Meet Our Team


Here at Care Hubz we believe staff are vital to ensure the smooth delivery of our service.
Our Management team

Gary Barker

Director &
Nominated Individual
Director
Home Managers

Louise Manning

Home Manager
Home Manager

Paul Jackson

Home Manager
Home Manager

Pat Lucas

Home Manager
Home Manager

Mia Bage

Deputy Manager
Deputy Manager

Keely Heaton

Deputy Manager
Deputy Manager
Senior Care Workers

Kelly Ann Lovett

Senior Care Worker

Julie Woodham

Senior Care Worker

Julie Ward

Senior Care Worker

Hope Amriding

Senior Care Worker

Helen Dove

Senior Care Worker

Janine Elie-Smith

Senior Care Worker

Paul Andrew

Senior Care Worker

Tara Shaw

Senior Care Worker

Gavin Hercules

Senior Care Worker

Shannon Keenan

Senior Care Worker
Residential Care Workers

Samantha McPhail

Residential Care Worker

Jamie Austin

Residential Care Worker

Zowie Parkin

Residential Care Worker

Joel Adesanya

Residential Care Worker

Sasha Bell

Residential Care Worker

Nicole Pender

Residential Care Worker

Leroy Miller

Residential Care Worker

Michelle Morris

Residential Care Worker
Admin Team

Kim Filin

Finance Manager

Alex Wheatley

Finance Assistant

Gail Eames

HR Executive

Amanda Smith

Recruitment and HR Administrator

Laura Lim

Property Administrator

Kirsty Blundel

Property Administrator

Kimberley Dobson

Website Manager
Work with us

WE ARE HIRING

Send Your CV : info@carehubz.org
Registered Manager
Full Time
To act as Ofsted Registered Manager delivering services which are fully compliant with legislative and regulatory requirements particularly The Children’s Homes Regulations and Quality Standards 2015.
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Senior Care Worker
Full Time
To undertake a lead role in ensuring the care and welfare of each child in placement. To give guidance and support to all Residential Workers.
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Residential Care Worker
Full Time
To provide advice, assistance and support to children and young people. To attend to their practical and emotional needs. To act as an appropriate role model and to work closely with them to enable them to address their difficulties and achieve their optimum potential.
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Send Your CV : info@carehubz.org
Application Form
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what's been going on

A Festive End to an Incredible Year at Care Hubz

December 31, 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, we’ve been reflecting on the amazing moments shared at Care Hubz over the past few months. From spooky Halloween fun to heartfelt tributes for Remembrance Day and the festive cheer of December, it’s been a season filled with creativity, connection, and celebration. Here’s a look back at everything that’s […]

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Christmas Gift Giving at Lineham Farm 🎄🎅🎁

December 31, 2024

This year Youth Hubz and Care Hubz are taking part in Christmas gift giving at Lineham Farm for Leeds Childrens Charity! If you would like to donate to this amazing charity you can do so by picking a tag of choice from our tree in reception at head office. Alternatively, if you won’t get chance […]

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TEAM TEACH TRAINING

October 30, 2024

The staff at Care and Youth Hubz recently completed a comprehensive two-day training program on September 25th and 27th. The training was facilitated by our in-house team of experienced instructors, who are part of the organisation’s dedicated Training and Development division. The team teach training sessions covered a wide range of topics and skills essential […]

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Red Nose Day Bake Off

September 16, 2024

It’s time to celebrate the biggest annual event organised by comic relief – Red Nose Day. This year Care and Youth Hubz came together to raise money with another Bake-off. Each year people take part in all sorts of events and fun challenges to raise money for children facing poverty in the UK and around […]

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Dragon Boat Race 2024

October 30, 2024

On 23rd June 2024, Youth and Care Hubz competed in Martin House 2024 dragon boat race at roundhay park, Leeds. Youth Hubz and Care Hubz came together as “The Hubz Elite” and set a target of £2000.00. This target was exceeded on the day with over £2444.00 raised

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MacMillan Coffee Morning

September 16, 2024

Our MacMillan Coffee Morning, staff and young people joined us for a delightful morning of giving back, baking, and prizes. “Just wanted to thank all the staff and young people that took part in the MacMillan Coffee morning, the cakes looked and tasted amazing. We raised £273 through donations and cake sales, a real team […]

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Get to know us
You may be wondering exactly what is involved in working in supported accommodation. We catch up with some of the different team members to recount their experiences and give you an idea of what to expect working for us.

