Malvern-based Friends of the Elderly Malvern has appointed Jo Bennett as general manager.

The Friends of the Elderly Malvern charity comprises residential, nursing and dementia care homes Davenham, Perrins House and Bradbury Court.

Bennett joined Friends of the Elderly at the beginning of January. She has worked in the care sector for more than 16 years.

Bennett said: “I started my career working in the motor trade arena, in business-to-business customer sales and was actually also a qualified driving instructor. My motivation to change careers and focus on care, came from my loving grandparents. My nan lived with us for many years and was always there when I needed her. As nan got older, as a family, we had first-hand experience of palliative care, which inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare, so I too could ensure high-quality care for others.”

“I spent quite a few years working as a registered manager for a diverse range of care homes. Most recently, I worked in regional operations overseeing a number of large nursing homes, recommissioning company-wide dementia households and implementing digital platforms.

“My passion has always been to create a welcoming and inclusive community where people truly feel a sense of home. This belief directs me every day, and I am so proud to lead a team that holds our residents’ health, wellbeing and happiness at the heart of all we do.”

Friends of the Elderly’s regional director Sam Redmond said: “Jo’s solid background in partnership working to bring about positive change is a great addition to the charity. Jo’s experience has been gained through a number of channels including working on leadership in dementia care with Worcester University and a raft of appreciative inquiry and quality improvement projects with the West Midlands Safer Provision and Caring Excellence.”