Graduate joins team at leading retirement village

A masters graduate has joined the team at Middleton Hall Retirement Village under a national fast track scheme designed to train the future leaders of the social care sector.

Greg Whalen, 22, who graduated with an MSc Management master’s degree from Durham University this summer, is on a placement at the award-winning Middleton Hall Retirement Village at Middleton St George, near Darlington, as part of the Skills for Care graduate programme.

Greg said: “I like the fact that Middleton Hall is small and bespoke. I was attracted by the fact that it is an organisation with a strong management culture and values based on a commitment to providing the best possible services for residents.”

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Greg, from Durham, who also has a BA (Hons) in Sociology from Newcastle University, had to undergo a rigorous selection process to be accepted onto the graduate programme and is one of only 20 graduates recruited nationally.

He then opted to join Middleton Hall, which is rated ‘outstanding’ rating by the CQC and has been selected by Skills for Care as a host employer that could offer suitable support, training, learning and development for a graduate placement.

Audra Hunt, Training and Living Well Manager for Middleton Hall, who is mentoring Greg throughout his placement, commented: “Middleton Hall is delighted to be part of the Skills for Care programme and part of Greg’s ongoing professional development. It provides a great platform for Greg to gain real insight and practical knowledge of adult social care together with defining and sharing an ‘added value’ best practice.”