Being a Home Manager at Rosa House

October 1, 2024
We caught up with Louise , one of our dedicated Home Managers to ask a few questions about her role at Care Hubz.
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Being a Senior Residential Support Worker: Insight from Mia Bage

September 23, 2024
We caught up with Mia Bage , one of our Senior Residential Care Workers (RCW) to ask a few questions about her role at Care Hubz. Mia has recently been promoted to deputy manager but this interview was conducted when she remained senior.
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Being a Deputy : Insight from Pat Lucas

September 30, 2024
We caught up with Pat , one of our delightful Deputy Managers to ask a few questions about her role at Care Hubz.
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Giving young people, leaving care, the help and care they need to live independently...
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  • info@carehubz.org
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Care Hubz
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Contact YouthHubz

April

Floating Support keyworkers
After leaving school, I worked in the textile industry for over 20 years. To support and encourage my daughter to attend college I completed an access to higher education course, where I had the chance to volunteer at a homeless shelter as part of the curriculum.

My passion for helping others then led me to start working with young people, initially in a mother and baby unit. In 2003, I joined Calderdale Council as a casual residential worker, becoming a permanent staff member in 2007. I then moved to a short break unit for children with learning disabilities in 2011, where I stayed until 2015 before changing my career path to focus more on support than care.

For the next 8 years, I had the privilege of supporting 16-18 year old care leavers, and I was even promoted to manager in 2018. It was a very rewarding experience, but I was eager for a new challenge when the opportunity to become a team leader working with Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) became available. I'm really enjoying the new experiences and the chance to support these young people as they navigate the asylum process and work towards living independently developing skills for community safety and involvement, personal hygiene, and basis English.

Outside of work, I cherish my time with my children and grandchildren. It brings me great joy to be able to spend quality time with my loved ones.

Babita Mehta

24/7 Operational Manager
Babita has worked with children for over 20 years. She has worked in the Education sector in a safeguarding role, before transitioning into Safeguarding Lead with Youth Hubz Semi Independent Support where she has worked for the last 18months. She is currently completing Level 4 in Children, Young People and Families Practitioner and ensures she keeps up to date with her role by attending various Safeguarding Leadership courses with new legislation and guidance. Babita has been Safeguarding Lead since 2021. She supports the implementation of policies and procedures with safeguarding practices. She ensures staff are up to date with all the developments in child protection policy, research, practice and guidance. In 2023 Babita was promoted to Operational Manager for 24/7 support.

Gary Barker

Director
Gary opened Care Hubz in 2022 after recognising a need following the success with Youth Hubz and supported accommodation for care leavers. Gary decided to recruit 3 registered managers and a Responsible Individual. Opening Care Homes for children and young people is a long and complicated procedure: the suitability of the managers, RI and director is challenged, the properties are inspected, and the paperwork scrutinised. The homes were developed to an exceptional standard. Staff training began. Working alongside his team they steadily conquered each stage of this process until all 3 homes were staffed and registered. Gary’s dream is to offer young people entering Care Hubz the security of a guaranteed future with the company through Youth Hubz and supported accommodation into independence.

Louise Manning

Home Manager
Louise has worked with children and young people leaving care and in care for the past 4 years. The children and young people who Louise has worked with have presented with a range of behaviours and needs varying from autism, through to young people at high risk of CSE, CCE and regular mispers. Louise has vast experience of managing young people through crisis.

