Easter marked the end of an era at Peregrine House in Whitby, as Registered Manager, Alison Bedford steps down from the role after eighteen years at the premier residential home.
During her time at Peregrine House she outshone 18 000 peers in the industry to become Care Home Registered Manager of the Year at the finals of the Great British Care Awards in 2013 and her diligence ensured the home excelled under expert guidance.
Alison had worked at Peregrine House as a schoolgirl, alongside her late mother. After a spell working in Germany, she returned to Whitby and began work in the kitchen at Peregrine House, from which humble beginnings she worked her way up through the home, training on the job and mastering each role to become manager in 2003.
Alison’s exceptional caring and organisational skills helped to earn Peregrine House its own accolades including gaining an Investors in People GOLD Award and becoming the first in the country to receive an Outstanding rating in all five categories under the Care Quality Commission in 2015.
During the past challenging year, Alison led the team in its own ‘unprecedented’ staff voluntary lock-in initiative early-on in the pandemic. To date they have succeeded in protecting residents from contracting COVID19; an amazing feat in the light of subsequent coronavirus care home mortality statistics across the country.
Stepping into Alison’s shoes, the home’s new Manager, Meghan Collis, has been working at Peregrine House for ten years and shadowing Alison as Deputy Manager since 2016. As a result, colleagues and residents’ families are assured the transition will be seamless.
Owner of Peregrine House, Dr. Kevin O’Sullivan spoke warmly of Alison’s commitment to Peregrine House during her 21 years of service, saying:
“Alison’s leadership skills were buttressed by kindness and compassion, along with a determination to do what is right for the residents and her team. She has shown genuine love for each and every one of the residents and expected the same of her colleagues. As a result we have a remarkable team of long-serving staff with great integrity.”