Our Cheltenham Team

At Bluebird Care, our leadership team is dedicated to delivering exceptional care with compassion and expertise. John Chambers brings over 30 years of pharmaceutical experience, ensuring our practices are informed by medication management and health and safety standards. Gareth Powick, a former software engineer turned care professional, focuses on efficient business practices and the well-being of both customers and care workers. Gillian Manning, a qualified solicitor with a background in social welfare law, advocates for individuals with disabilities and offers valuable legal insights. Together, they embody our core values, ensuring every customer receives care as if they were our own loved ones. Discover more about their journeys and commitment to excellence in care.

John Chambers - Director

John’s career spanned 32 years in the pharmaceutical industry, culminating in a position as Director of Production for a well-known multinational. Gained while working in the UK, Europe and India, John's pharmaceutical background is extremely useful in understanding the medication being taken by our customers, and in professional discussions with healthcare professionals. John also has a strong interest in health and safety, and has the Diploma in Safety Management. His expertise feeds into our health and safety and risk assessment processes and training, and contributes to the safety of staff and customers. He also has primary responsibility for the business finances. John says everything we do from care assessment and planning through to staff recruitment, training and management is underpinned by the simple vision “all of our customers should be looked after with the same care and concern that we would want for our own loved ones”.

Gareth Powick - Director

Gareth is a franchisee and Co-Director of the business, and the eldest son of Gillian. Starting his career as a software engineer for civilian and military applications, he gained a solid grounding in process design which has been invaluable in identifying efficient business practices. Deciding in 1997 that he was more of a 'people person', Gareth made his hobby a full-time occupation and became a professional martial arts instructor, teaching Karate and Aikido in Bristol, Swindon and Cheltenham. He still teaches classes in Cheltenham. The diagnosis of a close family member with Vascular Dementia brought the Care Industry to Gareth's attention in 2007, and in 2008 he joined the family business. Since then he has worked within Bluebird Care as a Care Worker, Care Coordinator, Manual Handling Trainer, and most recently Director. He sees his role as having responsibilty for Customers and Care Workers alike, and devotes a significant portion of his time to improving the welfare of everyone involved with Bluebird Care.

Gillian Manning - HR Director

Gillian Manning is a franchisee and Co-Director of the business. She and John are life partners as well as business partners. Gillian is a retired solicitor with many years’ experience in social welfare law, including employment, discrimination and welfare benefits. It was her background in working with people with disabilities which led her into the care business. She also sat as a Judge on the Disability Appeal Tribunal, deciding appeals in relation to disability benefits. Gillian has also achieved the NVQ Level 4 Registered Managers Award.

At Bluebird Care, our dedicated care leaders are committed to providing exceptional support to our customers and staff. Tracy Morgan joined us in 2014 as a Care Assistant and quickly advanced through the ranks to become our Registered Care Manager. Her extensive training in dementia care and commitment to employing compassionate carers ensure that we maintain the highest standards of care. Donna Jones began her journey with Bluebird Care in 2013 as a part-time Care Assistant and has continuously developed her skills, now serving as our Deputy Care Manager. She plays a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of care we provide, with a special focus on dementia training and community support. Together, Tracy and Donna exemplify our core values, ensuring that every customer receives person-centred care and support tailored to their needs. Discover more about their journeys and their unwavering commitment to excellence in care.

Tracy Morgan - Registered Care Manager

Tracy joined Bluebird Care in 2014 as a Care Assistant. Tracy is caring, efficient, always cheerful, and has an instinctive empathy with customers. Such skills meant that Tracy was soon promoted to the role of care coordinator, lead care supervisor, and our registered care manager since 2019 for our Stroud office and Registered Care Manager for Gloucester Office too when we merged offices in 2021. Tracy has a passion for supporting those living with Dementia. Tracy has trained with the NHS dementia education team and is qualified to teach Dementia Awareness at an advanced level. She is also one of our Dementia Leads. Tracy is also qualified to deliver moving and handling, medication, and Parkinson's awareness training. Tracy won the bluebird care national award for team member of the year in September 2016 - quite an achievement within a network of over 200 franchises! Tracy has achieved a level 3 diploma in leadership and management and has now achieved her level 5 diploma in health and social care. Tracy is passionate about ensuring we employ the best carers, with the right values and skills to provide the highest levels of compassionate support. She uses her enhanced knowledge and skills to support carers and customers alike.