Prior to working with children and young people leaving care and in care, Louise had 10 years’ experience of working in the pastoral care team within a high school.

Louise qualified with her NVQ Level 3 in Residential Childcare in 2021 and is currently undertaking her NVQ Level 5 in Leadership and Management.

Paul Jackson

Home Manager
Paul has worked in residential care for over 8 years and was a
manager of a residential children’s home in Calderdale. Paul
initially started working with young people by supporting with
outreach then moved into residential care afterward was
successful in becoming the manager.
Paul completed Restorative Justice Training and is qualified in
Level 3 children’s and young people’s workforce. Paul is now
completing his Level 5 in Leadership and Management.
Prior to working in residential care Paul was a professional rugby
league player for over 15 years.

Pat Lucas

Registered Manager
Pat possesses several years of working within different settings with children and young people.

She worked for over 9 years as a Local Authority Foster Carer, 6 years in Education as Learning support, and Cover Supervisor. Pat also spent 7 years working within Residential and Leaving care services. Pat has the now obsolete CWDC and gained a PTTLS 4 in Teaching. Pat has recently achieved her Level 3 Residential Childcare Diploma and has enrolled on an L5 leadership and management qualification. Pat is very strong at building relationships with young people and supporting children with developing their social and emotional development. Pat supported young persons with improved school attendance and University applications. Pat was successful in her role as the Deputy Manager Roleacross Broad Lane House and Walkers House and has recently become a Registered Manager.

Mia Bage

Deputy Manager
 Mia has recently graduated with a degree in social care justice and recovery and aspires to work with children and families. Mia received an award for her commendations at university.

She has recently been successful in her interview for deputy manager position at Rosa House.

Mia has nearly a decade of experience working with children with complex needs in an education setting as a life skills tutor supporting children with independence and lifelong learning. Mia is enrolled on the Level 4 children and young people in residential settings to complete alongside her role. She has a passion to engage young people in making positive life choices using external support networks to enhance their experiences.

Keely Heaton

Deputy Manager
 Keeley has worked within the public sector for Leeds City Council for the past 20 years. Starting off with a college apprenticeship at KinderCare Nursery gaining a City & Guilds NVQ level 2 in Early Years Care & Education. Then in 2003 Keeley started working for the West Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre as a learning support assistant. This involved Keeley working with a wide variety of children and young adults between the ages of 3-19 with complex needs communication and autism, MLD and SEMH. In 2017 Keeley worked towards an NCFE level 2 in Understanding Behaviour that Challenges after successfully completing this course Keeley became HLTA in 2018. Keeley also holds a level 6 diploma in careers guidance in leadership and development and a QCF in careers leadership to support young people make educational and employment choices with an understanding of how to achieve their goals. Keeley will be enrolled on to her level 5 apprenticeship in leadership and management in a children’s residential setting.

Kelly Ann Lovett

Senior RSW
Kelly has worked in residential care for the last 6 years working with a range of vulnerable, challenging, and complex young people with a range of needs from OCT and PSB. Kelly has experience of working with special educational needs. Before this Kelly worked in early years for 16 years running and managing nurseries.

Kelly has a BA Honours degree in early years as well as a level 3 in management and level 3 in children's workforce. Kelly has enrolled on her level 5 qualification.

Julie Woodham

Senior RSW
 Julie has vast experience in a range of different care environments over the last 20 years, working with a variety of complex, vulnerable and challenging young people. Julie initially started as a registered Childminder then worked as a Creche Worker/Nursery Assistant for 4years before moving into Special Education for the last 10years.

In her spare time Julie loves taking her dog for a walk and spending time with her 2 grandchildren.

