Meet the People Behind New Horizons
At New Horizons, our people are at the heart of everything we do. From our compassionate support workers in our children’s homes to the experienced managers and senior team working behind the scenes, every person plays a vital role in building brighter futures for the children and young people we support.
We believe in seeing potential in every moment and every individual. Our commitment to learning and development means we attract and retain exceptional people at every level of the organisation. Together, our diverse team brings a wealth of skills, experience, and dedication – united by one shared goal: to provide safe, nurturing, and life-changing care for every child in our homes.
Bharati Parikh
Responsible Individual
Bharati Parikh started New Horizons (Stockport) Ltd in 1996 with one clear vision – to create safe, nurturing homes where children and young people can truly thrive. Nearly three decades later, she’s still as hands-on and committed as ever – personally conducting most staff interviews, carefully matching every child to the home that will meet their needs best, and visiting every home weekly to stay connected with both staff and children.
With over 30 years’ business experience, a degree in Business Studies and Management, and more than 30 childcare-related training courses under her belt, Bharati blends sharp business skills with a deeply personal dedication to every single child in our care. She knows their names, their stories, their struggles, and their triumphs – and she celebrates each milestone as if they were her own.
Bharati believes that every child deserves not just a roof over their head, but a place where they are valued, understood, and loved. Her leadership style is rooted in compassion and high expectations – ensuring our homes run smoothly, our staff feel supported, and our children have the stability, guidance, and opportunities they need to grow into confident, resilient young adults.
Simply put – Bharati isn’t just the founder of New Horizons, she is its heart, championing brighter futures for every child who walks through our doors.
Blake Parikh
Blake Parikh joined New Horizons in 2009 as a key worker, supporting children and young people directly. Over the years, he’s worked his way up through management to become our Operations Director – and yes, he also happens to be Bharati’s son. That family connection isn’t just a detail; it’s part of what makes New Horizons what it is – a genuinely family-run organisation where every decision is personal, and every child is known by name.
Blake is passionate about projects that raise the bar for our homes, ensuring the highest possible standards of care. With a BA in Accountancy & Finance and an incredible eye for numbers, he’s the one who can spot a budget anomaly from a mile away – but he also knows the story behind every figure, every child, and every member of staff.
Known for being kind, witty, and a natural people person, Blake has been a mentor to the entire Head Office team, sharing his knowledge, humour, and knack for problem-solving. He cares deeply about investing in our staff and giving them the tools and confidence to provide the best possible environment for our children.
Whether he’s crunching numbers, overseeing a major home improvement, or sharing a laugh with a colleague, Blake’s goal is always the same – to keep improving, keep raising standards, and keep making sure every child in our care feels safe, supported, and ready for a brighter future.
Victoria Barton
Human Resources Manager (and Occasional Web Designer)
Victoria Barton joined New Horizons in 2009 as an Administrative Assistant, and like most people in a small, family-run organisation, she’s had more job titles than she can remember. Now officially our Head of HR, she also looks after payroll, Local Authority tenders, staff wellbeing… and, as it turns out, writing her own bio while building this very website.
With over 15 years of experience, a CIPD Level 5 Advanced Diploma in HR, and a Level 5 Diploma in Business Management, Victoria is passionate about finding and keeping the right people – the ones with the skills and heart to make a real difference for children. She believes in HR that’s human and kind, preferring conversations over confrontation and solutions over red tape.
A Qualified Mental Health First Aider, Victoria knows that happy, supported teams create happy, supported children. Whether she’s recruiting or solving a tricky HR issue, everything she does has one goal – giving our frontline teams what they need so they can focus on building brighter futures for children.
Janet Fox
Referrals & Office Manager
If you’ve ever visited our Head Office, chances are the first person you met was Janet Fox – our warm, welcoming, and wonderfully witty Office Manager and Referrals Manager. Janet has been the friendly face of New Horizons since 2014, bringing over 30 years of office experience, an NVQ Level 3 in Administration, and more than 20 years in the social care sector.
Before joining us, Janet spent 13 years as a Senior Placement Officer for a major fostering agency, and she now uses that wealth of experience to manage referrals from over 300 Local Authorities across the UK. Her role is crucial – carefully matching each child or young person to the home that best meets their needs, while ensuring a good balance with the children already living there. This attention to detail helps provide the stability, safety, and sense of belonging that every child deserves.
Janet works closely with our Directors, Home Managers, and Local Authorities to secure placements that give children the best chance to live a safe and happy life, and to grow into confident, resilient young adults. She also keeps our Head Office running smoothly, supports recruitment, and acts as PA to our Director, Bharati Parikh.
