Meet the local woman who is the new General Manager at Belong Macclesfield

By Alex Greensmith 5th May 2024

Meet Cheryl Davies - the new General Manager of Belong Macclesfield. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)
Meet Cheryl Davies - the new General Manager of Belong Macclesfield. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

There is a new woman in charge at a Macclesfield care village.

Cheryl Davies has taken over from the outgoing Caroline Ray, as General Manager at Belong Macclesfield, as the latter takes the reins at Belong Chester.

The Upton Priory residential care home, which specialises in dementia care, has promoted internally with Cheryl being a long-serving employee of Belong.

And her experience does not just include Belong, with Cheryl having worked in care industry since she was 15. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

Cheryl is a very familiar face, having worked at Belong for 14 years, indeed starting her Belong journey at Belong Macclesfield.

She then worked as head of the home care Belong at Home, which first launched (and is based) in Macclesfield.

Despite still living in Macclesfield, Cheryl went away to lead Belong Macclesfield's sister village in Crewe.

You can meet Cheryl and the care home's leadership team at an event this month, as part of Dementia Action Week. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

After three years leading as General Manager at Belong Crewe, she has come back to Belong Macclesfield to lead the team here.

"It is an honour to take up this position at this established village, which has been part of the community for almost 17 years," said Cheryl.

"Personally, it is a pleasure for me to be back, I started my career with Belong here, and I always said one day 'I would come back home', and here I am today.

She has also worked as Support Manager at Belong Macclesfield. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"My role is to lead the team here at the village, to be there to support colleagues and customers with strong leadership skills, as well as forging and maintaining our links into the community.

"It is key for me to be approachable and friendly, and one thing for me is that they know me here. Because I have been here in the past, many of the team know how I work, they can talk to me and my office door is always open.

"I used to work here, then I led the village at Belong Crewe for a few years. But it has been great to recognise so many people still here from when I last worked here, we have a great staff retention rate at Belong.

Cheryl joined Belong in 2010, and her achievements include helping create the Belong at Home community care service in Macclesfield. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"I want to put my stamp on the village and bring ideas across here that I know have worked in Crewe, to establish that shared relationship with the community.

"I wish to expand the activities, growing the team, and bringing our experience day service out into the community more. And welcome more people back into the village."

An example of this would be restarting the breakfast club at Macclesfield Town Hall, as well as working closely with other organisations such as Alzheimer's Society and Macclesfield Stroke Association. And if you are a community group or organisation that would like to work with Belong, Cheryl would love to invite you in for a brew.

Belong Macclesfield has 18 self-contained apartments for independent living and six supported 'households' with modern en-suite bedrooms and open plan rooms. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"I love working for Belong because of the model," added Cheryl.

"Because of the small number of households, people live together in a more person-centred environment. I'm proud to say who I work for, and especially now that I am back in my hometown as well.

"A lot of our team don't see it as a job, they see it as an extended family. Belong look after their colleagues, and they listen, which I think is really important in an organisation."

Cheryl pictured with Belong Macclesfield Household Team Leader Laura Barsted, in front of the reception at Belong Macclesfield. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

In a rousing statement, the Belong Group had this to say about Cheryl's appointment: "Cheryl's perspectives on driving standards of care at multiple villages make her ideally qualified to be a General Manager."

"Her background, including helping to found Belong's award-winning home care service, also gives her a particular understanding of many customers' journeys, which often involve deciding to move to a Belong village after requiring domiciliary care."

Want to find more about Belong Macclesfield? Please head to their website.

When things get a bit warmer, Cheryl would like to increase the number of outdoor activities at the village. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

Belong Villages are a sponsor of Macclesfield Nub News.

     

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