New Leader appointed at Belong

Lifelong carer Peter Norman, from Nantwich, has been appointed general manager at Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme after leading the dementia specialist care village through Covid-19.

Peter’s passion for caring for others began at the age of 11, when he became a family carer for his late great-grandmother. He has since built a career in social care that spans over two decades, developing his skills across numerous roles in the sector. Most recently, Peter took on the position of acting general manager at Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme in May.

Speaking of his appointment, Peter said: “After working alongside the dedicated team at Belong Newcastle over recent months, I am really pleased to be taking over the reins on a permanent basis. I have always been a strong advocate of Belong’s values and village model and they have enabled us to provide our residents with the best possible care during this difficult time.”

Peter brings a wealth of knowledge to the role, having held a number of management positions within Belong since joining the organisation in 2010. Notably, he was part of the leadership team that supported Belong Crewe to become the first nursing care provider in Cheshire to be rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). During his time there, Peter also gained the care sector’s Leadership and Management in Healthcare qualification.

“Throughout my time at Belong, I have gained demonstrable experience of a number of roles,” Peter added. “I look forward to putting what I have learned into practice in Newcastle-under-Lyme to further support my team’s development and strengthen the village’s reputation for class-leading dementia care during Covid-19 and beyond.”

The combination of robust infection prevention control, regular testing and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has enabled the village to identify and isolate cases of Covid-19 quickly and prevent transmission within the village.

Belong’s chief operating officer, Stacey McCann, said: “Peter has been an invaluable member of Belong’s management team during the pandemic, ensuring our customers and colleagues in Newcastle-under-Lyme have remained safe and in high spirits. We have every confidence in his ability to support the continued success of the village and its provision of high-quality care.”

The village was recently shortlisted in the Care Heroes Awards 2020 for its innovative use of technology to help residents keep connected to their loved ones throughout lockdown, whilst enhancing wellbeing through activities such as online exercise classes and events.

Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme offers state-of-the-art accommodation comprising 28 apartments for independent-living and six family sized households providing 24-hour nursing care. In addition, it features a range of amenities, including a hair salon, exercise studio and a 17th century Heritage Gallery, which pays homage to the building’s colourful past.