Meet our Care Team
Our Carers work tirelessly to make sure people in the local area get the help they need when they need it. Care can be challenging at times, and we are so proud of their constant dedication and enthusiasm. NEDCare wouldn’t be where it is today without the help of our fantastic Care Team.
Find out more about some of our Carers here:
Kate joined NEDCare in 2018, drawn by our ethos and a desire to help people remain part of their community. She finds great fulfilment in her role, sharing, “I meet such interesting people, I love hearing their history.” Kate is passionate about making everyone she supports feel valued and helping to keep the community connected. As she says, “It’s so much more than just wiping bums!”
When she’s not working, Kate enjoys exploring the local woods with her loyal dog, Ethel – who sometimes makes an appearance on her NEDCare rounds to put a smile on someone’s face! She’s also training up new puppy recruit, George.
Clive has been a dedicated carer with NEDCare for seven years. Previously, he worked as a Design Engineer in satellite broadcasting and mobile telecoms, but found himself longing for a more meaningful and community-focussed role, saying, “I grew tired of working in sterile environments without natural light.”
Now, Clive enjoys meeting people across the moor and sharing stories with those he supports. He’s known for bringing along handfuls of photographs such as carefully chosen collections of Dartmoor, birds, or his travels, to share with clients during visits. “Having a client pleased to see me and making them feel cared for makes the job thoroughly fulfilling,” Clive says.
He values NEDCare’s commitment to good training, ongoing support, flexibility and thoughtful matching of carers with each client’s needs. “It’s a pleasure to be a part of the NEDCare team.”
Having always lived in the countryside, Hilary enjoys connecting with clients on a wide range of topics and never struggles for conversation. “The best part of working for NEDCare,” she says, “is knowing that you’re making a big difference to people’s lives, both practically and emotionally.”
Hilary was drawn to NEDCare’s charitable purpose, being dedicated to improving lives in the community. She appreciates the flexibility her role offers, saying, “It fits in with my retirement and family life.”
Outside of NEDCare, Hilary enjoys long walks with her dog on the moor, growing vegetables, tending her chickens and spending time with her grandchildren.
Ethel the Springer Spaniel often accompanies our Senior Carer Kate on her client visits, bringing extra warmth and joy wherever she goes. She’s a firm favourite with many of our clients!
These days, Ethel is also showing Kate’s young springer spaniel pup, George, the ropes as he learns how to become part of the NEDCare family.
As NEDCare is a registered charity, we have a Board of Trustees, made up of local people volunteering their time to ensure we benefit the community and deliver the best care we can. Our Management Team is based at the NEDCare office in the centre of Moretonhampstead. They keep the wheels of NEDCare turning, supporting our care team from first thing in the morning until the end of the working day, making sure there is always someone on the end of the phone for carers or clients.
Management Team
Jane joined NEDCare in August 2022, bringing experience as a Social Worker and Family Group Conference Coordinator. Encouraged by a long-standing carer who works for NEDCare, Jane embraced the challenge of transitioning into adult social care. With the excellent guidance of NEDCare’s experienced team, she quickly developed a deeper understanding of both the joys and challenges of this fulfilling work.
Having now completed her training, Jane is a fully approved and certified Registered Manager, recognised by the Care Quality Commission to oversee NEDCare’s services.
“NEDCare is a vital resource within our community,” Jane says. “It is so important that our seniors are able to remain in their own homes and receive very high quality, reliable and compassionate care. Most of our carers also live locally, which is reflected in their commitment and mutual understanding.”
Rebecca joined NEDCare in 2017 as a Carer and through her commitment and enthusiasm for learning, has steadily taken on new responsibilities within the charity. Now serving as Deputy Manager, Rebecca plays a key role in supporting Jane to ensure the smooth running of our care services. She is responsible for the complex task of rostering visits in our care planning software, carefully balancing carers’ availability with clients’ preferences to make sure everyone receives the support they need.
Outside of NEDCare, Rebecca enjoys exploring Dartmoor and making the most of the natural surroundings on our doorstep. At home, she’s kept entertained by Myrtle – her lively, free-roaming rabbit.
Chloé joined NEDCare in 2017, initially working alongside founder Julia Darby to manage finances and streamline processes. With a strong community focus, Chloé had previously overseen NEDCare’s finances while it operated as a project of Moretonhampstead Development Trust, before NEDCare became an independent entity.
Over the years, Chloé’s role has expanded to include marketing, community engagement, and fundraising, helping to raise NEDCare’s profile and embed it further within the local community.