Donna Jones - Deputy Manager

Donna joined Bluebird Care in July 2013 as a part-time Care Assistant. Donna has worked hard to continually develop herself through our Career Journey, being promoted to Care Supervisor after only a short time. Donna was then promoted to Recruitment and Training Liaison which utilised her natural empathic and supportive nature. Donna has proven herself to be an asset to the office team and has most recently accepted a promotion to Deputy Care Manager. Donna's role is to work with the Care Manager, where together they ensure a quality experience for our care team and our customers alike. Donna is also one of our Dementia leads, having completed extensive training with the NHS Dementia Education Team. We were the first Domiciliary Care Company in Gloucestershire to offer the Community Dementia Link award, which was developed by Donna in collaboration with the NHS team and provides those that have completed this training, advanced skills and knowledge enabling them to support people living with Dementia in a person-centred and dignified way. She also delivers Dementia Awareness training at an advanced level to all new staff, along with yearly updates.

At Bluebird Care, our Supervisor Team is dedicated to ensuring the highest standards of care for our customers. With a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds, this team works collaboratively to provide exceptional support to both customers and care workers. Kirsti, Edyta, Leela, and Naomi bring their unique strengths to the team. Together, they oversee customer care plans, conduct regular supervisions, and deliver essential training to ensure our carers are equipped with the skills they need. Their combined commitment to compassionate care fosters a supportive and empathetic environment for everyone involved. Whether providing on-the-ground support, conducting customer assessments, or facilitating staff training, the Supervisor Team plays a vital role in upholding our values. Their passion for care and dedication to professional development ensures that every customer receives the attention and support they deserve.

Kirsti Mace - Supervisor

Kirsti has worked in care for 32 years, with experience in residential homes and supporting people with learning disabilities. She joined Bluebird Care nearly 7 years ago as a carer before moving into the office team as a Care Coordinator. Now, as a Care Supervisor and Support Coordinator, she manages care plans, carer supervisions, and regular spot checks across the area. Kirsti also meets new customers for informal chats and assessments. A qualified Moving and Handling trainer, she leads inductions and provides training updates for the care team. Always eager to help, Kirsti supports carers and will step in to provide care when needed, ensuring high-quality service throughout.

Edyta Karwowska - Supervisor

Edyta joined Bluebird Care in August 2022 as a Supervisor. This is Edyta's first career jump into Domiciliary Care, however, Edyta comes with a wealth of previous experience and knowledge in health and social care settings, including learning disabilities and residential homes. Edyta is always keen to upskill and develop her knowledge further. Edyta has made a phenomenal start in the office and has been an excellent addition to the office team. Edyta is very passionate about working as part of the team providing an emphatic and well-organised supportive environment. You may also see her out in the field completing new customer assessments, and current staff supervision.

Leela Shepherd - Supervisor

Leela started her career at Bluebird Care as a Care Assistant, in September 2019. Leela is a great asset to the team and has developed her skills as a carer. Leela demonstrates person centred care and is very passionate and committed to her role. Leela also joined the on-call support team to develop her skills and knowledge even further. Leela has now joined the office team after a recent promotion to Supervisor and we are delighted to support Leela to develop these skills further in her role as a Care Supervisor.

Naomi Sowden - Supervisor

Naomi started her career at Bluebird Care as a Care Assistant in January 2021. Naomi had previously been an integral part of our on-call support team to develop her skills and knowledge, With Naomi’s confidence growing, she soon became an excellent Care Assistant who was promoted to Care Supervisor in September 2023. Naomi will be based within our Gloucester Office, supporting our current care team as well as our customers. We are excited to witness Naomi’s continued growth and the positive impact she will undoubtedly have on our customers and our team.