Her bubbly personality, quick sense of humour, and dedication to doing whatever is needed makes Janet an irreplaceable part of our team – and a big reason why our homes are able to focus on what matters most: caring for children.
Bernice Poole
Learning & Development Manager & Property Manager
If there’s a training session happening at New Horizons, Bernice Poole will be leading it – and if she’s not, she’s organised it, checked it twice, and made sure everyone has the biscuits they like. Joining us in 2019 as a Deputy Manager before stepping into her Learning & Development role in 2021, Bernice now heads up all staff training across the organisation. She’s our in-house expert in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) – accredited by Cornell University – and quite literally knows everything there is to know about it.
With over 18 years of experience working with children and young people, Bernice brings warmth, reassurance, and a “never say no” attitude to everything she does. She’s a constant, calming presence in our homes, beloved by staff and children alike – always ready to listen, offer support, or break into a quiet hum as she works.
Bernice’s passion is helping our staff be the very best they can be, so they can provide the highest possible standard of care. Whether she’s delivering training in safeguarding, restorative practice, or attachment and brain development, she makes learning engaging, practical, and firmly focused on what matters most – improving the lives of the children in our homes.
Kind-hearted, endlessly supportive, and always going the extra mile, Bernice has been an incredible addition to our Head Office team – the sort of colleague whose presence makes the whole place feel calmer, brighter, and more connected.
Sharron Edwards
Head of Care
With over 27 years of dedicated service in children’s residential care, Sharron has supported young people across England and Wales with an extraordinary breadth of diverse and complex needs. Her experience includes sexual trauma, exploitation, gang affiliation, social, emotional and mental health challenges, learning disabilities, and many other situations where children need the steady presence of a skilled, compassionate adult.
What truly sets Sharron apart is not just her experience, but the warmth she brings to every interaction. Her career has been grounded in creating safe, nurturing environments where children feel seen, valued, and understood. She believes deeply in the power of relationships, and in giving young people the stability and kindness they need to heal, grow and thrive.
As Head of Care, Sharron oversees our Home Managers and carries out detailed audits to ensure every home is not just Ofsted-ready, but a genuinely welcoming, loving and emotionally safe place for children to live. Her knowledge is exceptional, her standards are high, and her presence lifts every home she walks into.
Sharron’s warmth, humour and gentle approach make her a much-loved part of our homes — and once she’s supported a team for a while, no one ever wants her to leave. Every decision she makes comes back to one simple priority: making life better, safer and happier for the children in our care.
Our Registered Managers – Leading with Care
Ivydene Registered Manager
New paragraph
Rosedene Registered Manager
Phillipa joined New Horizons (Stockport) Ltd in June 2018, bringing with her over 32 years of extensive experience in Health and Social Care. She has worked across both adult and children’s services, supporting individuals with mental health needs, learning disabilities, substance misuse, autism, and emotional and behavioural difficulties. This breadth of practice has given her a deep understanding of complex needs and an exceptional ability to respond with clarity, confidence and compassion.
As the Registered Manager of Rosedene Children’s Home, Phillipa is known for her sharp insight, high standards and unwavering determination to secure the very best outcomes for the young people in her care. She brings a rare blend of warmth, honesty and decisiveness to her work, never shying away from a challenge and always going the extra mile to ensure every child feels safe, valued and supported to reach their potential.
Phillipa is highly qualified, holding a Diploma Level 7 in Leadership & Management, a Diploma Level 5 in Leadership & Management, NVQ Levels 3 and 4 in Health & Social Care, and an NVQ Level 3 in Management. She has also completed extensive specialist training including a BTEC Advanced Award in Care Skills, Safeguarding Children, First Aid, Attachment Theory, Professional Boundaries, Child Sexual Exploitation training, Health and Safety, Medication Training, Risk Assessment, and Missing from Home. This strong professional foundation underpins her confident leadership and her ability to guide, mentor and inspire her team.
With her wealth of experience and her unwavering commitment to improving children’s lives, Phillipa leads Rosedene with both passion and purpose, ensuring it is not only Ofsted-ready but, more importantly, a safe, supportive and positive place for young people to call home.
Oakdene Registered Manager
Anne-Marie joined Oakdene in January 2019, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience from across residential childcare. Warm, funny and deeply caring, she has a natural ability to connect with children — especially those with attachment needs, autism, emotional and behavioural difficulties, and those at risk of exploitation. Her genuine kindness and calm confidence help young people feel safe, understood and supported, even in their most difficult moments.
