Meet Our Wonderful Team
Andrew
CEO
Hello, I’m Andrew, firstly, I’m delighted to be part of New Forest Care Homes.
I’m originally from Cumbria but moved around quite a bit being in the military, I started to settle “down south” from London to Hampshire. Once I left the armed forces 20 years ago I embarked into the care industry. I started as a care worker and progressed to CEO and a company owner. My main experience has been within domiciliary care, residential and nursing homes, especially in dementia care.
I like to listen to music, read and walk in the beautiful New Forest.
Ieva holds a level 3 Health and Social Care diploma and is currently studying level 5 Leadership in Adult Care. Ieva has worked in care since 2010 as a care assistant in domiciliary care and care home settings. She has also worked as a support worker for learning disabilities.
Ieva started her career with us in 2012 as a Care Assistant. She progressed her career with New Milton House and is now the registered manager, as of March 2023.
Outside of work, Ieva enjoys travelling, reading and spending time with her husband and her dog, Max.
Ieva
Registered Manager
Melanie
Deputy Manager
Melanie has been involved in elderly care for the past 14 years and started her career as part of a domiciliary agency in 2009. She then worked as a private caregiver for a few years and since then in care homes.
Melanie joined our team as a Senior Care Assistant in September 2022 and was promoted to the position of Deputy Manager in March 2023. She has recently attained her NVQ Level 3 in Adult Care.
Barbara has been working in various accounts roles for over 30 years. Her main role as a finance manager was for a promotional gift company.
When Barbara is not working, her hobbies include photography, cooking, dancing and walking with her husband and Poppy, their Cocker Spaniel. She also enjoys travelling around the globe and raising funds for Breast Cancer Care. One of Barbara’s trips was to China where she walked along The Great Wall of China, and raised over £6,000!
Barbara
Finance Manager
Amanda
Head of Housekeeping
Amanda has worked in the care sector for over 25 years. She joined us in 2005, as a Day & Night Carer. In 2016 Amanda was promoted to Head of Housekeeping. She leads a team of domestic and laundry staff and supports the residents and the home with all aspects of housekeeping.
Outside of work, Amanda’s hobbies include spending time with her family, walking her dog, riding her bicycle & cross stitch.
Duncan has been working within the food industry for over 20 years, holding a variety of different roles during this time. Duncan brings a wealth of experience from his time in hospitality and catering. Duncan’s role at New Milton House is to ensure all residents are catered for, with a focus on unprocessed, whole foods, sourced locally and cooked to residents liking. He is always working with residents to develop the menu and offer dishes to cater for all tastes. Recently Duncan has been busy growing vegetables and herbs in our garden, adding these to the recipes served to residents.
When Duncan is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, forest walks and fishing.
José has been with us since August 2024 and he enjoys cooking and baking for our residents.
Duncan
Head Chef
Sous Chef
Andy
Maintenance
Kevin
Maintenance
Andy has worked as an Environmental Health Officer for New Forest District Council from 1992 until 2020 before having a total career change into the world of buildings and grounds maintenance. Since 2020 Andy has worked at a school, a park homes site and at a riding therapy college for young adults. Andy does all the maintenance around our home.
In Andy’s spare time, he enjoys running, swimming and fishing, particularly in the Scottish Highlands.
Kevin has been with us since February 2024. He is part of our maintenance team and also helps to keep the garden tidy.
Sophie has worked in various admin roles for over 6 years in London and Dorchester.
Sophie greets all New Milton House visitors and deals with enquiries. She also interacts with the residents, which she enjoys, and helps them out with any queries they might have.
Outside of work Sophie enjoys travelling, going on beach walks with her family and their two dogs and attending a mini trampoline fitness class.
Sophie
Reception/Admin
Vicky
Activities/Wellbeing
Chris
Activities/Wellbeing
Vicky was a teacher for 17 years, initially in secondary schools and then chose to work in primary schools where she taught special education needs children. She then had a late family and went into activities and well-being in the care section. Vicky organises all the Home’s activities, from exercise classes to singers/performers as well arts and crafts and movie nights.
Outside of work, Vicky and her husband, Everett, are keen members of the National Trust. Vicky enjoys sea fishing, reading, singing in her local Church choir and is part of the Mini Cooper Register for Dorset.
Christine has been with us since February 2024. Chris helps to organise all the Home’s activities, from exercise classes to singers/performers as well arts and crafts and movie nights. Chris also leads a few services we have in the home, from harvest festivals to remembrance services.
Max and Poppy are our furry friends. They’re often found in Ieva or Barbara’s offices, or having a sniff in the gardens. They’re both very well behaved and our residents love to see them.
We welcome visitors to bring their furry friends too!
Max
Furry Friend
Poppy
Furry Friend
The governance of New Forest Care Homes is undertaken by an independent, voluntary and unpaid Board of Trustees. The board comprises 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 main responsibilities of the Board of Trustees are to:
- Set the annual budget and fee increase plus monitor all expenditures and income
- Appoint the most senior Managers and ensure we act as a responsible employer for all our staff
- Monitor that all care, building and financial standards and regulations are fully compliant
- Ensure that our Care Home remains a caring, safe and happy place for all who live and work there or visit it
The Board of Trustees normally meet monthly with other occasional meetings and visits as required.
Would you be interested in joining us as a Trustee? If so please feel free to make an initial enquiry by email to reception@newmiltonhouse.org.uk or simply drop by and enquire. A Trustee will respond to your enquiry and discuss matters further. New Trustees are then invited to meet other Trustees and serve a trial period. We welcome all local people with appropriate experience and time to offer, in particular those who might have backgrounds in care, finance, buildings and human resources.