Audley Retirement Villages has appointed Professor Alison While as Non-Executive Director at its private care provider, Audley Care.
Having specialised in the care industry throughout her 43-year career, Alison will provide advice and direction around corporate governance to Audley’s care services.
Alison’s appointment is a key addition to the care provision of Audley Retirement Villages, reflecting an increase in activity over the last few months as it continues to grow and develop more sites across the UK. Audley villages operate an extra-care model, which allows owners of its properties to have flexible care in their own home, as required.
Alongside her new role at Audley, Alison holds various positions including Emeritus Professor of Community Nursing at King’s College London, Member of the Council of Queen’s College and Consultant Editor of the British Journal of Community Nursing. She is also a Founding Member of the London Journal of Primary Care and was the Associate Dean (Education and External Affairs) at the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing & Midwifery, King’s College London.
Professor Alison While commented: “The emergence of retirement villages which offer flexible at-home care, like Audley, has been an incredibly important development in the care industry. We know that alternatives to care homes are not only needed but desperately wanted by consumers. I look forward to working with Audley as it continues to offer aspirational retirements for older generations.”
Paul Morgan, Operations Director, Audley Retirement Villages, commented: “Alison brings with her a wealth of experience and will be an asset to our senior team. Audley has expanded rapidly over the last few years and is projected to grow by another 300% by 2018, so her expertise in care will be invaluable as we expand Audley Care in line with this.”
Audley Retirement Villages’ turnover in 2014 was £40.1million. Over the last five years, since 2009, this has grown by 855%. Since 2012 alone turnover has grown by 265%, from £11 million.
The rapid expansion of Audley reflects the surge in demand for high quality retirement living with care provision, in part due to the ageing UK population as well as rising asset wealth of the over-55s. The first Audley village was built fifteen years ago in Kent and today Audley owns a portfolio of twelve across the country.
As one of the UK’s most respected care providers for older people, and a leader in its field, Audley is recognised, registered and regularly audited by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).