An award-winning care organistion has made a key appointment to strengthen its management team.
Wrexham-based Pendine Park has recruited Gill Hughes, formerly team manager of the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales in North Wales, as their Responsible Individual to promote clinical excellence.
Gill, from Mynydd Isa, already knows a great deal about Pendine Park from her previous job and is looking forward immensely to her new role.
She trained originally as a State Registered Nurse and worked at Clatterbridge Hospital before becoming a District Nurse in the Wrexham area. In 1995, she was appointed as a Nursing Homes Inspector with the then Clwyd Health Authority.
She transferred to the Care Standards Inspectorate Wales in 2002 when the Welsh Assembly Government took over responsibility for registering and inspecting care homes.
Gill said: “I have managed a team of nine inspectors covering North Wales and was responsible for all the regulatory decisions that went on there.
“The main change that has happened in my time in the inspectorate has been the move away from the regulator taking responsibility for what goes on in a care home and putting it firmly back with the provider.
“It’s their business and they must be aware of what’s going on and how to rectify any areas that are non-compliant.
“I registered all the homes in Pendine Park apart from Cae Bryn so I was instrumental in them gaining their license to operate.
“I have not been a hands-on inspector for nine years so it’s been nice to go around and re-acquaint myself with the homes and the staff on the ground.
“Pendine Park is a caring environment that is not driven by profit – it is driven by quality and standards.
“I have always been very proud of what they have achieved because as a regulator whatever happens to the individual provider is reflected on the inspectorate.
“Pendine Park provides a benchmark in terms of quality. I don’t think people understand what structures they have in place to provide support and develop their staff.
“In relation to training and personal development, Pendine Park is the gold standard – that’s vitally important because that is reflected in the quality of the care and the confidence of the staff.
“If you can project that confidence and make people feel comfortable, they will be reassured even before their loved one comes in.
“I am excited by the challenges of my new role and there will be lots of opportunities for me as an individual to learn from.
“I can see there are areas where my expertise can be used for the benefit of the quality of the care. My philosophy is in promoting high standards of care and I will not accept anything less – which is also the ethos of Pendine Park.”
Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft is delighted that Gill has joined the organisation.
He said: “We were extremely pleased to be able to strengthen the management team with a person of Gill’s undoubted calibre.
“She will bring a wealth of experience and ability which will help Pendine Park continue to improve the care and support we provide to our clients.
“Gill will play a major role in our quest to keep raising the bar in terms of the quality of care at Pendine Park and will concentrate on the training and development programme for nurses.”
