Flintshire care trainer who shaped 300 careers a year retires after 45 years in the profession
A long-serving care sector trainer who helped shape thousands of careers has retired after 45 years in the profession.
Ann Serridge, from New Brighton near Mold, is stepping down from her role leading the Pendine Park Academy in Wrexham.
Over her career, she progressed from a young care worker to a senior assessor, supporting the development of care staff across North Wales.
Her contribution was recognised with a gold Wales Care Award in 2012 and an invitation to a Buckingham Palace garden party, which she attended with her husband, William.
At Pendine Park, Ann led training programmes first at the organisation’s Hillbury Road site before moving to a purpose-built academy at Wrexham Technology Park.
The facility includes a virtual training centre designed to replicate real-life care environments, including a resident’s lounge, bedroom and dining area, alongside settings such as a pop-up pharmacy, pub, ice cream parlour and hair and beauty salon.
The academy provides training for around 300 care practitioners each year, including staff from Pendine Park and other organisations.
Pendine Park owner Mario Kreft said: “I have known Ann for more than 30 years and always been hugely impressed by her sense of dedication. Her compassion and empathy for those in her care was apparent from the moment we met. I could not think of a better mentor for people coming into this sector.
“Having started out as a young carer herself she knows firsthand that working in social care requires a huge array of skills, some of which cannot be simply learned about in a book, and some of which go largely unappreciated in the wider world.
“Ann has knowledge, professional skills, experience and a natural ability to pass on to others all that she has learned over the years. She does this in an informed and encouraging way, and as a care organisation we are lucky to have reaped the benefits of her teaching.
“She has helped us train up our staff to the very highest standards, to consistently deliver the person-centred care which our residents and their families have an absolute right to expect.
“We want to say a big thank you and wish her a world of happiness as she embarks on a new chapter of her life in retirement.”
At a celebratory lunch, colleagues highlighted her commitment to high standards and ongoing professional development.
Ann said: “I will definitely be doing some relaxing for a little while before I decide what comes next.
“It will be nice to spend some more time with William and the family and maybe go on a few outings.”
“In the meantime, I want to thank all the team who have supported me here at the academy and Pendine as a whole. I know I will be leaving the training programme in good hands.
“If I have managed to teach them anything I hope it has been my own guiding ethos that everyone in the organisation can always benefit from training, whether at the start of their career or as ongoing career progression.
From the youngest newcomer to the management ranks, the gardeners, the caterers or the cleaners, no matter what their job, training gives people confidence, keeps them updated on new practices and it helps them better engage with each other and with our residents, which is the most important benefit of all.”
Ann Chapman, manager of Pendine Park’s Bodlondeb care home, said: “Ann is a dear friend, who has always being wholeheartedly committed. It has long been her goal to provide, not just generic training, but the right kind of training, suited to individual needs.
“She is passionate about ongoing career development, best practice and ultimately improving the well-being of anyone in need of social care provision.
“We cannot thank her enough for all she has done at Pendine Park and in the care sector as a whole.”
Check live fuel prices near you before you set off.
Spotted something? Got a story? Email news (@) deeside.com
NEW: Add Deeside.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Latest News
