New manager at the helm of £9.2m Cheadle care home

Company news

Jan 09, 2015

Care UK has announced the appointment of home manager, Mark Shockledge, who takes the helm of state-of-the-art care home, Abney Court, as it gears up to welcome its first residents in April.

Situated within the grounds of grade II listed building Abney Hall, Abney Court is a £9.2 million care home which is on track to create up to 100 jobs. The home will offer a range of services including residential and nursing care and specialist dementia care, together with palliative, respite and end of life care.

Mark Shockledge, aged 54 from Manchester, takes on the role as home manager, with responsibility for the day to day running of Abney Court.  Having worked in the care sector since the age of 16, Mark has enjoyed a career spanning 38 years, with 31 years experience as a home manager. He is highly skilled across all aspects of the care sector, including dementia, nursing and residential care.

Speaking about his new position, Mark said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as home manager for Abney Court and I am now making the most of the opportunity to play a part in getting the home up and running as we head towards our opening date. 

“I strongly believe residents should be the focus of the home and at the centre of everything we do, and I will be leading the way in listening to our residents and getting to know them and their families as they make Abney Court their home. At the same time, I am focused on putting Abney Court on the map as a home that delivers the highest quality care and is a valued part of the community here in Cheadle.”

Geoff Edwards, regional director for Care UK, added: “Abney Court represents a significant investment for Care UK and we are very pleased to announce the appointment of Mark as home manager. He has been recruited on the basis of his professionalism, experience, skills and track record. He is a hands-on manager, who is clearly looking forward to being involved in all aspects of daily life within the home and to driving standards to ensure Abney Court is a sought-after and reputable care home.”

Abney Court is set to open in April and benefits from being situated inside the grounds of the historic Abney Hall, where notable figures such as Agatha Christie and Prince Albert once stayed. With Abney Park literally on the door step, residents will be able to take full advantage of the idyllic location and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

The care home has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives with features including a café, a cinema room, a hairdressing salon and library. There will also be a sun-filled garden room and safe, wheelchair-friendly landscaped gardens.

For more information, contact customer relations manager Gary Bell by emailing gary.bell@careuk.com or calling 0333 321 1922.