We’re celebrating our CEO winning prestigious care award
It was announced last week that Peter Kinsey, Chair and CEO, at Iris Care Group has won this year’s prestigious Social Care Top 30 Award.
The awards are open to senior executives in the care sector and, each year, the nominations are whittled down to a shortlist of 30 before the public are allowed to vote for the final winner.
Peter was nominated by his colleagues at Iris Care Group not only for the work he has done launching this new social care organisation but for his 35 years health and social care experience.
In that time Peter has been a Local Authority Strategic Commissioning Manager and Director of Mental Health Services in the NHS. He was also CEO of Achieve Together for 13 years; in which time he oversaw a complete rebrand and relaunch of the company.
In 2022 he was appointed as Chair and Chief Executive of the nascent Iris Care Group, bringing together two established mental health care providers, Holmleigh Care Homes and Ludlow Street Healthcare.
Peter has an MBA and a MA in the Management of Community Care, Learning Disabilities/Mental Health.
Peter commented: “I was delighted to have been shortlisted for the Social Care Top 30. We have some fantastic leaders in our sector, and it was a real privilege to be included amongst them.
“I was therefore surprised and delighted to win this award and I would like to thank everyone who voted for me.
“Whilst it has been humbling to win, I am delighted to have this opportunity to shine a light on the new Iris Care Group. We employ and support some amazing people and I’m very proud to lead the organisation.”
Yvonne Murray, Iris Care Group’s Group People Director, added: “We could not be prouder of Peter. This award is well deserved. In the last 18 months he has steered our organization through the merger of two existing health and social care organisations straddling both Wales and the West of England.
“Organisational changes like this can create a great deal of anxiety but it is a testament to Peter’s leadership that we have successfully transitioned and are achieving some of our best ever staff survey satisfaction scores.
“Peter takes the time to visit different services every week and chat to the people we support and our staff. His passion for providing the best outcomes we can for the people we support is evident, and he is an inspiration for us all”.
Iris Care Group issues press statment about plans to build holiday camp adjacent to Beechwood College
Press Release
18 September 2023
Beechwood College in Sully has made it known that it is deeply concerned by the proposals to develop a holiday park on land situated between the college and Ty Hafan children’s hospice on Hayes Road.
Beechwood Colleges provides education for up to seventy-two students with autistic conditions, aged 16 to 25, who require very specialist support due to their unique combinations of clinical, physical, learning, sensory, social, and emotional needs.
The college believes having a peaceful and safe environment is vital both for the education and well-being of their students.
The college is clear that any escalation in people visiting the site, as well as the increased noise and traffic that would result from any such development, will make it much harder for them to provide the necessary therapeutic and safe environment that is essential to their students’ happiness and welfare.
Rachel Newman, Beechwood College Principal, stated: “Our concerns about the physical and emotional risks this development represents for our students cannot be understated.
“Calm and routine are essential for our students; noise and frenzied activities can be very distressing for them and cause them to become very unsettled, putting them at risk of harming themselves and the team that support them.
“Even the increased traffic will pose a considerable risk; our students often struggle to understand the concept of personal safety and busy roads are a particular danger.
“We are grateful for the support that the local community has already provided in opposing these proposals and we are hopeful that the planning authorities for the Vale of Glamorgan will recognize that this is not an appropriate development for this site”
Peter Kinsey speaks to Care Talk Magazine
“What keeps me awake at night?”
Peter Kinsey, our Chair and Chief Executive speaks to Care Talk about difficulties in the care sector and the important things social care leaders need to consider.
Beechwood College community unites for end of year celebrations
News from Wales covers Beechwood College’s Family Fun and Awards Day.
Care Talk publishes ‘Top 10 Tips for senior healthcare executives’ article by our CEO, Peter Kinsey
In July Care Talk magazine published an article by Peter Kinsey, Chair and CEO of Iris Care Group and Bruce Moore, CEO of Housing 21, sharing their top 10 tips for healthcare CEOs
Click here to read the article.
Michelle and Cat raise a whopping £945 for the Care Workers Charity
Michelle Cox-Coley, our Operations Director Social Care England, and Cat Lambkin, our Assistant HR Officer in Gloucester, took on the challenge of swimming a mile across lake Windermere at the beginning of June. They both undertook gruelling regular training on top of their busy work and personal lives.
They finished the swim in 1hr and 7mins, which is all the more impressive when you know they are both beginners!
Congratulations to both of them on this amazing feat.
Supported Living team scoop 4 awards in Great British Care Awards regional finals
In January we were very proud to have won 4 awards at the West Midlands regional final of
the Great British Care Awards.
Read all our our winners’ nominations
The superhero dog who’s making a huge difference to people who need him most
In January, 2023. Wales Online published a story about a therapy dog who visist students at Beechwood College.
Read the full story here
Our Supported Living team celebrate being finalists at the Pinders Healthcare Design Awards
3On 15th March 2023, the Supported Living team had the pleasure of attending the Pinders Healthcare Design Awards event, after being shortlisted for a coveted Pinders Award, The awards, which were launched in 1991, recognise excellence in long-term care and independent living sectors.
