Safe Haven Care and Lodges Ltd

From a young age, I knew I wanted to work with young people with learning disabilities. After leaving school, I went straight into a Primary Teaching degree at the University of South Wales, before beginning my career in a Special Needs School in Newport. It was there I realised I had found the work I truly loved, a role where every day brought new challenges, purpose, and the privilege of making a meaningful difference.

During my time at the school, I began supporting a six-year-old pupil with complex needs through the council’s Direct Payment scheme. What started as after-school support grew into a long-term care and respite relationship that continued into her twenties. Being part of her life and part of her family’s journey for so many years remains one of the most rewarding experiences of my career, and it’s a relationship I still maintain today.

Over the past eight years, I’ve worked across many of our homes and supported a wide range of individuals with diverse needs. With dedication, experience, and a genuine love for the work, I progressed to my current role as Appointed Manager.

My greatest achievements have been the positive changes I’ve helped bring about in people’s lives, particularly during their transition into our homes. Watching someone settle, grow, and experience a better quality of life is incredibly fulfilling. I am especially proud of the strong, trusting relationships I have built with individuals, their families, and the professionals around them. These partnerships are at the heart of delivering truly meaningful, person-centred support, and they remain my biggest motivation every day.