New management team announced for WCS Care’s Woodside Care Village in Warwick

WCS Care’s pleased to announce the new management team who’ll be responsible for running its £7.5 million care home in Warwick, when it opens in the Autumn.

Samantha Stuart has become Home Manager at Woodside Care Village - a care home community village for 72 residents including older people and people with dementia - on Spinney Hill, while Lorraine Herbert has taken up the post of Deputy Home Manager.

Starting her career in care at 18, Samantha began a degree in nursing before switching to domiciliary care. Following a spell working nights at a care home before returning to home care, Samantha moved to WCS Care two years ago to manage Fairfield in Bedworth, where she’s worked since.

Lorraine joined WCS Care in 2012 with similar roles at Drovers House in Rugby and Four Ways in Leamington Spa.

More recently, Lorraine was the operational lead during the set up of Castle Brook’s successful partnership with South Warwickshire Foundation NHS Trust before becoming a Care Manager at the Kenilworth home.

When it’s finished, Woodside Care Village will feature small, family-sized households for six or seven people with similar interests and backgrounds. Designed by Warwick architects Robothams and built by Coventry-based Deeley Construction with support from local contractors, the new home will encourage people to spend more time outdoors, which has benefits to health and wellbeing. External walkways will replace internal corridors and an open-air plaza will provide easy access to central shops and outdoor features; all designed to help people maintain a familiar life.

Samantha said: ‘I’m delighted to be leading the team at Woodside Care Village as it develops into a bustling community, full of life and purpose.

‘People will be able to carry on enjoying what they’ve always done like pop to the shops, watch a film at the cinema, do their laundry, look after the garden, or simply sit in the café to watch the world go by – all within a safe, secure environment where residents have access to the care they want.

‘With features like mini golf, our side-by-side bike-for-two and an outdoor gym, there will also be plenty of opportunities to try something new.’

And technology that integrates into daily life without being intrusive will have a place too, as Lorraine added: ‘We’re installing a host of new and existing technology at Woodside Care Village including circadian lighting and acoustic night-time monitoring, which can help improve sleep and have a positive impact on health and wellbeing.

‘Smart phone apps connected to mobile care monitoring will mean carers spend more time with residents. It’s linked to a Relatives’ Gateway, where people can check and interact with their loved one’s care 24-hours-a-day, wherever they are with an internet connection.’

Christine Asbury, WCS Care’s Chief Executive, said: ‘Samantha and Lorraine are very experienced WCS Care Managers who are passionate about our ambition of making every day well lived for residents, so we’re pleased by their appointment to Woodside Care Village.

‘They’ll be the face of the new home, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to meet them before our doors open, at our Marketing Suite in the coming weeks and elsewhere in the community.’

Want to find out more about what life will be like at Woodside Care Village? Click here for further information.