The management team includes a variety of professionals with an impressive range of experience and skills covering Care, Quality, Governance, Operations and Training and Development. All the Team are passionate about quality care – a resume of their experience is provided here along with a statement on what they believe regarding good quality care.
We are immensely proud to have been awarded the rating “Outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission for the second time. With few learning disability providers within Gloucestershire and Swindon with this accolade, the whole team continues to strive towards “doing everything well”.
Jonathan is the founder of Saracen Care and Nominated Individual. He was a local GP for many years, including out of hours provision and continues to be GMC registered. His experience means we can provide care for high-dependency adults with complex medical needs. He liaises with primary and secondary care professionals – talking the same language – during assessment, treatment, monitoring and review to ensure timely and proactive care. Jonathan regularly visits services supporting and advising the staff team.
Julia is co-owner of Saracen Care, as well our Registered Manager. Julia has responsibility for the company’s regulatory and legislative compliance requirements as well as business growth and development. She has over 20 years of experience in consultancy, managing teams and major projects prior to joining the health and social care sector. As well as an honours degree; Julia has an Extended Level Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership (Level 7) from Gloucestershire College, for which she received the Outstanding Achievement award for her research project work entitled – “Training or Learning? – Effectiveness in the Care Sector”. In 2019, she completed the Quolux LEAD course, a Management and Leadership 10 month course for business owners, CEOs etc and was awarded “Highest Achieving Leader” by her business peers.
Julia is currently on the QuoLux GOLD 12 month course; a strategic leadership and business development programme for company owners.
Emily is our Business & Quality Manager. She started her career in a direct support role and has previously been a Registered Manager of a service supporting people who display behaviours deemed as challenging. More latterly Emily has worked within a local authority and clinical commissioning group leading a variety of strategic programmes and ensuring high quality provision across the disability sector. Emily has led work recognised nationally as best practice and has a particular passion for people with a disability or mental health issue who are viewed as complex, believing that every behaviour has a purpose. She has a BSc in Management and Leadership of Health and Social Care Services, as well as a MSc in Psychiatry. Emily is also qualified to train our staff in Positive Behaviour Support.
Konstantin has been working in the Health and Social Care sector since 2003. He has been responsible for overseeing a range of services for individuals with a range of mental health conditions and learning disabilities. Konstantin’s experience has included supported living provision and residential as well as complex clinical services, across a variety of care providers in the South West. Konstantin has Level 5 Award in Heath Care Management and also holds a BSc and Post Graduate Diploma in Criminology.
Becci has been with Saracen Care since 2014 and has an extensive career across health and social care which commenced in 2003. Becci has worked with children, adults and older people so brings with her a wealth of knowledge across the age groups. She has supported people with a range of different needs, including the elderly, learning disabilities, physical disabilities and mental health conditions.
Having worked in a leadership capacity at various times since 2005 Becci leads by example and her particular focus is to encourage independence and to ensure the people we support reach their best potential. Having previously worked as an activity co-ordinator Becci believes in enabling people we support to be valued members of the community through provision of personalised, high quality support.
Becci is able to train staff in a number of areas including manual handling, medication, PEG as well as being a Dementia Champion. Becci is currently undertaking her Level 5 in Health & Social Care.
Emma has a background in supporting adults with learning disabilities, physical needs and mental health conditions. She has worked in the sector since 2008 and has significant experience of managing various settings including residential homes, supported living and domiciliary care.
Emma also brings with her experience of children and young people within educational settings, particularly those with behaviours deemed as challenging. Having been a locality manager for a large national organisation Emma brings with her the ability to respond flexibly to people with a range of support needs and adapt her approach accordingly.
Emma has a Diploma Level 5 in Health and Social Care, Adults and Young Persons, and has gained an Award from the Institute of Leadership and Management Award in First Line Management. She has previously been a Registered Manager.
Tracey started her career working with older adults where she discovered her love for supporting people to live fulfilling lives. Tracey has worked with adults with disabilities, autism and mental health conditions since 2002 across supported living, domiciliary care and residential settings. Tracey has supported children in educational settings, and has experience of governance across a number of sectors.
Tracey is integral in the development of new services within Saracen Care and with vast experience in supporting people to be active members of their local communities, will often develop activity plans.
Tracey is qualified to deliver training in both Positive Behaviour Support and Positive Behaviour Management within Saracen Care. In addition to this Tracey has achieved an NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care, as well as various leadership qualifications
James initially started his career working with children and young people with complex needs, learning disabilities and Autism in a residential school and later via direct payments. He combined his passion for athletics, sport and exercise with caring for young people and engaging them in active and healthy lifestyles, building their confidence and noticing the positive impact this had on reducing behaviours that were challenging and improving their overall wellbeing.
