Fernhill House, described by BBC Hereford and Worcester presenter Malcolm Boyden  as ‘the poshest care home I’ve ever seen,” has welcomed a new manager. 

Mike Dearn takes the helm at the home, described on a recent BBC radio programme as ‘like an opulent cruise ship or a swanky hotel’ – and plans to make it truly part of the local community. 

Mike takes over from registered nurse Peta Mandleberg who has been given a new role as commissioning manager, setting up further homes for its parent company Majesticare. 

Mike, whose professional background is in hospitality, has ten years’ experience of running and commissioning care homes in the Midlands and Worcestershire, and spent 28 years as a chef, many of them in the care sector. 

He joins deputy manager Clair Gurteen, a qualified registered mental health nurse who has been working at Fernhill House since before it opened last spring. 

He will also work closely with fellow chef, award winning Chris Williams, whose restaurant quality meals are hugely popular with residents – and friends who are invited to join them for no extra charge. 

Mike shares the home’s ethos of creating a caring, fun-filled and vibrant environment and is determined to strengthen its growing links with the community. 

“This is such an amazing place,” he said. “Everyone who steps through the door is bowled over by its beauty and luxury.  Malcolm Boyden, who came to visit a few weeks ago, could hardly believe it was actually a care home. He said it was like an incredible country hotel. 

“In fact, he said that while he sometimes leaves a care home feeling down in the dumps, on this occasion he had a feeling of optimism because it is such a beautiful place.” ·       

* Mike Dearn joins Fernhill House as its new manager to work alongside award winning hospitality manager Chris Williams and deputy manager Clair Gurteen.