You can read more about why they were chosen as a finalist here.
Latest Beechwood College Estyn report praised in local press
In May Barry and District News praised Beechwood College’s recent Estyn report highlighting how the College ‘nurtures’ pupils and creating a trusting relationships between staff and learners.
Read more here
Care At Home celebrate 30th Birthday with awards wins
In early June, Care at Home, our Domiciliary Care Service in Cheltenham, welcomed colleagues past and present to a get together to celebrate their 30th birthday. Everyone enjoyed the catch-up, reminiscing and swapping stories.
And they had even more to celebrate a few weeks later as Clare Harper won the Care Administrator Award in the Home Care section of the Stars of Social Care Awards earlier in June, and Katie Eckworth was Highly Commended in the Above and Beyond Care Worker category. Well done both.
May 2023, Press Announcement of launch of Iris Care Group
News from Iris Care Group
May 2023
Iris Care Group launches as major new care organisation
Ludlow Street Healthcare and Holmleigh Care have relaunched under the new group brand name Iris Care Group. The announcement follows the merger of the two thriving health and social care businesses in England and Wales in 2021.
Ludlow Street Healthcare has supported and cared for over 800 people for nearly 20 years. It has worked in partnership with the NHS, developing services and investing in the necessary health infrastructure and staff training, to support patients through their range of specialist services.
Holmleigh Care was founded in 2000 and provides essential residential care, supported living and domiciliary care services to adults with learning disabilities, mental health issues and neurodegenerative conditions. Holmleigh provides 31 services across Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Swindon and Worcestershire.
Both organisations are experts in providing care and therapeutic support for individuals with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs. In particular, they specialise in providing support for people with complex needs and behaviours that challenge.
With an expanded range of complementary services, Iris Care Group will be able to offer the individuals it supports more comprehensive care and rehabilitation solutions. The group’s new service will offer individuals a seamless journey back into the community, along with greater opportunities to improve their quality of life and regain their independence.
Drawing on the experience and past successes of both organisations, Iris Care Group will continue to focus on delivering high quality, personalised and safe care that treats everyone with dignity; supporting individuals to lead happy, healthy lives.
The combined group will have a total of nearly 1,600 staff supporting almost 450 individuals across more than 50 sites. The group’s central support services will be split between its Cardiff Head Office and its existing Gloucester administration centre.
Iris Care Group is now looking to grow its workforce and has many new opportunities available across the group.
Additionally, the group has strengthened its operational structure to support its ambitious plans by making some key appointments, including appointing Peter Kinsey as group Chair and Chief Executive. Peter is a well-known and respected senior figure in the sector and has more than 37 years’ experience in health and social care. He has been a local authority strategic commissioner, a Director of Mental Health Services in the NHS and spent 13 years as Chief Executive of CMG and more recently, Achieve together.
Peter Kinsey, Chair and Chief Executive, Iris Care Group, commented: “Iris Care Group has been created to help us better deliver on our mission to put the people we support at the heart of everything we do. Providing the highest standards of care is the most important consideration for us in the merged group. We are also committed to ensuring the people we care for and our staff feel valued and respected.
“We are already one of the leading specialist care providers in England and Wales. As Iris Care Group, we will look to grow further to support even more people with complex needs who urgently need the specialist care we can offer. We are also looking forward to welcoming more colleagues to our business to help us on our journey.”
More information about Iris Care Group, and the exciting career opportunities it offers, is available at www.iriscaregroup.co.uk.
How to stick to your New Year’s Resolutions, according to the experts
Our Wellbeing Team were featured in Wales 24/7 for their advice on setting achievable and sustainable goals in the New Year.
Beechwood Assistant Principal in Autism Eye Magazine
Emma Collins, Assistant Principal at Beechwood College contributed to this Autism Eye piece about transitioning from Education as an SEN student.
Managing your Mental Health at Christmas in Wellbeing News
Our Wellbeing Team wrote this piece for Wellbeing News about the importance of managing your mental health at Christmas.
From meditation to a friendly chat – ways to find calm this stress awareness week
For Stress Awareness Week, our Wellbeing Officer put together a list of things that you can do to manage your stress and find calm in difficult times
Cardiff Carer wins outstanding achievement award (Pinetree Court)
Healthcare Newsdesk wrote this article about Alex Pawson, one of our incredible members of staff at Pinetree Court Hospital, for his recent win at the Advancing Healthcare Awards.
A festive first for Barry Santa Sleigh as it visits Beechwood College for first time in 50 years
News from Wales covers the first Santa Sleigh visit to Beechwood College
Heatherwood Court’s Recovery College helps dismantle barriers (Care Talk)
Care Talk wrote a piece about Heatherwood Court’s Recovery College, and spoke to a Suz, a patient and Peer Support Chair about the fantastic things they have achieved.
