Founders
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As a teenager, I was in contact with Barnardos Homes and the Shaftesbury Society. It was as a result of this work that I trained as a nurse (RGN), and decided to foster children with special needs.
I started working as an au pair looking after 3 young children, (1963), before training at the Royal Free Hospital, in London (1965 - 1969) to become an RGN.
I worked at Hackney Hospital London as ward sister of a 30 bed Orthopaedic Geriatric Ward, before starting a family of 5 daughters in 1971.
I began fostering and childminding and started and ran Playgroup of 21 children while my children were young. In 1978, I started a telephone help line for parents in danger of harming their child….’Parent Lifeline’. We have, also, fostered children with Learning Difficulties through the Link Scheme for Suffolk Social Services; before starting Cephas Community Care: in 1994.
In 1984, I met Peter, who became a very special friend of our family. Peter had multiple handicaps. He wanted to ‘grow up’ like his brothers and sisters and leave his parental home. Peter’s parents were very worried about his future, what would happen to him as they grew older and could no longer, physically, care for him themselves. I realised there was a need for young people to ‘own’ their own homes with dedicated staff supporting them to find fulfilment and freedom. At this time people were still living in large hospitals away from local communities.
Our driving force is to ensure that everyone leads their life as they want to, pursuing their own interests, in their own home, with all the expected rights and responsibilities that go hand in hand with this aim. This led to the start of Cephas Care. I continue to take an active part in the formation and implementation of Policy. I work to maintain the Company ethos and ensure the quality of our service.
Hello.
Whereas my wife, Jane, has spent all her working life in the Care Sector, my previous experience was in Production and Personnel Management. Then, I took a radical change in direction.
I thoroughly enjoy the work we do and the learning experience associated with it.
I am always looking for opportunities to develop and expand the business, offering new possibilities for both staff and clients.
Our Business has expanded rapidly in the area of supported housing and support services. We continue to be able to offer the complete package for clients wishing to live in their own homes.
We can provide housing and care at short notice, if necessary. Our area of specialist care is supporting clients who may challenge their environment.
Most recently we are working with Mothers (L.D.) supporting them with their babies, so the children live in a stable environment and do not enter the care system.
The provision of our in-house drop in centre has enabled us to keep in daily contact with our clients and staff, this is something which we do not want to lose as the Company expands.
I am still involved in the acquisitions of properties, and I , also, secure finance for future development of the business and to ensure the continued viability of our operations.
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