributed to a number of quality improvement programmes, resulting in the delivery of better quality of care and resident experience for people living in care homes.
Having joined Orchard Care Homes in 2008 as a Senior Care Assistant, Sarah has progressed to Operational Director this year and continues to develop academically. She is currently studying for a Leadership in Practice Masters degree at Sheffield Hallam University.
Sarah commented on her appointment: “I am delighted to have been appointed Operations Director. My personal experience has shaped how I judge a good care home, and I am committed to making every home in my region excel and provide the highest quality of care for its residents.”
Hayden Knight has already made several significant changes since taking helm of Orchard Care Homes earlier this year, including new initiatives focused on the recruitment of new talent and the retention of existing staff. Increasing the number of residents cared for by Orchard is also high on the agenda, as well as promoting an internal policy of openness and strong communication.
Hayden says, “The team and I are committed to delivering the best possible and safest care to our residents. This new structure will enable us to align corporate plans with local practices and promote autonomy and accountability for regional performance. The team is highly experienced in day-to-day operations of our care homes and bring in-depth knowledge of both local needs and sector challenges.”
