Meet our Trustees
Dawn Barker – Chairperson of the Board of Trustees
I moved to Barton on Sea in May 2021 after living most of my life around Heathrow and working in London. My background is Human Resources and I was most recently the Human Resources Director for Crossrail Limited, the company who built the new Elizabeth Line railway in London. Moving to Barton saw my retirement from that company after 22 years.
Previously I have held senior Human Resources roles in Lombard NatWest, Railfreight Distribution and Prudential Insurance.
I joined the Board of Trustees of New Milton House in January 2022 and have recently taken on the Chair role.
New Milton House is a great care home and I am very pleased to be part of it.
Nigel
I have been a Trustee since June 2019 having retired earlier that year after a long career as a Senior Manager in the housing and care sectors. I worked for four County Councils and a Housing Association, mostly responsible for planning, developing and managing newly built retirement housing and care homes for older people. I have visited several hundred care homes in my career and I am delighted to still be involved in this much valued service by helping New Milton House in its ambition to achieve outstanding care.
I am also a Trustee of The Abbeyfield Wessex Society based in Bournemouth and of Sandleheath Village Hall, a village I moved to in 2016. My colleagues believe I spend too much time playing golf and holidaying in Europe, neither of which I can deny!
Angela
Having completed my nurse training in my home country of Wales, I moved to Dorset to specialise in cancer and haematology nursing.
I spent the following 37 years, setting up nurse-led cancer/ haematology services in both primary and secondary care, also working in London, South Africa and Australia.
Following my retirement from The NHS
I took up a position for 5 years as a Specialist Nurse Advisor for the Care Quality Commission inspecting Cancer/ Medicine and End of Life Care.
I enjoy tennis, looking after our grandchildren and walking in the forest with our miniature schnauzer Max.
I am very pleased to be a trustee of New Milton House which is always developing and looking at new ways to deliver great care.
Mike
Originally from Chester, I have lived in The New Forest area for 40 years. After 22 years in the banking industry, I had a brief spell in Financial Services followed by almost two decades in schools management as a school Bursar and Facilities Manager before a more recent role in the Telecare industry. I bring to the team experience in several fields including finance, buildings management and practical skills.
I live locally with my wife and enjoy dog walking, food and travel.
Governance
The governance of New Forest Care Homes is undertaken by an independent, voluntary and unpaid Board of Trustees. The board comprises of local people who give up their time to help ensure New Milton House remains an important service to the local community, providing excellent care within a charitable and not-for-profit ethos. The Board of Trustees also ensure that the organisation complies with all Charity Commission rules and regulations, plus all other Company Registration and Care Quality Commission standards.
The Board of Trustees normally meet bimonthly with other occasional meetings and visits as required.
The main responsibilities of the Board of Trustees are to:
1. Set the annual budget and fee increase plus monitor all expenditures and income
2. Appoint the most senior Managers and ensure we act as a responsible employer for all our staff
3. Monitor that all care, building and financial standards and regulations are fully compliant
4. Ensure that our Care Home remains a caring, safe and happy place for all who live, work or visit
