Belong Appoints Chief Operating Officer Ahead of Expansion

Leading not-for-profit care operator, Belong, has appointed Rebecca Woodcock to the post of chief operating officer (COO) as the dementia specialist prepares to expand into Merseyside with its ninth care village, Belong Birkdale. Rebecca joins Belong’s executive board having been promoted from group operations manager. Highly experienced, she has worked for the organisation for over 20 years, previously holding general manager and registered manager positions at the group’s Atherton and Wigan villages, respectively. She was instrumental in growing both to join the 2% of adult social care settings in England holding CQC Outstanding ratings. Martin Rix, chief executive at Belong, commented: “We are pleased to welcome Rebecca to the Belong Board. With a long and distinguished career history with us, she has consistently demonstrated her passion for our unique village model and the people that we support. She is also an exceptional and compassionate leader, and we are confident that she will add significant value in her new role.” Rebecca Woodcock, chief operating officer at Belong, added: “I am thrilled to be joining the leadership team of our wonderful organisation. I pride myself on being a true ‘Belong Champion’ and working hard to promote our ethos of pushing the boundaries of dementia care. With our new village, Belong Birkdale, opening next year, this is really an exciting chapter for all of us.” The news comes ahead of the Belong Birkdale opening, next year. Set to be home to over 100 people, customers will be able to choose between 24-hour residential care, with nursing support available, or buy or rent one of 30 one and two-bedroom independent living apartments. Its corresponding home care service, Belong at Home, launches in the Southport area later this autumn. The £19m state-of-the-art Oxford Road location will add to the group’s established sites across the North West and West Midlands, expanding its sector-leading support for older people living with dementia. Its vibrant village centre, also to open to the local community, will include a bistro, hair and beauty salon, exercise studio, and entertainment venue with licensed bar. More information about Belong can be found at www.belong.org.uk or by emailing enquiries@belong.org.uk

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