Her dedication, intuition and strong leadership qualities quickly became clear. After starting with us as a Senior, she was promoted to Deputy Manager in March 2021, and continued to grow her skills and understanding of complex needs. In April 2023, she stepped into the role of Registered Manager, where she now leads Oakdene with the same warmth, humour and steady presence she brings to every interaction. She has nearly a decade of experience in residential childcare and remains deeply committed to her own professional development, ensuring she provides the highest standard of care and leadership.
Anne-Marie is working towards the BTEC Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare and already holds a Level 5 Leadership & Management qualification, alongside a Level 3 Diploma in Children and Young People’s Workforce. She has also undertaken extensive specialist training in areas such as autism, learning disabilities, mental health, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, attachment, child sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, equality and diversity, safeguarding at an advanced level, medication, health and nutrition, internet and online safety, risk management, GDPR, fire safety, first aid, supervision and appraisal, and a wide range of mental-health-focused courses including self-harm, sexualised behaviour, depression, suicide awareness and psychological first aid. This impressive training portfolio reflects not only her knowledge, but her commitment to being the best possible advocate for the children she supports.
With her warmth, humour, emotional intelligence and strong professional grounding, Anne-Marie leads Oakdene with heart. She creates a safe, nurturing and positive home where children feel valued, respected and believed in — and where staff feel supported, guided and inspired. Her resilience and dedication make her an exceptional Registered Manager and a much-loved part of the New Horizons family.
Ferndene Registered Manager
Amie has been part of the New Horizons family for over 20 years, beginning her journey as a Residential Support Worker before progressing through a variety of roles and becoming the Registered Manager of Ferndene Children’s Home in 2009. She has led Ferndene for over 15 years with the same warmth, steadiness and compassion she brought on her very first day. Gentle yet incredibly resilient, Amie is known for her calm presence, her ability to truly understand children, and her deep commitment to achieving the very best outcomes for every young person who comes through the door.
Her leadership blends strong, evidence-informed practice with genuine care, ensuring that Ferndene is not only consistently Ofsted-compliant but a home where children feel safe, understood and supported to reach their potential. Amie applies her knowledge with grace and humility; staff trust her implicitly because she leads by example — quietly, consistently and with unwavering dedication.
Amie holds a BA (Hons) Degree in Sociology and Social Policy (2:1), a Diploma Level 5 in Leadership and Management of Care Services (Children and Young People’s Management), and AIM 2 Assessor status. She has also completed extensive specialist training in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), Safeguarding Children — including Parental Alcohol Misuse, CSE and Child Protection — Disability Awareness, Preparing Young People for Independence, and Attachment and Development. This combination of academic grounding, therapeutic insight and hands-on experience gives her an exceptional depth of understanding that she draws on every day.
With her knowledge, experience and unwavering commitment to children’s wellbeing, Amie continues to be the heart of Ferndene — creating a safe, nurturing environment where every child feels valued, believed in, and supported toward a brighter and more hopeful future.
Hollydene Registered Manager
Paul has spent more than two decades supporting children and young people with complex needs, developing a calm, compassionate and highly skilled approach that makes him an exceptional leader at Hollydene. His early career was rooted in learning disability services, where he discovered his passion for supporting young people to grow in confidence, learn new skills and express themselves in ways that felt safe and meaningful to them.
Over the years, Paul has taken on a variety of roles across residential and short-break settings, gradually moving into senior positions where he supported staff teams and helped shape high-quality, child-centred care. He joined Hollydene as Deputy Manager in 2022, became Manager in 2024, and was officially registered with Ofsted in March 2025.
Now leading a home that supports children with higher-level and more complex needs — including many who are non-verbal and communicate in alternative ways — Paul brings gentleness, dignity and deep understanding to every aspect of his work. He leads with kindness, ensuring that children feel respected, safe and emotionally held, and that the team around them feel supported, confident and valued. Under his guidance, the Hollydene staff team has flourished, showing exceptional dedication, creativity and warmth.
The progress of the children continues to be profoundly moving. Some who were once believed to be non-verbal are now beginning to vocalise for the first time, finding new ways to communicate and connect. These moments, often emotional for staff and families alike, reflect Paul’s steady leadership and the extraordinary care provided by his entire team.
Paul is incredibly proud of Hollydene — a home where children with complex needs can experience joy, build trust, develop at their own pace, and feel genuinely valued every single day.