Julie Ward

Senior RSW
Julie studied b-tec diploma in childcare at college, then started her first job as a nursery nurse at a day nursery in Alwoodley looking after children aged 2-3. Julie was approached by a previous placement she had done while at college offering her a job within a SEN school for Leeds City Council where she stayed for 25 years. During Julie’s time at Milestone now West Silc Julie worked with all different ages and disabilities throughout her years. As well as working with students Julie supported their families and offer any help available to them. Out of work Julie is also a PA for two boys who have additional needs, Julie provides support to the family, helping them get to appointments and providing activities for the boys to get them out to gain independence and better their social skills. In her spare time, Julie enjoys walking her dogs, playing netball and spending time with family and friends.

Hope Amriding

Senior RSW
Hope has 3 years' experience working with children and young
people in an education setting in roles such as teaching assistant
and extended services manager. During this time Hope
completed her training to become a designated member of the
safeguarding team within school.

Hope has also completed a
degree in counselling and mental health and is passionate about
supporting children and young people with their mental health.
During her training Hope, leant the skills to aid young people in
crisis, suffering with mental health disorders and how to counsel those who need support.

Helen Dove

Senior RSW
 Helen has 15 years of experience working with children, young people, and their families. Helen has worked in three education settings as a designated safeguarding lead and member of the senior leadership team as well as working for children’s social work services for four years as a social work assistant holding a case load in a child looked after team. Helen became a foster carer in October 2021 and finds this role extremely rewarding and continues to do this.

Helen has extensive knowledge and experience of supporting children and young people in care and have been at risk of physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Those also who have been at risk of CSE and CCE.

Helen recently joined Care Hubz to continue her commitment to protect the most vulnerable children and young pupil. Helen is passionate about creating and supporting better outcomes for those she works with and has a therapeutic approach to her work using the THRIVE model.

Helen is enrolled on the Level 4 children and young people in residential setting course to complement her work and continued progression in her career.

Janine Elie-Smith

Senior RSW
Janine has over 12 years' experience of working with children and young people as a member of West Yorkshire Scouts, and over 6 years' experience of working in Children’s Residential Care, supporting vulnerable children and young people with challenging behaviours and complex needs. I am currently working towards my NVQ level 4 in Children’s Residential Care.

Paul Andrew

SCW
Paul has worked with children with complex needs and young adults who are transitioning into adult life with The Princes Trust. This included residential trips where staff did trust exercises such as high climbing ropes, orienteering and one to one session to establish any interests to cater support accordingly. Also encouraged participants of the 12-week course to find a community asset that needs refurbishing or for example to create a new community space. The Participants would be expected to source materials for the project for free and actively encourage promotion of the said company donating materials to the local newspapers promoting the good will of the company and highlighting what the individuals have managed to achieve giving the young person confidence and showing what they are able to achieve on their own. This was achieving and challenging, Paul is looking forward to working one to one and as part of a team. Paul enjoys cycling when he gets chance to and has been known to DJ in the past.

Tara Shaw

Senior RCW

​
I’m Tara Shaw, working as a Senior Residential Care Worker, with over 4 years’ experience working in welfare and education. I have a passion for Art and enjoy bringing creativity and sharing it, in to all aspects of my life.

Gavin Hercules

Senior RCW

Am 46 married with 3 kids, 2 girls, and a boy. I love sports. I am a massive Liverpool fan like crazy fan

I love to travel meet different people from all walks of life.

I have worked with children for the last 20rs in a variety of settings like schools, pupil referral units, secure accommodation, and youth work. Outside of work, I play 5 side football and mainly look after my oldest daughter, who is disabled am easy going laid back to a degree. I love music, uk rap,RnB house

Shannon Keenan

Senior RCW
Shannon has been working with children and young people for just over 9 years. Shannon has vast experience working with a wide range of ages all the way from newborn up until 19 years of age. Shannan has achieved Level 3 in Childcare and Education. Shannon has worked in a private nursery for 5 years before moving to become an accounts assistant when she had her son. Shannon began working as a learning support at an SEN school, working on the complex communication and autism corridor. Whilst working at the school Shannon got the chance to experience working with young people with a huge range of different needs Shannon then moved over to work within the behaviour unit at the same SEN school working with SEMH students prior to starting her role at Care Hubz.

