Bluebird Care (Cheltenham, Gloucester & Tewkesbury)

John’s career spanned 32 years in the pharmaceutical industry, culminating in a position as Director of Production for a well-known multinational. Gained while working in the UK, Europe and India, John's pharmaceutical background is extremely useful in understanding the medication being taken by our customers, and in professional discussions with healthcare professionals.

John also has a strong interest in health and safety and has a Diploma in Safety Management. His expertise feeds into our health and safety and risk assessment processes and training and contributes to the safety of staff and customers. He also has primary responsibility for the business finances.

John says everything we do from care assessment and planning through to staff recruitment, training and management are underpinned by the simple vision “all of our customers should be looked after with the same care and concern that we would want for our own loved ones”.

Gareth is a franchisee and Co-Director of the business and the eldest son of Gillian.

Starting his career as a software engineer for civilian and military applications, he gained a solid grounding in process design which has been invaluable in identifying efficient business practices.

Deciding in 1997 that he was more of a 'people person', Gareth made his hobby a full-time occupation and became a professional martial arts instructor, teaching Karate and Aikido in Bristol, Swindon and Cheltenham. He still teaches classes in Cheltenham.

The diagnosis of a close family member with Vascular Dementia brought the Care Industry to Gareth's attention in 2007, and in 2008 he joined the family business. Since then he has worked within Bluebird Care as a Care Worker, Care Coordinator, Manual Handling Trainer, and most recently Director.

He sees his role as having responsibility for Customers and Care Workers alike and devotes a significant portion of his time to improving the welfare of everyone involved with Bluebird Care.

Gillian Manning is a franchisee and Co-Director of the business. She and John are life partners as well as business partners.

Gillian is a qualified solicitor with many years of experience in social welfare law, including employment, discrimination and welfare benefits. It was her background in working with people with disabilities which led her into the care business.

She also sits as a Judge on the Disability Appeal Tribunal, deciding appeals in relation to disability benefits.

She has achieved the NVQ level 4 Registered Managers Award, enabling her to perform the Care Manager's role if the need should arise.

Tracy joined Bluebird Care in 2014 as a Care Assistant. She has previously worked in a variety of office based and customer facing roles but this was her first venture into care. Tracy is caring, efficient, always cheerful, and has an instinctive empathy with customers. Such skills meant that Tracy was soon promoted to the role of Care Coordinator, Lead Care Supervisor, and most recently has become our Registered Care Manager.

Tracy has a passion for supporting those living with dementia and is specialised in Dementia Awareness training, Tracy uses her enhanced knowledge and skills to support carers and customers alike. Tracy is also qualified to deliver moving and handling and Parkinson's Awareness training.

Tracy won the Bluebird Care national award for Team Member of the Year in September 2016 - quite an achievement within a network of over 200 franchises!

Tracy has recently achieved a Level 3 Diploma in Leadership and Management and is currently working towards her Level 5 Diploma in Health and Social Care.

Donna joined Bluebird Care in July 2013 as a part-time Care Assistant. Donna has kept upskilling herself through our Career Journey, firstly being promoted to Supervisor after only a short time. Donna was then promoted to Recruitment and Training Liasion due to her natural empathy and supportive nature. Donna has proven herself to be an asset to the office team and has most recently accepted a promotion of Deputy Care Manager.

Donna is also our Dementia lead and delivers Dementia Awareness training to all new staff, along with yearly updates. Donna has also created further training for carers who have expressed a wish to become a dementia specialist. Donna has a great working-relationship with Gloucester Dementia education strategy and is extremely proud of this.