Abbeyfield Northumbria appoints new director of care and quality

Not-for-profit care home provider Abbeyfield Northumbria, which operates care and supported living homes in Alnwick, Gosforth, South Gosforth, Bamburgh and Berwick, has promoted Chris Major to director of care and quality.

A registered manager for 29 years, Chris has worked at Abbeyfield for two decades, most recently leading Castle Farm residential care home, in Newcastle. 

In her new regional role, she will oversee care and quality across the provider’s five homes and manage a team of over 100 staff.

Chris said: “It is a great honour to take up the position of director of care and quality. 

“It carries huge responsibility and I am reassured that I have the support and backing of a very experienced senior management team and staff across all our homes who are just as committed as myself to ensuring the highest standards of care, quality and safeguarding are in place all the time.

“Abbeyfield Northumbria is part of a vibrant network of care homes that operates across the UK and internationally, under the umbrella of the Abbeyfield Movement. 

“While resident wellbeing is the absolute priority, as a registered charity it also provides a very caring and supportive environment for all those that work for it.”

Chris’ promotion sees Lisa Bunting step up from deputy to manager at Castle Farm. 

Lisa, who is from Gateshead and has worked for 26 years in the care sector, added: “We have a tremendously compassionate and loyal staff at Castle Farm, whose sole focus is on creating a relaxing, peaceful and safe environment for our residents. 

“As always, we are looking to the future and two of the areas I am currently assessing are our future staffing needs and ensuring that existing staff benefit from continuous training and development.”

Peter Standfield, chief executive of Abbeyfield Northumbria, added: “The society is run to provide an enriched, caring and positive environment for our residents. 

“The retirement properties we run are there to offer elderly people an enjoyable and comfortable place to live in older age, and we are very proud of our organisation and the houses we run.

“Central to achieving this are the staff that we employ and their dedication to ensuring residents can enjoy a peaceful, relaxing and stimulating home. 

“Over the 20-year period that Chris has been with Abbeyfield she has demonstrated her commitment to ensuring the highest standards of resident care, quality, management and leadership. 

“We are delighted that she has taken up this new role, which is thoroughly deserved. 

“At the same time, it is very reassuring that we have great continuity and seamless handover at Castle Farm, with Lisa Bunting, who now takes over the role as manager. 

“The two have worked very closely together over many years and we are pleased to be in a position to offer Chris and Lisa these two very significant promotions.

“These are exciting times for Abbeyfield Northumbia as we look to the future and plan investment in our properties, processes and people. 

“As director of care and quality, Chris will play a leading role in bringing our plans to life.”

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