Meet the team in your local area

Franchise Owners: Bernadette & Hugo Mills

Bernadette and Hugo Mills, managing Directors,  live in the New Forest with their three children and Tess, the dog. Having previously worked in finance in London, the couple decided to work in the healthcare sector as there is an urgent need for high-quality care services in the community as an alternative to nursing homes.  Starting their first Bluebird Care franchise in the New Forest in 2012 certainly didn’t disappoint! Driven by a passion for delivering high-quality care, they subsequently opened offices in Southampton, Totton, Portsmouth and Ringwood, as they realised that people want local people to work with them. Yet, they do not intend to build the most extensive care business; instead, they aim to deliver the best service on a local level through staff who genuinely care. A key focus is establishing a joint partnership between all the healthcare professionals working in the NHS, such as doctors, district nurses, and occupational therapists, to ensure a smooth communication process to support the elderly and vulnerable in our communities and prevent hospital admissions. Often, you will come across Bernadette lobbying with stakeholders to collaborate.

Head of Care: Rachael Benn

Rachael has 34 years of experience in the Health and Social Care sector, working in hospitals and residential and domiciliary care. Rachael is a Qualified Teacher Status (QTLS) Assessor and Trainer. She is qualified in management with QCF level 5 in Health Care Management and is working towards her level 7. Rachael oversees all the branches regarding running compliance, training, daily operations and HR. All managers report to her, and she assists them with daily issues. In her spare time, Rachael likes to spend time with her family and loves to read and travel. She is also very artistic and enjoys arts and crafts. Often, she makes Christmas hedgehogs or Christmas cookies.

Registered Manager, Southampton & Totton: Tina Dudley

Tina brings a wealth of experience to our company. She has worked from a young age in various roles in the domiciliary care business. From care assistant to coordinator to operations manager. However, she decided she enjoys working in one place and mentors her team to grow and develop. She has the passion and dedication to manage and support our care team to make Bluebird Care the best Live-in and Home care provider in the area. Tina leads from the front, and often, she will come out to discuss more complex care needs and ensure that the customer will have the best option of care.  She focuses on quality and compliance and embraces further training development for our care staff. Her drive for excellence will give our customers the best care journey possible.

Deputy Manager, Southampton & Totton: Natasha Smith

As she prefers to be called, Tash is our dedicated Deputy Manager. Tash is often one of the first people you’ll encounter at our branch, ready to discuss your needs and provide support person-centred. She consistently goes above and beyond to assist families on their care journeys. With a lifelong passion for the care sector, Tash has extensive experience in community care, care homes, and residential care. She has skillfully balanced her career with raising a young family, demonstrating exceptional organisational skills. Tash holds a QCF Level 3 in Social Health Care and is completing her QCF Level 4 in Management in Social Health Care. Known for her upbeat personality and big heart, Tash is an invaluable asset in this sector. She is an extreme team player, always supporting her care staff to ensure best practices are followed. This year, Natasha has been nominated within the Bluebird Care network as “Customer Care Expert of the Year” for her work in the community. Tash enjoys various activities with her partner and children in her spare time, including boating and caravanning. Family is vital to her, a value that shines through in her interactions with all the customers she cares for.