Our Office Support Team

Principal Directors & Owners of Bluebird Care Bedford

Carolyn Dailey, Principal Director

Carolyn’s passion is to bring excellent service and care to customers in their own homes. Before her career in care services, Carolyn trained as an optician at the City & Islington College and later transitioned into retail optics. She speaks passionately about providing home care: "I am excited to utilise my experience to deliver the highest quality care and exceptional customer service. Home care services are unique to each individual, therefore, choosing the right provider is vital to ensure your expectations are not only met but exceeded. Whether you require respite care, live-in care, or daily visits, my care team delivers a tailored service that suits your needs in the comfort and safety of your home. We are a professional, friendly, and approachable team, so please get in touch for a free, no-obligation discussion about your care needs. We would be delighted to hear from you.”

Keith Dailey, Principal Director

Having spent almost 20 years in the optical and dental industries in regional and national roles, Keith gained extensive experience in recruiting, developing, and retaining top talent. At Bluebird Care, Keith is passionate about delivering a customer service experience unique to community health and social care by enhancing the selection, career journey, training, and benefits offered to the care team. He explains: "For too long, the role of Care Expert has been devalued. By providing the best training and offering ongoing career development, our team can deliver additional services to our customers, such as Bluebird Care Assist. This highlights the true value of the Care Expert role to our customers and the wider healthcare community.”

Working across Newmarket & Fenland, King's Lynn & West Norfolk, Cambridge & South Cambs, Bedford, Huntingdon & Wellingborough

Heather Porter, Managing Director (Registered)

Heather joined Bluebird Care as a care assistant in early 2014. A qualified nursery nurse with prior experience working with older adults, she was drawn to the company's recruitment advert. At the time, Bluebird Care was a relatively new business, and Heather worked across various departments. As the company rapidly grew, so did Heather's career. Over the years, she gained experience in every facet of the organisation, holding positions as Team Leader/Mentor, Training Deputy Manager, and Deputy Manager. In 2020, she became Care Director and Registered Manager for one of the Bluebird Care branches. With the addition of three more branches, Heather was promoted to Managing Director for the entire group. As Managing Director (Registered), Heather oversees all aspects of the business, ensuring high-quality service delivery. She supports and guides the management team and collaborates with other directors on business growth, new projects, and providing exceptional experiences for both customers and staff.

Danni Durrant, Coordinating Director

Danni joined Bluebird Care in 2017 after a year away from work caring for her young daughter. Drawn to the company's ethos, she believed it reflected her own values regarding care delivery. Initially a Care Coordinator, Danni was promoted to Lead Coordinator in 2018. After completing her Level 5 Diploma in Health & Social Care Management, and following the acquisition of a new area, she became Coordinating Director. Danni now holds the Coordinating Director position for all operating areas, collaborating with teams across the organisation to promote Bluebird Care and ensure all customers receive the high-quality care and support they deserve.

Joanne Bowman, Operations Director

Jo joined Bluebird Care in October 2016, seeking a change from her previous role. With a background in care since the age of 16, she initially worked in a care home for 12 years before moving into a management position in residential care. Starting as a coordinator at Bluebird Care, a change in ownership provided Jo with the opportunity to advance her career and take a more active role in daily business operations. Now Operations Director, her main responsibilities include collaborating with the team to develop and grow the business and ensure smooth operations. Jo remains actively involved in coordinating and managing a large area, ensuring customer and staff satisfaction and providing continuity of care. She prioritises maximising the care team's time spent directly with clients rather than traveling. Jo also communicates with new customers to understand their care needs and how Bluebird Care can best support them in remaining at home. She plans to begin her Level 5 in Health & Social Care Management soon, with the goal of becoming a registered manager.

