New Care Provider Appointed for Hartfields Retirement Village...
- teessidetoday
- Jun 26
- 2 min read
National Care Provider Radis to Take Over from Joseph Rowntree Trust at Hartfields Village...
26th June 2025
A new care provider has officially been named to take over the running of care services at Hartfields Retirement Village — signifying a major shift set to affect hundreds of residents and their families.
Durham & Teesside Today understands that as from the 7th July, Radis Community Care will take over the day-to-day delivery of personal care and support at the 242-home Hartfields site, replacing the long-serving Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust (JRHT) team. The change comes following JRHT’s decision to pull back from care delivery, choosing instead to focus solely on housing and support services.
Who Are Radis Community Care?
Established in 2001, its claimed the organisation has grown into a key national player in adult social care, operating in over 90 locations across England and Wales. The company reportedly offers a full suite of services including:
Extra care
Home care
Supported living
Respite care
A Smooth Transition Promised – But Will It Deliver?
One major concern during any change in care provider is said to be the potential risk of disruption. However, Hartlepool Borough Council has said it is been working closely with both Radis and JRHT to ensure the changeover is smooth.
Importantly, current JRHT care staff are reportedly being offered roles at Radis, meaning familiar faces will likely remain on-site. A welcome reassurance for both residents and families, especially those wary of sudden change.
Jill Harrison, Executive Director of Adult and Community-Based Services at Hartlepool Borough Council, said:
“Our key priority has been to ensure that the residents who currently receive care continue to be supported to live independently in their own homes… We were delighted to appoint Radis, which has a very strong track record.”
Residents and families were involved in the selection process, including attending a “meet and greet” event with the incoming Radis team — a level of transparency and consultation that many claim is not always seen at a local council battling public confidence issues.
Julie Wales, Regional Manager at Radis, was keen to reassure residents stating:
“Our aim is always to help and assist people to remain as independent as possible... The excellent on-site care team will continue to deliver bespoke plans suited to everyone.”
Meanwhile, Chris Simpson, Managing Director of Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, added his appreciation for the outgoing team:
“I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the teams at Hartfields, who have continued to deliver outstanding care and shown unwavering commitment to residents throughout this period of change.”
The handover appears to have been handled with what many claim to have been a rare degree of sensitivity and consultation — a refreshing change from the usual top-down decisions many locals have come to expect from Hartlepool Borough Council. Whether Radis lives up to the expectations set by JRHT remains to be seen, but residents of Hartfields Retirement Village — and their families — will are likely to be watching closely.