Samantha McPhail

RCW
Sam Has been working with children for 12 years Sam worked as a teaching assistant working with children with additional needs including, autism, ADHD, visual impairment, hearing impairment, behavioural needs, working with outside agencies across the board, attend TAC meetings and develop EHCP with teachers to support children's emotional and physical well-being. Sam progressed to the role of HLTA which amongst many things included supporting children's emotional and physical well-being.

Jamie Austin

RCW
Jamie is new to his role and has expressed his interest in completing his NVQ level 4. Jamie is eager to learn in his new role and has formed a great professional relationship with the young person in the home. Jamie is a parent himself and has a great knowledge of the benefits of routines and boundaries for young people. He recently attended PACE training which he found refreshing as a different way of thinking and working with young people. Jamie served in the Army for 8.5 years, during that time he was posted to Afghanistan, Falklands, Belize, Northern Ireland, Germany, Canada, and Kenya all of which meant time away from his family. Jamie is passionate about supporting children and young people in making positive life choices and building on their independence for the future.

Zowie Parkin

RCW
Throughout my entire career, I have dedicated myself to roles that provide assistance and support to others, particularly those who are most vulnerable in society. I have held a range of positions, starting from an office junior and progressing to management roles. My experience includes supporting terminally ill children and their families, as well as caring for adults in their own homes, enabling them to maintain their independence despite facing medical and physical challenges. Collaboration with professionals from various organizations has been essential to ensure consistent care and positive outcomes for these vulnerable individuals.

With my extensive knowledge and experience in caregiving, I have joined Care Hubz with a strong commitment to advocating for the protection and well-being of others. I am driven by a passion for creating and facilitating better outcomes for the individuals I work with.

Joel Adesanya

RCW
Joel has experience with working alongside children and young people. Joel will be enrolled onto the level 3 NVQ in working in children’s residential setting. Joel is eager to progress within the home and has a great willingness to obtain new skills and learn whilst in the job role, Joel has experience of working alongside young people in a semi-independent setting as well as working with children in a residential setting.

Sasha Bell

RCW
Sasha is conscientious, hardworking, and enthusiastic individual who has a vast amount of workplace experience having worked across multiple sectors. She has worked as a professional chef for 9 years across various restaurants and events, which has allowed her to develop lead management skills and the ability to work in a punctual and timely environment. Sasha developed management and care skills through her near 6 years’ experience in the security sector which focused on the overall care and safety of high-profile individuals which then lead her to grow a passion for the care industry. Sasha started her journey via safe hands support group which based around the care of vulnerable individuals, assistance with hospital visits, and the management of organising and disposing of medication, also daily logs and paperwork. Sasha is returning to her role at Broad Lane after the birth of her child.

Nicole Pender

RCW
My names Nicole and I'm 26, I have gained my experience and knowledge from many of the jobs I have done over the years these include working in children social services- domestic violence at Leeds city council where I worked closely with the children and families who had been put on an early help plan. This taught me a lot about how the social work system work, the challenges the children go through and how witnessing domestic violence affects them not only now but in the future.

I then worked in Adults and health as a reablement manager for Leeds council, partnership with the NHS, I cared and supported people from hospital to home and managed a team of support workers. And most recently I was a prison officer at Armley jail. Which statically 70% of offenders have been a looked after child some point in their life. In all these jobs I had to show empathy, resilience, have a caring nature and be a lot of people's support who had never felt like they'd been supported in their whole life, especially with their mental health. Most importantly a good listener, and advocate for the most vulnerable when they felt like there voices was not heard. 

Leroy Miller

RCW
Text coming soon

Michelle Morris

RCW
Text coming soon

Kim Filin

Finance Manager
Kim is the finance manager for both companies

Alex Wheatley

Finance assistant
 Alex is the third member of the finance team and works alongside Kim and Ellie. He has worked for the company since July 2021. During this time, he has developed his role and is currently working on his NVQ level 2.