Katie Manson, Business Development Director

Katie joined Bluebird Care in February 2016 as a Care Coordinator in the Cambridge office. With previous experience as a care assistant, she sought opportunities for career advancement. In 2019, after Carolyn and Keith became the new owners of Bluebird Care Cambridge, Katie moved to the Ely office and became the Recruitment and Team Manager. She then transitioned to the role of Recruitment & HR Manager. Following the acquisition of new operating areas, Katie was promoted to Business Development Director in January 2024. In this role, Katie manages the extensive live-in care division, including overseeing the live-in care team and ensuring high-quality care for live-in care customers. She believes live-in care is a vital service, promoting and empowering customers to remain in their homes for the rest of their lives. Katie's other responsibilities include supporting business growth to continue delivering care and support to local communities.

Working across Newmarket & Fenland, King's Lynn & West Norfolk, Cambridge & South Cambs, Bedford, Huntingdon & Wellingborough

Virginia Zahr, Quality Director

Virginia’s career in health and social care began in 2014 as a Support Worker in residential care settings, assisting people with learning disabilities, autism, and the elderly. In 2019, she started her journey with Bluebird Care as a Trainee Care Coordinator. Over the years, Virginia witnessed customer appreciation, employee growth, and business expansion. She continually learned various aspects of the business and enjoyed supporting customers and the care team within the community. While at Bluebird Care, Virginia completed an NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration. After nearly five years, she became Quality Director, a role where she applies her keen eye for detail to enhance service excellence. Virginia also supports business operations and assists the Principal Director with accounts and payroll.

Amreet Dhillon, Care Director

Amreet joined Bluebird Care in October 2014 as a Care Assistant, bringing three years of experience in adult social care. Her previous roles in retail, hospitality, and dental industries provided her with valuable customer service and service delivery skills. Amreet found the training and management support at Bluebird Care exceptional. Throughout her tenure, she has consistently advanced her career, completing a Level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care in 2018, along with numerous training courses and Train the Trainer qualifications. Amreet has held various management positions, including Supervisor, Lead Supervisor, Coordinator, Lead Coordinator, Deputy Manager, and Customer Care Manager. Most recently, she was promoted to Care Director in April 2024.

Emily Orbell, Marketing Director

Emily initially worked for Bluebird Care Bedford from 2015 to 2018 as Marketing Executive. She left to explore other industries and expand her knowledge and skills. Emily returned to Bluebird Care Bedford in November 2021 as Marketing & Recruitment Coordinator. Following a change in ownership in September 2022, she became Operations Manager for Bluebird Care Bedford and Marketing Manager for all areas. In April 2024, Emily was promoted to Marketing Director for Bluebird Care NFKW, Cambridge, Bedford, Huntingdon & Wellingborough. As Marketing Director, she manages all marketing activities, including digital and non-digital channels, brand management, and promoting the company's care and support services. Emily also remains heavily involved in operations for the Bedford and Wellingborough territories.

Working across Newmarket & Fenland, King's Lynn & West Norfolk, Cambridge & South Cambs, Bedford, Huntingdon & Wellingborough

Summer Thurston, Lead Customer Care Manager

Summer joined Bluebird Care in May 2022 to advance her career in the care industry, recognising the opportunities for knowledge enhancement and qualifications to support her personal growth. As Lead Customer Care Manager, she heads the customer care team and serves as a primary point of contact for customers. Summer is often the first person customers meet, either during the initial assessment or at the inquiry stage. She supports customers throughout their care journey, ensuring care plans remain up-to-date and tailored to individual needs.

Eloise Baker, Customer Care Manager

Eloise joined Bluebird Care as a care assistant in April 2021 and hasn't looked back since. During her time as a care assistant, she completed a Level 2 NVQ in Health and Social Care and will be working towards her Level 3 soon. Eloise demonstrated a real passion for her work and dedication to providing excellent care and support. She was promoted to Customer Care Manager in February 2023. Her main duties include serving as a point of contact for customers, managing and updating care plans. Eloise is often the first person customers meet during the assessment process, and she follows their care journey throughout their time receiving services from us.

