Milewood Leadership Team.
Martyn Heginbotham
Chief Executive Officer
Martyn joined Milewood in September 2023 following an extensive career in the Health and Social Care arena.
Latterly Martyn held the post of Chief Operating Officer at Salutem Care and Education, where he was instrumental in the integration of the acquisitions, the culture of the business and its commercial success. Martyn is very proud that he started his career as a Support Worker at a young age and champions people having Careers in Care
Martyn says supporting and enabling not only the people within his care but those working within the industry to have great lives, is why he does what he does. He believes no matter our title within the business, our mission is the same- enable great lives.
Greg Robinson
Head of Estates
Greg joined Milewood in May 2023. Greg has worked in Social Care for 11 years and has degrees in Building Surveying. Greg started his career as Building Surveyor in a national consultancy before specialising in estates management for Care organisations. He then spent some time as Property Manager with Voyage Care and most recently was Head of Property for Lifeways Group. His overall passion and commitment for the care sector led him to recently join us as Head of Estates in May 2023.
Greg says, when I was offered the opportunity to join Milewood I simply couldn’t refuse, the senior management teams’ vision and dedication to improve the environments and enrich the lives of the people who live in our services aligns with my own core values.
Dan Blackith
Head of Human Resources
Dan started with Milewood in June 2023. Dan previously held a role as Director of People & Culture for a Yorkshire based provider of adult and social care, moving from Head of HR at Autism Plus. Dan prides himself on being a trustee for a Northeast based charity, focusing on parental relationships. Dan holds a degree in Business & Management and a postgraduate degree in HR Management and has been an active member of the CIPD since 2005.
Dan says, I pride myself on being an approachable, pragmatic and solutions focused colleague.
Harish Arora
Chief Financial Officer
Harish has been with Milewood for 19 years and has an extensive background in Accounting, Finance, and IT. Harish started his career in the Fresh Produce sector before making a transition into the care sector. He joined Milewood in 2005 as Finance Controller and became Group Finance Director in 2012. Since joining, he has been instrumental in the growth of Milewood.
Harish says, when it comes to care provision, empathy is key. My team and I work to ensure that finances don’t compromise the quality of our care. Healthcare finance is partly about using resources wisely, but, ultimately, it’s about putting service users first.
Bryony Kent
Head of Quality and Safeguarding
Bryony started her career in care as a support worker in a residential setting with adults with autism and working as a personal assistant for an autistic adult in their own home. After qualifying as a social worker, Bryony first worked as Sensory social worker, working with Adults with a sensory loss. Bryony can communicate in British Sign Language and is passionate about promoting and including the Deaf community. Bryony also learnt to communicate in Deafblind manual and volunteered with the Guide dogs for several years.
Her social work career then took her to the safeguarding team, where she worked for 6 years as a senior social worker and a team manager. She then became a Care Quality Commission inspector, the regulator of care homes, ensuring services were compliant with regulations before coming to Milewood in September 2023.
Bryony chose to work for Milewood as she said the values and passion of the staff to achieve better outcomes for people was clear and she wanted to be part of journey.
Theresa Cook
Business Development Manager
Theresa started with Milewood in March 2024. Theresa has an extensive background in social care, she started as a support worker in 1999 and has worked her way up through the career path working in positions as senior support worker, deputy manager, home manager eventually ending up as the regional manager. Theresa has dedicated her career to supporting young people and adults with learning disabilities, (PMLD), mental health, acquired brain injury and complex needs for over 20 years. Theresa has held positions in the operations team as well as in the capacity of Head of Referrals and Placements since 2004 & then moving onto commissioning new developments.
Theresa prides herself on working as part of the senior management team to ensure that individuals that we support are afforded the right care and support within the right environment with the right support package to best support the individuals’ needs. Theresa is passionate in her professional role ensuring that each individual has a bespoke package of support tailored to their individuals needs and that they have the best opportunity to achieve outcome focused goals and aspirations. Seeing individuals thrive in their lives gives Theresa satisfaction that she is doing her role to the best of her abilities.