Hannah and Miguel play crucial roles in supporting and enhancing our team’s ability to deliver exceptional care. Hannah, with her experience and coordination skills, ensures that the team operates efficiently. By managing rosters and overseeing scheduling, she helps to maintain smooth communication between carers and customers, ensuring everyone’s needs are met. Her organisational skills and leadership make her a go-to person for the team, helping them stay on track and feel supported in their day-to-day tasks. Miguel, as a Live-in Care Supervisor, strengthens the team by providing ongoing support and guidance to our live-in carers. He ensures that they feel valued and equipped to handle their responsibilities. Whether through supervision, spot checks, or providing feedback on best practices, Miguel is key in helping the team maintain the high standards of care we strive for. His hands-on approach creates a strong sense of teamwork and ensures that both customers and carers are looked after.

Hannah Coates - Care Coordinator

Hannah joined us in 2013. Hannah's care journey started with a work experience placement at a local nursery, when she was 16, which she loved. She took up the offer of an apprenticeship, and worked with children ranging from 0 to 5 years old for two years, completing her NVQ2 qualification. Hannah then took an interest in care for older people, and joined us at Bluebird Care. Her abilities as a carer and team member were soon noticed, and she was asked to be a mentor to new members of staff. Promotion to her current role followed. Hannah has attained her Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social care, and has recently achieved her Level 3 in Leadership and Management. Hannah coordinates for all areas we cover and can be contacted to discuss your rosters.

Miguel Reis - Live-in Care Supervisor

Miguel comes with over six years of experience within the sector. Miguel has been appointed to support our Live-in Care team ensuring that they have all the necessary support and feel valued as members of the team. His responsibilities include maintaining the high-quality service provided by Bluebird Care. Miguel also assesses any new moving and handling equipment in customer homes to ensure this is safe for both customer and the carer to use. An important part of Miguel’s role is the support of carers with regular supervisions to ensure they are happy and supported in their roles. You may also meet Miguel out in the field while he carries out spot checks, medication quality assurance checks and moving and handling check.

At Bluebird Care, Poppy and Dominique are essential to ensuring both the quality of care and smooth business operations behind the scenes. Poppy Barr, as our Quality Assurance Coordinator, works closely with the team to maintain high care standards. Her background in care, training, and quality assurance allows her to provide valuable guidance and support, ensuring that every customer receives the best possible service. Dominique Williams, our Finance Executive, plays a vital role in keeping the financial side of the business running efficiently. With her combined expertise in social work and finance, Dominique ensures that accounts are accurate, carers are paid on time, and any financial queries are handled smoothly. Together, Poppy and Dominique are committed to supporting the Bluebird Care team, ensuring that we continue to deliver exceptional care and service to our customers.

Poppy Barr - Quality Assurance Coordinator

Poppy joined Bluebird Care in 2016, driven by her dedication to helping others. Her background includes experience in residential and domiciliary care, dementia care, NVQ assessing, quality assurance, and teaching BTEC health and social care at a local college. In her current role, Poppy supports the team in providing outstanding care by adhering to best practice guidelines. She is also the proud owner of office dog Freddie!

Dominique Williams - Finance Executive

Dominique trained and qualified as a Social Worker, earning her degree in Health and Social Care. She spent several years working in the NHS, where she engaged and supported patients during their hospital stays, ensuring they received compassionate care. To better accommodate her family commitments, she later retrained as an accountant. Dominique has achieved the highest possible standard in her AAT qualifications, combining her skills in both social work and finance.

Sam and Emma are the heart of our Enquiries and Recruitment team at Bluebird Care, working closely together to ensure that our customers and new recruits experience a smooth, welcoming process. With Sam's 13 years of experience, she leads the way in handling customer enquiries, coordinating initial care assessments, and ensuring every new customer feels supported from their first contact. Emma, who recently rejoined the team after years of hands-on care experience, collaborates with Sam to manage recruitment, ensuring we hire the best carers. Together, they oversee interviews, respond to customer queries, and arrange care assessments. As a team, Sam and Emma combine their wealth of experience and passion for care, making sure every customer and potential team member feels valued and supported from the very beginning.

