Care Opportunities – Meet The Team

Ahmed

C.E.O

As the C.E.O. of Care Opportunities Ahmed Bawa is passionate about service users living life to the full. Ahmed founded the company in 2005, wanting to create an environment where Care Opportunities excel in the care of all service users. The approachable nature of the CEO and management team has helped to create a transparent environment in which the service users and staff thrive. The Care Opportunities philosophy is to offer our service users the choice, dignity, respect and opportunities that we would wish for our own family if they were receiving social care.

Dawn

Clinical Lead

Dr Dawn Thomas-Bawa is a Chartered Consultant Clinical Psychologist and member of the British Psychological Society. As Clinical Director for Care Opportunities, Dawn provides the clinical lead for the organisation, overseeing all clinical input to our residential care home and supported living services. Dawn carries out hands on work with service users as well as providing staff training and supervision to the Assistant Psychologists, Behavioural Specialist’s and Registered Managers. Dawn is also a trainer for the organisation advocating a proactive approach in all support provided.

Dawn has over thirty years of post-qualification experience in the assessment and treatment of people with psychological disorders, including intellectual disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder, mental health problems, neuropsychological difficulties as well as mentally disordered offenders. This has been developed through her extensive work within both the National Health Service and Private sector, in hospitals and in the community.

Jacob

Business Executive

Jacob graduated from the University of Lincoln with an Upper Second Class Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Business Psychology. Whilst undertaking his studies, Jacob worked at Care Opportunities on a part-time basis during the holidays and gained valuable experience working alongside the Clinical team as well as supporting in all the homes.

This work experience gave Jacob an insight on how to support vulnerable adults with intellectual disabilities as well as gaining valuable and transferrable skills in a clinical environment which assisted with his studies. After graduating from University, Jacob joined Care Opportunities as a Business Executive on a full-time basis and supports the Clinical team as well as the Operations team.

Gareth

Business & Operations Manager

Gareth is an experienced business manager with a history of working in customer service industries including health care. Skilled in Operations Management, Business Development, Coaching, Leadership, Profit & Loss Management, and Customer Service. Strong professional, fluent in Prince2 methodology.

After working for and in partnership with the NHS for the past 5 years, where he was responsible for the effective day-to-day operational management of corporate services and contracts, in addition to the rapid mobilisation of multiple healthcare projects for various local authorities.

He also sits on the management board of the Winchester & District Young Carers, in the role of Executive Trustee and the Treasurer. This role includes advising the board, preparing financial budgets & cash flows and coaching the operational management team.

Rhiannon

Registered Manager

Having grown up helping to support her two sisters who have intellectual disabilities, Rhiannon has always had a passion for caring for others. With close family members also working in the care sector for many years, it was a natural decision for Rhiannon to pursue a career in care to broaden her knowledge and understanding and continue to help others.

Following the completion of her college studies, Rhiannon joined Care Opportunities as a Support Worker working at our residential home, The Conifers. After receiving support from the Clinical and Management teams, Rhiannon developed her skills and knowledge and was promoted to Shift Leader at The Conifers.

After successfully completing her NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care, Rhiannon was promoted to Support Team Leader and moved to work in one of our supported living homes, Oak House, in Camberley. Following the successful transition into her new position, Rhiannon progressed quickly to Senior Support Team Leader where she ran two of the four supported living homes in Camberley as well as assisting the Registered Manager at that time. Due to her hard work, experience and dedication to her role and our service users, Rhiannon’s registration was granted by the CQC for her to become Registered Manager for our supported living homes.

Paul

Senior Behavioural Specialist

Paul works for Care Opportunities as a Behavioural Specialist, providing assessment and treatment services using a multi-element model. This enables Paul to establish non-aversive behavioural support plans for adults with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorders and mental health problems who present varying degrees of challenging behaviour. Paul has been involved in providing health care services within the NHS, Social Services and the private sector. Paul has also specialised in the provision of services for people with learning disabilities, both within hospital settings and in the community.

Paul is committed to providing the most advanced and highest possible quality services in support of people with challenging behaviour. His goal is to promote the best quality of life possible for adults with learning disabilities, by enabling them to live regular lives in natural settings with full, positive and valued community presence and participation.

Danielle

Registered Manager

In 2013 at the age of 17, Danielle applied for her first job and started her career with Care Opportunities as a Support Worker working at our residential home, The Conifers. It was recognised early on that Danielle had potential to progress within the Company and after only 6 months of employment, Danielle was promoted to Shift Leader. 

After showing great commitment to learn and dedication to develop her skills and knowledge, Danielle completed the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management. Danielle was promoted and became the Registered Manager for The Conifers in 2015. During her time as Registered Manager, Danielle successfully achieved the ‘Outstanding’ rating on two occasions following inspections from the CQC. 

Ibrahim

Trainee Behavioural Specialist

Following the completion of a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioural Sciences in 2019 at Buckinghamshire New University, Ibrahim went on to graduate from Brunel University London with a Master’s in Physiological sciences in 2020. 

Ibrahim gained over 5 years of experience as a Senior Support Worker supporting individuals with mental health challenges. Ibrahim was heavily involved in delivering creative and outstanding support to clients wishing to live as independently as possible within their own homes and in the community.   

Ibrahim joined the clinical team at Care Opportunities in July 2021 and works across all of our homes supporting our service users. Care Opportunities is currently supporting Ibrahim to complete his Master’s in Applied Behaviour Analysis at the Tizard Centre, University of Kent.

Katy

Assistant Psychologist

Katy has recently graduated from Bournemouth University with an Upper Second-Class Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology with Forensic Investigation. While her course provided her with a good basis in the many branches of psychology, it was Clinical Psychology that Katy took the keenest interest in and is pursuing post-university. Prior to university, Katy had worked as a Healthcare Assistant and Support Worker for the elderly and young adults with severe learning disabilities. It was this work that sparked her love for the care industry and encouraged her to expand her knowledge in the area and help others improve their daily lives.