Residential care and supported living service TLC Care and Support has appointed Lee Houghton as its new managing director, replacing Martin Lyne.

TLC, part of Envivo Group, offers personal and enablement care support offer for 130 people aged over 16 with a range of social care needs in Essex, East Hertfordshire and Suffolk, including those with a learning disability, those on the autistic spectrum and associated complex challenging needs, and/or a mental health diagnosis.

Houghton has experience as a registered occupational therapist with senior management and board level experience within the NHS, social services and independent sectors across hospitals, care homes, community services and supported living settings.

She has also acted as an advisor for the College of Occupational Therapists’ consultancy service, as a specialist advisor for the Care Quality Commission, and as independent chair for Kent Council’s panel for serious reviews of safeguarding incidents.

Tim Davies, chief executive of Envivo Group, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Lee to TLC and believe appointing somebody of her calibre will help to ensure our services are set up in the strongest possible way to make a real difference to the lives of the people we support.”

Houghton added: “I am delighted to be joining the TLC team as they work to ensure that young people and adults over 16 can achieve their goals and live safely and independently in the way that works best for them. It has been a complex and challenging two years for the social care sector, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, and I look forward to working with colleagues to build on our track record of delivering high-quality, person-centred support and exploring innovative models of care.”

Compass Executives advised on the appointment.