MONDAY 26 SEPTEMBER - Farewells

The past few days have see a number of farewell events for two of our directors who are leaving after long and distinguished service to the Somerset Care Group. Audrey Derrick has been with the Company since it was formed and has been a very active non executive director for much of that time having moved on from her operational role in the late nineties. She has been intricately engaged in the development of our business more recently as Vice Chairman of the Group and as Chairman of Acacia Training and Development Ltd. Her experience, judgement, wise counsel and absolute commitment to the Company have been key factors in its success.

Also bidding farewell has been John Parrott, our long serving Director of Finance and Development. John has been an executive director of the Group for all its twenty years, having moved out from Somerset County Council with the team that established the Company in 1991. As a deeply experienced finance director John has steered all the investments and developments that the Group has undertaken with immense skill. He is retiring from his main role but will remain in touch for the time being as a director of YourLife Management Services.

Both John and Audrey have been attending farewell parties across the Group. Here they are cutting the cake at the Somerset Care Managers farewell lunch on 22 September.

On Monday John was surprised by the Central Office Staff who arranged a "Car Park Party" with food, fun and games. John was presented with a number of meaningful gifts including a book of messages and pictures from throughout the Group.

We send both Audrey and John off to the land of retirement with our fondest best wishes and thanks for all the wonderful work they have done to help make Somerset Care Group such a successful organisation.

John, Alyson and Audrey with AL at the Farewell Lunch.

WEDNESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER - The Blog is Back!

Dear Blog Readers,
Firstly my apologies for the break in blog activity over the summer. It has been a period of much activity and change at Somerset Care and my own life is turning upside down. Now it's time for a catch up as I count down to my departure.

After 10 wonderful years with the Group my time is drawing to a close and I am off to take up a new challenge in Australia as CEO of Southern Cross Care (South Australia and Northern Territories) based in Adelaide. It is a wonderful opportunity for me to round off my executive career in a new job leading a well established and highly respected company and taking it on as the present CEO retires after 14 very successful years at the helm.

It was a big decision to take to make this change but not really a difficult one. After 10 years it is time for a change of leadership for Somerset Care and it is always important for a CEO to leave in an orderly fashion and while one or two people are sorry to see him go. Staying beyond ones "sell by" date is definitely to be discouraged! I have absolute confidence in the very talented team of executives and managers who are very well placed to take Somerset Care Group forward on the next stage of it's journey. The past 10 years has been the best period of my career by far and I have loved the variety and interest that every day has brought. Above all I have enjoyed being part of a magnificent team of people who are all utterly committed to making a positive difference in the ways they support people through care, support and training. The Group enjoys a high reputation for the quality of it's services and this has been achieved by thousands of dedicated staff. It has been a real privilege for me to play a part in that success story. As you may imagine though I am now much looking forward to the adventure and challenges ahead.

The big news this week has been the announcement that Alyson Martin has been selected, after a national recruitment and rigorous selection process, to take on the role of Chief Executive. I could not be more delighted.

Alyson's appointment will, I know, be warmly welcomed throughout the Group. Hers is a wonderful story of progress through a full career in the social care sector from Care Assistant to CEO. She is an inspirational leader and I am absolutely confident that the Somerset Care Group will continue to grow and prosper under her leadership. I could not think of anyone better suited to taking on this role and I am absolutely delighted that the selection panel of our Non Executive Directors were unanimously of the same mind.

I will be departing at the end of October and will hope to see many managers and staff before I go. To those I don't see I would want to send very best wishes and a warm "thank you" for all you do and all you have done to make the Somerset Care Group successful. This is a very special organisation - people working for people - and making a real difference.