Samantha Pocock - Lead Enquiries Coordinator

Sam joined the Bluebird Care Team in 2009 as a Care Assistant before coming into the office team. Sam has NVQ Level 3 and soon to be degree in Health and Social Care. Sam is currently our Lead Enquiries Coordinator, taking all of our initial customer enquiry calls and providing relevant information to prospective customers. Sam works closely with management to identify our current capacity to ensure our customer's needs are fulfilled as well as our Care assessors and is responsible for arranging all initial meetings with our care assessors. Sam has recently earned a BA in Health and Social Care 2024.

Emma Cooper - Recruitment and Enquiries Coordinator

Emma joined Bluebird in the summer of 2023 to take on the role of Recruitment and Enquiries Coordinator alongside Samantha. Emma previously worked with the company back several years ago as a Homecare Assistant and then spent 4 years as a care assistant in a retirement village. Emma works within the Stroud office, arranging and holding interviews with Samantha to recruit new carers for our growing company, she will also be there to answer phone and email enquiries that new customers may have in regard to new care packages and setting up meetings for the supervisors to attend your home and discuss care options.

At Bluebird Care, we are dedicated to ensuring exceptional service for our customers and staff. As a Care Navigator, Amy utilises her years of experience and advanced qualifications in health and social care to work closely with customers, creating personalised care plans that cater to their individual needs. Meanwhile, Shannon, our Onboarding Specialist, focuses on staff recruitment and administration. She expertly manages the onboarding process, ensuring that new carers receive the support they need from day one. Together, Amy and Shannon combine their expertise to foster a welcoming environment where both customers and team members feel valued and well cared for throughout their journey with Bluebird Care.

Amy Dermott - Care Navigator

Amy joined Bluebird Care in 2019 and has worked in the care industry for several years. She has completed her NVQ Level 2 & 3, received the Dementia Leadership award, and is now working towards her Level 5 in Health and Social Care. Once we receive your enquiry, Amy comes to your home for an informal chat to discuss our services and your specific care requirements, helping identify which care package best suits your needs. Should you decide to start your care with Bluebird, Amy will then visit you again to conduct a thorough care assessment and write a person-centred care plan tailored specifically to your preferences and needs, ensuring that every aspect of your care is well-suited and personalised. Amy is highly committed to delivering exceptional care.

Shannon Jones - Onboarding Specialist

Shannon manages the administration and marketing needs of the business along with the recruitment of new carers. She is responsible for ensuring all recruitment checks are completed, and liaising closely with the new members of the team to ensure a successful start, Shannon’s other responsibilities include creating and maintaining staff files, and ensuring all documentation is compliant. She also works closely on our business marketing by creating and producing content for social media, the website, and Google. Shannon monitors our business needs to ensure our adverts are targeted to attract both staff and customers. Shannon builds good relationships with new carers, ensuring paperwork is completed promptly. Shannon’s qualifications include an A* in Business Studies at A-Level.

At Bluebird Care, Freddie and Dylan are the dynamic duo that brings a sense of joy and calm to the office. Together, they form an inseparable team, brightening the days of everyone they meet. Freddie, the more playful of the two, is always ready to greet you with a wagging tail and a listening ear. Dylan, a bit more selective, offers his warm approval to those lucky enough to earn it. As a pair, they balance each other out—Freddie’s affectionate energy complements Dylan’s quiet, calming presence. Whether they're making their rounds for some attention or curling up for a break, their presence creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Freddie and Dylan don't just support their mums; they uplift the entire team, offering comfort and companionship, making the office a happier and more relaxing place for all.

Freddie

Freddie is the newest addition to our office dog team who can usually be found in the Stroud office on Fridays. Freddie greets each day with a wagging tail; always ready to shower affection upon anyone lucky enough to cross his path. He even lifts his right ear to ensure he's listening to your every word. In his downtime, Freddie relishes quiet moments of relaxation, curling up with his mum whilst she works, and of course does his round of the office for some fuss and attention!

Dylan

Dylan loves to be with his Mum at all times and often seeks comfort from his many ‘office Aunt’s and Uncle’s’ when Tracy has to pop out. Dylan is a little more selective on the company he keeps, so if he greets you at the door, you definitely have his approval! Dylan is a sweet boy who loves visiting his friends in the Stroud Office! In his free time, Dylan enjoys playing fetch with stones he has found along with long walks up on Selsley Common.