Outside of work, Chloé enjoys exploring nature in all weathers, whether near home on Dartmoor, in her native Wales, or further afield. She loves heading off the beaten track with her son, sharing adventurous wild camping experiences on Dartmoor and in Scotland.
Board of Trustees
John has been a NEDCare Trustee since its establishment as a charity in 2020, having previously served as a director and co-founder of NEDCare CIC from 2015. A resident of Moretonhampstead for 30 years, John has direct experience of NEDCare’s impact, having had an elderly relative supported by the organisation. He remains deeply motivated by the challenges many local families face in accessing care and by the difference a community-run service can make.
John’s career has spanned management roles in community organisations, teaching in secondary and further education as well as leadership in the careers service sector. His work has brought him into contact with people from all backgrounds, shaping his belief that everyone should be treated with equal value.
Married with two grown-up children and four grandchildren, John is a keen walker and cyclist, leads a local choir and enjoys spending time in his garden.
Jenny brings both personal experience and professional expertise to her role as a NEDCare trustee. Having supported her first husband through early onset frontotemporal dementia, she understands first-hand the challenges faced by individuals and families living with serious illness. Jenny feels fortunate to be part of the supportive community in Moretonhampstead and is committed to assisting those in need locally.
Jenny’s career began in teaching before she trained as an educational psychologist, working for many years to support children, young people, families, and schools experiencing challenges. She was appointed Principal Educational Psychologist for Devon County Council and later oversaw the transition of the service to Babcock International.
Now largely retired, Jenny enjoys spending time with her family, including five grandchildren and can often be found walking or riding her electric bike around the local area.
Sue brings a lifetime of experience in social care and community support to her role as a NEDCare trustee. Born and educated in Essex, Sue began her career as a social worker in London, later working across Oxfordshire and Worcestershire before settling in Devon. Over her extensive career, Sue specialised in services for older people, including roles with Devon County Council and the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, where she became Practice Supervisor and contributed to the strategic development of care services. Her work included supporting complex hospital discharges, supervising social workers and developing policies for vulnerable adults.
In addition to her professional career, Sue has volunteered with Age Concern, managed St Sidwell’s Community Centre and taught yoga for 12 years. Her personal experience of caring for both her mother and husband – who was supported by NEDCare – gives her deep insight into the needs of older people and their families within the community. Sue is passionate about ensuring compassionate, high-quality care for all and brings invaluable knowledge and empathy to the board.
Anne moved to the Teign Valley in 2005 after a career as a teacher of English and young people with special educational needs and then as an education officer in the South East. In Devon she worked in children’s services, commissioning both special schools and services for children and young people with special needs and disabilities.
After ‘retiring’ she joined the Department for Education as a Special Educational Needs Adviser and after 10 years finally really retired in April 2024!
Alongside her jobs, Anne has also been involved in voluntary work, most recently as a Manager at Devon Hospitals Short Stay School and now with NedCare as a trustee. This is a rewarding role so far and she looks forward to greater and more active involvement within the community in the future.
Eileen serves NEDCare both as a trustee and a part-time carer, bringing with her an extensive background in nursing and occupational health. With a BSc in Nursing Studies and a Post Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health, Eileen has worked across local councils, the NHS, industry and blue-chip organisations. Her expertise spans case management, health surveillance, immunisation, workplace health promotion and policy development, with experience in both team-based and remote roles.
Eileen is known for her strong communication skills, adaptability and commitment to high professional standards. In addition to her clinical work, she has been involved in teaching, staff supervision and the development of health and wellbeing initiatives. Eileen’s first-hand experience as a carer, combined with her leadership on the board, gives her valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities of delivering quality care in the community. She is passionate about supporting both NEDCare’s clients and her colleagues, ensuring safe, compassionate care for all.
John is a long-standing member of the Dartmoor community with a wealth of experience in agriculture, rural business and community support. After graduating from Exeter University with an honours degree in Agricultural Economics, John spent several years working on farms in the Whiddon Down and Cheriton Bishop areas. He went on to manage a small farm community for the Cyrenian Trust in East Lothian, supporting homeless young people with mental health and addiction challenges.
Returning to Devon, John continued his agricultural career before moving into auctioneering. John went on to become a partner at Husseys Auctioneers and since 2011, has been the sole owner of the business.
John’s deep local roots and broad expertise in both business and the rural community inform his contribution as a NEDCare trustee. He is committed to helping ensure high-quality, accessible care for older people and supporting the wellbeing of the communities NEDCare serves.
Fundraising and donations help us to provide a high quality service for those who most need it.
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If you would like to discuss your care needs in more detail, or you are considering a career as a Carer, give us a call on 01647 279211 or fill in the contact form.
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