Archive

Andrew Dick – Trustee

Posted on: July 7th, 2023 by Iain Looms

Andrew is a Chartered Accountant who, after qualification, worked in various senior accounting and general management roles within British and American companies in Europe and the UK. Since retirement, he has spent much of his time in roles within the not-for-profit sector. These have included acting as the Chair of Governors of a special needs school and as a Trustee of Amnesty International.

Andrew has had extensive experience of the challenges facing residential homes for older people, including those faced during the Covid pandemic. He has been involved with the Abbeyfield movement for over 20 years and, from 2005, was the Chairman of The Abbeyfield North Downs Society, based at the David Gresham House residential care home, in Oxted. This home merged with the Abbeyfield Wey Valley Society in May 2023.

Andrew is married to Felicity and has two children and three grandchildren. He is a great lover of cricket and of music, especially opera.

Nicholas Grealy

Posted on: April 19th, 2023 by Iain Looms

Nicholas’ whole career has been in social care. He went to university
as a mature student, reading social studies and social work, and then
started work as a mental health social worker. For the last twelve
years of his career he was a Senior Manager, running the Learning
Disability Service in parts of Surrey.
A widower, Nicholas was married for forty years and has three stepchildren.
Sadly his wife developed Alzheimer’s Disease in her sixties
and he was her carer for many years before she moved into a nursing
home.
His main interests are in Art, especially Dutch Art, plays, especially Shakespeare and some
history, although he says he not a great reader!

Elaine Edgar

Posted on: April 19th, 2023 by Iain Looms

After studying for a degree in history, Elaine joined the civil service and worked mainly at the Department of Health in central London, in many different policy jobs for over 38 years. Her last job was lead on policy for family carers and she was awarded an OBE for support to carers in 2014. Elaine has lived in Dorking for 24 years and is now an active member of Rotary in Dorking and a lay partner in the Surrey Downs Health & Care Partnership Board which covers Mole Valley, Epsom, Ewell, Banstead and East Elmbridge.

Elaine became an ABVS Trustee and member of the Care Committee in September 2022 when Nower House in Dorking merged with the Society. She was a member of Nower House’s management committee from 2017. Elaine’s hobbies include gardening, reading and travel.

Lisa Sparrow

Posted on: February 8th, 2023 by Iain Looms

Registered Manager – Nower House

Lisa’s career in care has spanned over twenty years. After starting off her journey as a care assistant, Lisa has gained a huge amount of experience managing both residential and nursing establishments as well as Domiciliary care.

She was a member of the Transition Team which implemented the necessary change management needed to transfer her previous care home into a modern, innovative facility and brings a huge passion for providing person centred care. Lisa joined us in January 2023 and is excited to work with her team to further develop the care offering at Nower House.

Outside of work, she is married with a thirteen-year-old daughter, April, and she enjoys spending time at the gym, running or simply reading a book.

The energy and enthusiasm she brings, together with her vast experience is helping Nower House be recognised as one of the leading Residential Care Homes in the Area.

James Wigmore

Posted on: January 31st, 2023 by Iain Looms

Chief Financial Officer

James trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1985, starting his early career with Deloitte in London. He joined us late in 2022, bringing with him a wealth of experience gained within the small business sector where he supported a variety of small businesses with financial, strategic and commercial input.

James lives in Farnham and has two grown-up children. When not working, he enjoys outdoor pursuits such as walking and gardening.

Mel Harris

Posted on: July 25th, 2022 by Iain Looms

Registered Manager Ridgway Court

Mel has 17 years of experience in the care industry, she started caring in the community for the elderly and progressed to Senior Carer in 2004. From there she managed her own care company for live in carers and gained extensive experience in providing exceptional care to her clients. She discovered that she had a passion for learning and trained as an assessor to assist carers with their diplomas. Starting with Abbeyfield Wey Valley Society in 2021 as Deputy Manager, Mel has recently and recently promoted to Registered Manager and now leads the team at the Farnham care home.

Mel has level 3 diploma and is currently working towards her level 5. She is also a qualified Taqa assessor in health and social care.

Iain Looms

Posted on: September 10th, 2020 by Zena Cooter

Marketing and PR Manager

Iain hails from the Midlands but has spent the last twenty years living and working in the Farnham area.

Whilst launching and managing small customer facing businesses within the local community, Iain completed a qualification in Professional Marketing and is now a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

His introduction to the senior care sector emerged when he was faced with looking after his elderly mother and he now has a passion for developing innovative customer focused environments for all the Abbeyfield residents and their families.

Away from work Iain has great interest in sport – he actually spent his early career as a member of the Professional Golfers Association competing around the world and coaching. Now he enjoys social golf rather more and his coaching skills are put to the test as coach for the Farnham under 7’s rugby teams!

Gemma Twist

Posted on: September 9th, 2020 by Michael Cooter

Care Quality Manager

Gemma joined Abbeyfield Wey Valley Society in 2005 as a care assistant at Wey Valley House. Since then she has undertaken her NVQ qualifications level 3 & 5 and became a senior carer, first at Wey Valley House and then moving to Hatch Mill. In 2019 Gemma was appointed as the Care Quality Coordinator for the Society.

Gemma has also had courses in First Aid, Health and Safety, Infection Control, Fire Awareness, Food hygiene, Manual Handling and SOVA Management, COSHH, Drug Administration, Palliative Care, Diabetes Awareness, Dementia, Equality and Diversity, Quality Improvement & Changing Perceptions.

Toni Chandler

Posted on: April 19th, 2016 by Mark Ashmore

Training Manager

Toni has had over 18 years’ experience in caring for the elderly, joining Abbeyfield Wey Valley society in 2001 as a Night Care Assistant at Hatch Mill. In 2004 Toni worked as a Senior Care Assistant and in 2007 she became Deputy Manager on Hatch Mill’s residential wing. She also covered maternity leave as Deputy at Wey valley House before being given the position of Trainer in 2014.

Toni has NVQ2, NVQ3, NVQ4 and NVQ Assessors award, First Aid, Health and Safety, Fire Marshall, Food Hygiene, Manual Handling, SOVA Management, COSHH, Drug Administration, End of Life Care, Diabetes Awareness, Dementia, Customer Service, Mental Health and Equality and Diversity, Support and supervision and Health Conditions. Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer in Manual Handling, SOVA and the Care Certificate.

Pam Packham

Posted on: April 19th, 2016 by Mark Ashmore

Registered Manager – David Gresham House

Pam has worked at David Gresham House since May 1990 and has been the Registered Manager since 1994. She has gained City and Guilds and NVQ4 in Management of Care and Registered Managers’ Award (RMA) NVQ Assessors Award.

Since David Gresham House merged with Abbeyfield Wey Valley Society in 2023, Pam has continued to lead the home as it enters an exciting new era as part of the AWVS family.