Since joining Saracen in 2018 as a support worker he has completed his level 3 Lead Adult Care Worker and is currently working towards his level 5 Lead Adult Care Worker. James continued to specialise in supporting children and young people with autism and supporting them with a strength-based approach.
Steve has worked in the sector since 2003 and has supported adults and older people. Before working in social care Steve spent a period of time in the Royal Navy providing him with the opportunity to develop transferable skills and to understand the importance of routine and structure for some of the people we support.
Steve has supported people with learning and physical disabilities, autism and mental health diagnoses. In addition to this he has spent a number of years working with individuals who have complex clinical needs.
Having previously been an Assistant Area Manager for a care organisation Steve has an understanding of ensuring individuals receive high quality support despite them residing across a dispersed geographical area. Steve brings with him an enthusiasm for bringing out the full potential in both staff and people we support. Steve has a Level 3 in Health & Social Care.
Mariama has worked for Saracen Care since 2013. She began as a support worker and has grown with the organisation, becoming a Team Leader and now a Care Manager.
Mariama sees supporting people as a vocation having worked since school in a number of settings across health and social care. Her ambition is to make a positive difference and improve the quality of life for people we are supporting. She believes that this should happen on a day to day basis, as well as for longer term objectives such as working towards a holiday or employment.
Mariama supplements her extensive experience with a Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care.
Jade joined Saracen Care in 2020 having had experience working as a support worker, senior support worker, and Care Manager. She began her career in care and support because she is passionate about helping people and giving them the confidence to be the best versions of themselves. Jade has worked with people with a range of disabilities, autism and mental health conditions across a range of settings and enjoys each day being different.
Outside of work Jade trains to compete in bodybuilding competitions. The dedication and commitment is a characteristic which is reflected in her day to day working as she supports people to achieve goals and ambitions of their own.
Jade has a Bachelor of Law (LLB) and Level 1 & 2 qualifications in British Sign Language.
Nkosi has worked in this sector since 2010. He has experience in supporting young adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health conditions with a range of supported living settings. Nkosi joined Saracen care in 2019 as a Team leader and has grown with the organisation becoming a Deputy Care Manager in December 2020. Nkosi demonstrates his passion for providing person centred care in all areas of his work. He believes that it is essential for support staff to promote independence and has led teams to support people to achieve their goals and live their best possible lives. Nkosi also has a BA (Hons) in Business Management.
Sarah is responsible for ensuring we have a full complement of high- quality staff. She ensures that all our recruitment process are not only in line with statutory guidance, but are built upon the principles of values based recruitment.
With 25 years’ experience as a Manager within the NHS Sarah brings with her an in-depth understanding of multi-disciplinary working and a commitment to high quality provision. Sarah has been with Saracen Care since 2015 and has worked in a number of roles so has a detailed understanding of all aspects of service delivery. Sarah has a BSc (Hons) in Health and Social Care, a CMI Award in Management and an ILM Level 3 Certificate in Leadership and Management.
Olly supports the rota team and has a background of logistics planning in the events and foodservice industries. His experiences as a logistical planner in a time-critical environment has developed his abilities in the field and he is able to combine these skills with his interpersonal skills, to work to a high quality standard that works for the people we support and care team alike. Olly has a BA Hons in English Literature.
Toni qualified as a Health and Social Care Practitioner in 1996 and has over 15 years’ experience of working within the Mental Health Sector. Toni’s role at Saracen Care is to ensure that all staff have the opportunity to personally develop to their full potential and provide a service of excellence. Toni’s passion for quality care and dynamic approach to teaching helps ensure that Saracen Care has a confident, competent and motivated staff team.
Toni has attained a Level 3 Award in Education and Training from the National Star College.
Julie has worked in the care sector for over 20 years providing support and enablement for adults with learning difficulties, behaviours which may be challenging and complex needs. She has an HNC in Managing Health and Care services and completed Gloucestershire County Council’s new managers induction in 2016. Julie is one of the most long-standing members of Saracen Care and holds a vast knowledge of the people we support. As well as undertaking managerial tasks Julie continues to work directly with the people we support providing valuable insight to how support is delivered day to day, as well as leading by example through mentoring staff; and responding to issues and incidents as necessary.
Max has worked in the care sector since 1999, initially as an administrator for a domiciliary care company and then over the course of her career as an Office Manager and Finance Manager for supported living services. Max provides administrative and finance support to the Saracen Care Management Team.