Alex is interested in rock music and enjoys attending concerts and festivals. He likes travelling and has recently visited Amsterdam and Prague. His main interest is in computers and he studied at Thomas Danby college to develop his IT skills. Alex is regularly called in the office to trouble-shoot with technical hitches.

Prior to working for Youth Hubz, Alex worked for Beyond Lettings answering queries, setting up viewings and inputting data.

Gail Eames

HR executive
 I am a mother of 4 and grandmother of 7 – I am very family orientated and am lucky enough that they all live close. I like to travel and have just returned from 6 weeks in Australia/ New Zealand and the smaller islands off the Barrier Reef. I enjoy staying in rural or coastal areas of Britain with my two very active dogs which require long walks. I have also organised and led 18 residential trips to outward bound centres where I have led activities like climbing, caving and gorge scrambling. I was part of an organised caving trip with one of the first four women cave leaders to descend into Bar Pot and travel through the entire Gaping Gill system to emerge from the main shaft.

I have worked with children and young people for my entire career in a variety of different roles.

I qualified as a teacher in 1978. In my first role i worked in an education setting with travelling children in Boston, Lincolnshire. Since then I have had 26 years of working in schools – at first as a class teacher and later as Assistant Head. Within the school setting I was responsible for teaching and learning, recruitment, supporting staff development, performance management, probation and student liaison. I attended management training courses and organised training to meet the needs of the teachers and support staff.

I also have a Social Care Qualification and 5 years’ experience of working in a large family group Children’s home in Leeds. My duties there included rota management, attending meetings, liaison with other professionals, transitioning children in and out of the home, organising group activities including holidays and day to day care tasks for the 20 children within the home.

I have now worked for Youth Hubz for 4 years. I am currently the HR Executive for both Youth Hubz and Care Hubz.

Amanda Smith

Recruitment and HR administrator
Amanda is an experienced HR Administrator with three years of experience in human resources, specialising in employee relations and recruitment.

In addition to her HR skills, she has over 15 years' experience working with young people through various educational and community programs.

Amanda's unique background enables her to create supportive and inclusive environments within the organisation. She will go above and beyond for all her colleagues.

Laura Lim

Property administrator
I have been working for Barkers Properties since 2022 and I am the Property Administrator across the Hubz companies. I oversee everything property related, setting them up with tenancy agreements, utilities, insurance and creating systems to maintain these areas.  I work closely with the Project Manager and Interior Designer, scheduling any works required within these properties before they open and in between placements for our Young People. I ensure our homes meet Health & Safety and Fire regulations, implementing the correct safety requirements and oversee maintenance works and property certificates. Each day is never the same! Our property portfolio is constantly expanding, so my job role is always fast paced and exciting.

Kirsty Blundel

Property administrator
In my role as a Property Administrator I am responsible for keeping all our properties up date with any maintenance or repairs required, liaising with contractors and key workers to ensure all work required is completed in a timely manner and with the least disruption to our young people. I also ensure all property safety certificates are up to date and renewed when necessary, keeping all our properties up to the high standards we expect to ensure the young people have a safe comfortable home.

Kimberley Dobson

Website manager, In house trainer
and Young Person Champion
In 2021 Kim started at Youth Hubz, preliminary as a key worker in supported accommodation and quickly rising through the ranks to become a senior keyworker and team leader. Kim is Youth Hubz in house trainer working with both staff and young people to upskill them on the company’s systems and training development. Kim is a dedicated medication trainer who has also completed the comprehensive 3-in-1 training program. She has also earned her Safeguard Lead certification, showcasing his commitment to promoting safety and well-being. Kim's innovative approach to supporting both young people and staff has been recognised, leading to her promotion to website manager, in-house trainer, and young person champion in March 2024. When she's not working, Kim can be found pursuing her passion for photography and spending time with her beloved pug.