Regional Managers
Farah Hutchinson
Regional Manager (Maternity Leave)
Farah has worked for Milewood since Jan 2008. Farah started her journey as a Home Manager, progressing in 2009 becoming one of our Regional Managers. In 2018 Farah took on the role of Nominated Individual. Farah has completed a level 4 Leadership and Management Course with the Registered Manager’s Award. With a passion for learning Farah has also completed her NVQ 7 Leadership and Management and level 5 Medication Management.
Farah says – I have worked exclusively with Learning Disabled Adults and Mental Health for most of my career, including those with Complex Behavioral Needs and have managed to develop their skills so that they can access the community with less support. I have spent time working in both residential and supported living services. I have been part of the team who have set up all the supported living services within Milewood.
Lyndsey Purdie
Regional Manager
Lyndsey is a Regional Manager for Milewood who is also a registered mental health nurse, Qualifying from the University of Nottingham with a 1ST Class Honours Degree in 2014. Since then, Lyndsey has studied for further recognised qualifications in ASD, Diabetes and Nursing mentorship. Lyndsey also holds a Level 5 in Healthcare Management and is currently finishing studying for her master’s Level Non-Medical Prescribing course at the University of Nottingham.
Lyndsey says – I have undertaken a number of training courses via work with a particular interest in trauma informed care, positive behavioural support, and service development. I have worked with service users with mental health conditions and learning disabilities for over 10 years and love to provide holistic and person-centred care.
Louise Thompson
Regional Manager
Louise joined Milewood in January 2023. Louise’s career in care began working with Children and Young people with complex and challenging behaviours. Since then, Louise has worked across the care sector including Learning Disability, Physical Disability and Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation services. Louise also holds the qualification in Care to Level 5 and holds a Degree in Leadership and Management.
Louise says, I have worked for several years as a National Contracts Manager and Development Manager within the Further Education sector and am qualified in training and quality assurance, but care is where my heart is.
Julie Hutchinson
Regional Manager
Julie joined Milewood in November 2023. Her career in the Health & Social Car sector has seen Julie progress from being a care worker, senior carer, care coordinator, registered manager, and regional operations manager. Working in a variety of settings including with the elderly, complex clinical care and adults with learning disabilities and mental health conditions, Julie has found that her passion lies in supporting adults to reach their full potential and achieving their goals. Julie has achieved her H&SC qualifications, is trained in MAKATON and is a qualified mental health first aider.
When the opportunity arose to join Milewood at a time of development and change, she jumped at the chance to be a part of a forward thinking and growing organisation where her skills and knowledge can affect positive changes for the people we support. Julie’s favourite part of the role is spending time in the services and interacting with people in their daily lives.
Samantha Hunt
Regional Manager
Samantha started her management career holding her first registration in 2007, and has managed both residential and supported living services.
Samantha has worked for Milewood since December 2023, joining us as a Regional Manager. Samantha has worked predominately with Learning Disabilities, Autism, Mental Health, including complex behavioural needs. Samantha holds level 4 Leadership and Management Course with the Registered Manager’s Award, and an ILM future Leaders qualification. Samantha has a passion for learning and is currently undertaking her ILM level 5 in Coaching and Mentoring. Samantha says I have a passion for delivering high quality support and always strive for excellence to ensure that people we support are living their best lives. It is really important to me to support and develop high performing teams, and to generate a positive culture.
Tina Kelly
Group Training Manager
Tina began her career in Health and Social care in 2010, having previously worked in a management role for a data solutions provider. Tina has a Degree in Leadership & Management, and in Education & Training. She uses her skills and knowledge to oversee the team of trainers, supporting our employees with their Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and ensures training compliance nationwide.
Tina says, supporting the Learning & Development function of our services is often complex, but extremely rewarding. Being able to see the employees’ journey as part of their development is what makes my role so fulfilling, and, knowing our staff have the skills and knowledge they need to be able to enhance the quality of someone’s life, make them feel valued, supported and safe is unmeasurable.