A healthcare expert with over 14 years’ experience has been appointed as Registered Manager of a specialist mental health hospital in Pontypridd.
Dean Harries, who has worked at some of the UK’s largest mental healthcare providers, has taken up the managerial role at Heatherwood Court, part of the Ludlow Street Healthcare Group.
Mr Harries initially worked as a support worker, before qualifying as a social worker with children and adults with learning disabilities. He started his management career in 2011 and has since gone on to gain extensive experience managing mental health facilities across the West of England.
Based back in Wales for his new role at Heatherwood Court, Mr Harries will be responsible for managing the specialist hospital, which provides care and rehabilitation to 47 male and female service users.
On his appointment Mr Harries said:
“I am delighted to be joining Ludlow Street Healthcare. It’s refreshing to come to a local healthcare organisation whose Board is dominated by healthcare professionals and where the emphasis is on re-investment to improve the care and outcomes for our service users.
“Ludlow Street Healthcare has a history of looking after their staff and actively encouraging them to progress their careers, which has really appealed to me.
“Heatherwood Court is a really close, friendly team with a family feel – so I’ve received a really warm welcome.
“This is an exciting time for Heatherwood Court as Ludlow Street Healthcare is actively developing the hospital’s facilities. The Hospital is in the process of launching a Recovery College co-managed with the service users to encourage service users to develop a broad range of skills which will help them when they move back into the community, and I’m looking forward to using my experience to support this.
“Being welsh and having had to commute to work in England for many years, it’s also great to be based back in Wales again. I’ll have more time for my family and watching the rugby!”
Ludlow Street Healthcare is a specialist provider of care for adults over the age of 18 with complex mental health problems, autism, learning disabilities, and neurological conditions including dementia and acquired brain injuries.
It provides transition-focused healthcare and bespoke step-down services, including specialist assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and education, throughout Wales and the South West of England.
The organisation operates St Peter’s Hospital in Newport for patients with neuropsychiatric and acquired brain injuries, Heatherwood Court, a purpose-built secure hospital for patients with mental health issues, Pinetree Hospital, a learning disability rehabilitation centre, Beechwood College, a specialist further education college for students with autism, and a portfolio of community homes accommodating residents with both mental health conditions and learning disabilities or autistic spectrum conditions.
Anyone interested in knowing more about the career opportunities on offer should visit https://www.lshealthcare.co.uk/ludlow-careers/