Retirement homes provider Orchard Care Homes has appointed four new operations directors responsible for focusing on its quality and occupancy, while building strategic partnerships with local authority partners.

David Williams (pictured), Raschel Smith, Jackie Murray and Sarah Armitage have all been internally promoted from other operational roles.

Williams has been appointed as operations director for the Northwest region. He is a qualified nurse with more than 20 years’ experience in the health and social care sector. He has experience in clinical, operational and commercial roles both within the NHS and the private sector. He joined Orchard Care Home in 2017.

Smith, the newly appointed operations director for the Midlands region, brings more than 15 years’ experience in care gained from working within the NHS, local authorities and the private sector.

Murray has been appointed regional director for the Northeast region. A registered nurse, she has more than 45 years’ experience of working in the sector, having held clinical, managerial and commissioning posts in the NHS and the private sector.

Armitage has been appointed as operations director for the West Yorkshire region. She has worked in the care sector for almost 15 years and joined Orchard Care Homes in 2008 as a senior care assistant.

The new chief executive of Orchard, Hayden Knight, has already made several significant changes since taking the helm at Orchard earlier this year, including new initiatives focused on the recruitment of new talent and the retention of existing staff.

Knight said: “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.”