Our Care Team

Dr Jonathan Mawdesley-Thomas – BSc (hons), MBBS

Jonathan is our Medical Director. He was a local GP for many years and continues to work for the Out of Hours GP Service in Gloucestershire. 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 Everard BSc (hons) – Registered Manager

Julia is our Registered Manager and a Saracen Care Director. 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 projects. 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”.

“Endeavour to understand the world from the perspective of the individual – put yourself in their shoes.”

Colin Beard – Care Director

Colin, our Care Director is a Care Manager with an extensive track record of leading and developing services that have consistently been awarded the highest standard by the health and social care regulators. Colin’s role is to develop and expand on the provision of high quality supported living services provided by Saracen Care. Colin has worked in the care sector since 2004, achieving his Registered Manager’s Award in 2006. Colin has a certificate in counselling and has also achieved the Level 3 Award – Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector, which qualifies him to deliver training so that staff are competent in delivering person centred care. He is also a qualified Senior Recovery Worker in alcohol and substance misuse.

“I believe that compassion is the key to providing a truly person centred service. It is imperative that service users are given every opportunity to progress and develop. No service provision should be the same, as one size definitely does not fit all”.

Toni Williams – Training and Development Manager

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.

“I believe a happy, well led; valued staff team will be effective, efficient and enthusiastic to deliver a service they are proud of”.

Rebecca Hopton – Care Manager

Rebecca is a care manager, providing support across all services, supporting the care team, to provide consistent high quality support, with a person centred approach, Rebecca’s particular focus is to encourage independence and to ensure service users reach their best potential.

Rebecca has over 15 years’ experience, supporting people with a range of different needs, including the elderly, learning disabilities, physical disabilities and mental health. She is a train the trainer in manual handling.

Rebecca is an experienced Nursing and Dementia carer and has completed training to be a Dementia Champion.

“I am passionate about promoting independence, equality and providing person centred care and support, to enable individuals to achieve good outcomes and a good quality of life”.

Hayley Boland – Care Manager, Swindon services

Hayley is responsible for our services in Swindon. She has previously worked in a further education college for over seven years initially as a Learning Support Assistant; supporting young people and adults with a physical disability, learning disability and/or sensory impairment then later as a Disability Advisor; implementing support and access requirements for learners; promoting equality and inclusion across the college and providing advice and guidance to curriculum staff to ensure learners were supported to achieve and get the most out of their college experience.

She joins Saracen Care from Mencap where she was Registered Manager for over two years committed to leading a team to provide person centred care for service users, and in doing so ensuring the highest possible outcomes for them.

Hayley has a strong personal vision driven by effective operational management, in collaboration with colleagues and other stakeholders – working with service users to achieve positive outcomes and learn and develop new skills.

“My whole focus is to change lives for the better, promoting, wellbeing for the people we support, ensuring privacy and dignity and encouraging independence in an environment that is continually improving”.

Claire Babbage – Quality Manager

Claire has worked in health and social care for nineteen years with a variety of different service user groups, including adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs. In her former role Claire was a longstanding Registered Manager of a residential service for adults with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities which achieved an overall outstanding with CQC. Claire achieved her Registered Managers Award in 2006 and has a Level 3 Award in Education and Training. Claire was previously a PBM trainer for eight years and subsequently believes in using evidence-based solutions for the prevention and management of complex challenging behaviours in people with learning disabilities.

“I am passionate about quality and ensuring that the individuals that we support receive the best possible service. I believe that we have a long-term commitment to providing personalised support which is meaningful to individuals, enabling them the opportunities to achieve the quality of life that they deserve”.

Sarah Rainey BSc (hons) – Recruitment and HR Manager

Sarah is responsible for quality and contract monitoring within our services, ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and our Contracting partners. She has 25 years’ experience within the NHS where she was a Podiatry Manager working in a multi-disciplinary team. Sarah has a BSc(hons) in Health and Social Care and CMI Award in Management and Leadership.

“I feel passionate about helping/supporting our client group to live fulfilling and rewarding lives in their own homes”.

Julie Hall – Community Manager

Julie has worked in the care sector for over 20 years providing support and enablement for adults with learning difficulties, challenging behaviour and complex needs. She has an HNC in Managing Health and Care services and completed GCC’s new managers induction in 2016. Julie has worked for Saracen Care for 7 years, regularly working  “on shift” which provides valuable insight to how care is delivered day to day, as well as mentoring and guiding staff; and responding to issues and incidents as necessary.

“I feel very strongly about laying the foundations for a community built on equality, diversity and paving the way to the realisation of self-worth for all vulnerable adults”.

Emma Prowse – Care Manager, Swindon

Emma has a background in supporting adults with learning disabilities, physical needs and mental health. She has over 15 years’ experience managing various settings including residential homes, supported living and domiciliary care.

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.

“I believe that everyone has the right to live the life that they choose and that, as a care provider, we should be supporting goals in the best way we can with the least restrictions to that individual. Everyday presents new opportunities and experiences. By empowering not just the service users, but also the staff teams, I believe the best possible outcomes can be reached”.

Anne-Marie Hennessy – Office Administrator

Anne-Marie worked for many years as an administrator in a school that had a strong background of providing support to children with Special Educational Needs.

“Working in an environment that supports and nurtures independent living for adults with a varying degree of needs has extended my ability and the support and dedication we give to our Service Users is valued and rewarding”.