Hannah Mayes, Customer Care Manager

Hannah joined Bluebird Care as a Care Assistant in December 2016. Since then, she has grown in confidence and skills, demonstrating passion and dedication to supporting customers in their homes. Starting with no experience, Hannah eagerly pursued learning and has now completed numerous qualifications, including diplomas in Dementia Care, End of Life, and Stroke Awareness. After three years of hard work and learning, she was promoted to Care Supervisor. In 2023, she was encouraged to take the next step and work towards becoming a Customer Care Manager, achieving this promotion in early 2024. As Customer Care Manager, Hannah's diverse responsibilities include completing care assessments, writing care plans, conducting care plan reviews, and supervising care teams.

Cathleen Anderson, Training Customer Care Manager

After working for another care company for two years, Cathleen decided on a career sidestep and joined Bluebird Care in February 2022, drawn by its good reputation. After six months, she was promoted to Care Supervisor. In this role, Cathleen supported the office team with customer risk assessments and care team supervisions, as well as providing support to customers in their homes. She proved to be a reliable team member, passionate about the quality of care and support services. In September 2024, Cathleen furthered her career with Bluebird Care, earning a promotion to Customer Care Manager. Her new role involves managing customer care plans, completing reviews, and supervising the care team.

Working across Newmarket & Fenland, King's Lynn & West Norfolk, Cambridge & South Cambs, Bedford, Huntingdon & Wellingborough

Kerry Watson, Area Operations & Development Manager

I have worked within the care sector for the last 12 years covering many areas including, hospitals, care homes and domiciliary care. Whilst working within care, I have developed my skills and knowledge by obtaining a Foundation Degree in Healthcare Practice. I then continued to expand my knowledge and my passion for supporting people living with dementia with a further BSc Honours in Health and Social Care and a Masters in Dementia Studies. I have worked supporting those with dementia for the last 10 years of my career, both directly and indirectly and this is my interest in ensuring our teams are trained to the highest standard to be able to deliver excellent dementia care. I have also obtained a training accreditation from the Alzheimer’s Society. I am excited to be a valued member of Bluebird Care, my passion for keeping people at home and at the heart of everything we do, is exactly how Bluebird Care work. The team here at Bluebird Care are passionate about ensuring that the team have the tools to be able to provide our customers with a high quality level of care that they deserve and I feel together we can provide this effectively and this role of being able to deliver bespoke training will only enhance what an already great team can do.

Jade Warwick, Operations Manager

Jade joined Bluebird Care in July 2023 as Training, Recruitment, and HR Manager, relocating from Northern England to join the family business. After completing her initial probationary period, she transitioned to the role of Operations Manager in November 2023. Her responsibilities encompass various aspects of the business, from collaborating with the coordinating team on weekly rotas to managing daily team deployments. Jade also works closely with Heather Porter (Managing Director) to support team management and HR. Her goal is to excel as a manager and make a difference in care management, aspiring to earn an NVQ qualification and work towards becoming a Director.

Josh Dailey, Apprentice Operations Manager

Josh joined the Bluebird Care team in January 2024, taking the opportunity to join the office team while enrolled in a Level 5 Business Operations course. He has enjoyed continuous learning and expanding his knowledge of the Bluebird Care franchise. As Apprentice Business and Operations Manager, Josh's primary role is assisting all teams with specific tasks and learning the daily operation of the business. He primarily works alongside the finance and accounts team but also supports the recruitment, live-in care, and coordinating teams. Josh's goal is to complete his apprenticeship in the care industry and gain a thorough understanding of home care and its daily routines.

Working across Newmarket & Fenland, King's Lynn & West Norfolk, Cambridge & South Cambs, Bedford, Huntingdon & Wellingborough

Michele Quarry

Team and Quality Manager

Mutsa Kanhukamwe

Care Supervisor

Megan Langham

Care Supervisor