New Chief Executive reveals vision for Rockdale Senior Living Village

It’s often said that community is the cornerstone of success, and Rockdale Senior Living Village seems to have discovered the perfect formula.

This not-for-profit charitable organisation was founded in 1948 by the remarkable Beatrice Wilson whose vision was to provide affordable accommodation for older residents with varying needs. Over the past 76 years, Beatrice’s guiding principles have remained steadfast, ensuring that her legacy continues to thrive.

As times have changed, so too has Rockdale, evolving to meet the demands of the modern world while staying true to its original mission. Today, Rockdale is home to over 250 residents across its care home and independent living accommodation. 

At the heart of Rockdale are its people – from the residents and employees to the volunteers and fundraisers. The people of Rockdale are what make it truly special.

Welcome, Andrew Mickleburgh 

Rockdale Village is delighted to welcome Andrew Mickleburgh as its new Chief Executive.

Among a highly competitive field of applicants, Andrew stood out for several compelling reasons. His extensive experience feels almost tailor-made for this role, as if his entire career has been a journey leading to this moment!

Professional background

Andrew has an extensive professional background in social housing, property management, finance and investment. Notable highlights include his tenure as Head of Public Sector Finance at a leading investment bank, his role as a Board member of West Kent Housing, and 12 successful years running his own consultancy. Additionally, Andrew chaired a consortium that refurbished and managed over 7,000 social rented and leaseholder homes and, perhaps most pertinently, co-owned two care homes in Essex where he collaborated closely with the NHS to deliver complex care services.

A connection to Rockdale Senior Living Village

Andrew is committed to “bringing about change without losing the magic,” a philosophy that perfectly aligns with the values of Rockdale. His connection to Rockdale is not new. Already a believer in their mission before this opportunity arose, in January 2023, Andrew was appointed a Trustee and subsequently elected Chair of Rockdale’s Finance Committee. Now Chief Executive, he makes a point of working with his office windows and doors open, absorbing the vibrant atmosphere and witnessing firsthand the dedication and joy that define this community.

“It’s an honour to be chosen as the team leader of Rockdale, entrusted to steer our community to the next level. We want to be regarded as “outstanding” for our quality of care and be the best senior living village in the country. I know we have the team to do it.” – Andrew Mickleburgh

The Vision: Community, Continuity and Care

In September 2023, the Board of Trustees and the Senior Management Team developed a new strategy for Rockdale. Andrew and his team have been hard at work crafting a comprehensive 5–7-year business transformation plan. Although it’s only been a few weeks since Andrew assumed leadership, he has already begun rolling out the new strategy, with several tangible actions underway.

Here’s what has been announced so far:

Expanded Care Services

Rockdale Village currently offers a residential care home and independent living flats with 24/7 support, but in a bid to provide a more complete care provision, Rockdale is amending its CQC registration to extend its service offerings. Launching later this year, these expanded services will include personal care for residents within their homes and nursing care for those in the care home. This will enable all of Rockdale’s residents to live where they choose for longer.

Recruitment

To support the introduction of these new services, the Rockdale team is growing! New roles have already been created and filled, including the key positions of Head of Nursing Care and the Manager for Rockdale Cares (the new brand name for the personal care service). You can view current vacancies at Rockdale here.

While Rockdale can’t reveal too much just yet, here’s a sneak peek at what else is in the pipeline:

• Upgrading of properties
• Creating additional parking spaces
• Launching new fundraising initiatives
• More enrichment activities for residents
• Implementing a net-zero strategy

Rockdale Village’s Role Within the Community

With so much hard work happening behind the scenes and its relatively secluded location, it might be easy to overlook the significant role Rockdale Village plays in the wider Sevenoaks community.

Beyond providing exceptional care for the town’s older residents and offering valuable local employment opportunities, Rockdale collaborates with various businesses and organisations around Sevenoaks. For example, they partner with South Park GP practice to offer an in-care home surgery every Friday, ensuring residents receive personalised medical care right where they live, and Waitrose Sevenoaks delivers residents’ shopping to their door free of charge.

Sevenoaks Chamber of Commerce and Sevenoaks Town Council often use Rockdale’s facilities to host events and Rockdale’s own calendar of events is open to all – this includes Taster Days, ‘In Bloom’ garden show and most recently, the Rockdale Village Fete.

Local businesses contribute to Rockdale’s fundraising efforts and donations, such as the generous support from Thackray Williams that provided a golf buggy to assist residents in navigating the Village. Through these partnerships, Rockdale not only supports its residents but also fosters a sense of inclusion and connection to the wider Sevenoaks community.

To get a feel for the heritage and history of Rockdale, read our other blogs below:

Our Founder, Beatrice Wilson

A Century Of Stories: Conversation With One Of Rockdale’s Oldest Residents

Residing at Rockdale: Local Sports Hero is 5x British Wrestling Champion

Rockin’ At Rockdale – 75 Year Anniversary

Get in touch with Rockdale 

Rockdale Lodge
Rockdale Road
Sevenoaks
Kent
TN13 1JT

01732 458762

enquiries@rockdale.org.uk

www.rockdale.org.uk

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Download the brochure here.

Learn more about fundraising and donations here.