Home Instead (Cleveland)

I am a local lad, born and bred in Stockton-on-Tees, and after moving to London for university and a career, was drawn back quite quickly to my native area, where I love to live and where I wanted to bring up my family!

Over the years, I have enjoyed many great times battling on the rugby pitch for Stockton Rugby Club, among other great teams, before my bones and sinews decided they just couldn’t cope with the strains anymore! More sedately, I have been a long-standing member and three times Chairman of Stockton Round Table. This involved me supporting many good local causes and charities, including the elderly, always wanting to be able to contribute to the good of the local community and wider area. On a work front, I have enjoyed a successful career working from the ground up to senior management levels in Human Resources Management and Organisational Development with small as well as very large organisations - I just love being involved with people.

I get a great deal of personal satisfaction from recruiting, training, developing and nurturing great quality staff who deliver fantastic services and who truly enjoy and are totally engaged in the work they do. Whilst always working very hard for other people to improve and better their organisations, my real quest has been to run my own top-quality business.

I bumped into Home Instead, who were looking to open a new office in Cleveland and have not looked back! Home Instead is renowned for its excellence in providing superior quality care across the UK and the world... now available to you where you live!

It is a genuine pleasure working with my partner Michelle, helping her realise her ambition to improve the quality of life, independence and happiness of our clients in their own homes where they want to be, providing peace of mind for their families at the same time.

Equally, I am thrilled to be able to deliver a sought-after service in the community where I live and to create immensely rewarding local jobs for local ‘superstars’ to care for our local elderly. We love what we do!

Home Instead Cleveland is owned by Gavin Morrigan and Michelle Fairless - ‘real life’ partners as well as Home Instead business partners. Together they have had successful careers providing high-quality, reliable and dependable services with well-regarded companies.

For me, it's quite simple: I love what I do! Making a huge difference to families!

I have developed a great passion for providing the highest quality service to older people and their families that sadly I just couldn’t find for my own family when we needed it. Unfortunately, many, many people continue to share my experiences. Knowing of the incredible difficulties and near-impossible challenges many families have faced when service providers have failed to deliver sometimes the most basic levels of dignity and care, my mission has become to provide the very best elderly care possible. We deliver what we promise. My dream to make a real difference is now a reality. It has been so rewarding to see the hugely positive impact that the service we deliver has on people's lives, not only the people we provide care for directly, but their families as well, providing them with much-needed peace of mind through our excellent care and companionship service.

The end result is that this combination enables us to help more people remain independent, happy and fulfilled in their own homes, where most elderly people want to be, for far longer than is often the case, with their families knowing they couldn’t have made a better choice. A choice, sadly, I never had.

Outside of work, Gavin and I enjoy many outdoor activities, particularly in the countryside. We also have 4 children, well young adults really, who themselves have diverse social lives and sporting interests outside of their studies or work. The final additions are our mischievous cat and playful black Labrador who ensure we are kept busy at all times! Very rarely do we find ourselves wondering what to do next or where to go!

When Kate joined Home Instead aged 19, she was looking for more than just a job. She wanted to do meaningful work with people, make a real difference in their lives, and grow her career in a way that felt purposeful and rewarding. Before that, she was in college and working as a supervisor at a food retail chain.

Now our Operations Manager, Kate wants to ensure that more people across the local area can access the care and support they deserve, delivered to the highest standard and in a way that feels personal to them. She cares deeply about standing up for clients, listening to what matters most to them, and doing what is right for each person rather than simply what fits the system. She also wants Home Instead's services to run well, support the local community, and create great career opportunities for people who are passionate about care. She aims to help grow and strengthen Home Instead Cleveland so it becomes the number one place local people trust for all aspects of care.

Outside of work, Kate's hobbies include spending time at her allotment and riding her motorbikes. In fact, when she first began working for Home Instead as a Care Pro, she often travelled to visits on her motorbike, which turned out to be a wonderful conversation starter. It was something many of her clients could relate to, helping her build genuine connections. One client even challenged her to a "race" on his mobility scooter, which topped out at a thrilling 5 mph! It was probably the slowest race in history, but it always brought a laugh and an extra bit of joy to every visit.

Brenda is our Registered Care Manager and joined the Home Instead Cleveland family after a long career of 19 years within the Financial Industry and customer service.

Reason for joining Home Instead:

I believe the position at Home Instead came my way at the right time in my life. With a wealth of experience from working with Customers and People Management, I knew that my skills would be beneficial in contributing to the Home Instead way and working for a company that not only has a CQC Outstanding rating but also has a 5-star Best Employee Award, showing me that they not only give a great service to their clients but also deliver a great service as an employee.

Hobbies/interests:

Outside of work, I’m normally running down the road; no, I am not being chased; I actually enjoy keeping fit. I enjoy going to the gym and have always been a member of some gyms here and there over the years. I love the outdoors, so if I’m not out walking with my dog through the fields, we are camping and living the outdoor life. She is my little companion and brings such enjoyment to my life.

You can normally find me in the office eating; if I’m not eating, I’m looking for food to eat, much to the disappointment of those on diets.

Tell us something interesting about you that not many people know.

I am originally from Northern Ireland; therefore, I am of Irish origin; however, sadly my accent does not reflect that. It certainly keeps people guessing, though. My childhood years were spent moving around within the armed forces.

Our Scheduling Manager, Claire, joined Home Instead because she wanted a role that combined the customer service side of her career with the administrative and organisational aspects she also enjoys. As a Scheduling Manager, she gets the best of both worlds while knowing that her work makes a real difference to people's lives.

Before joining Home Instead, Claire spent over 10 years working in retail, with the majority of that time spent as a Multi-Site Manager in betting shops. This role gave her extensive experience in managing teams, delivering excellent customer service, and coordinating day-to-day operations across multiple locations.

Her main goal is to support both the office team and the Care Professionals in delivering the highest standard of care and support to the elderly community across Cleveland. By ensuring schedules run smoothly and everyone has the support they need, Claire helps make a positive difference to both clients and the team.

Outside of work, Claire loves spending quality time with her family and going on caravan holidays together. Her favourite time of year is Christmas; she loves the excitement, the atmosphere, and bringing family and friends together to celebrate. It's a season that always brings her a lot of joy.

Head of Care Pro Experience, Ross joined Home Instead because he wanted to make a genuine difference in people's lives while leading a team that shares the same values. Home Instead's person-centred approach to care and commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare really appealed to him, and he wanted to be part of a team that puts people first.

Before joining the company, Ross worked in the Merchant Navy, where he developed strong teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills in a demanding and fast-paced environment. That experience taught him the importance of responsibility, adaptability, and maintaining high standards under pressure. Skills that have transferred seamlessly into healthcare management, where supporting both individuals and teams is at the heart of what he does.

His main goal is to ensure every person supported receives safe, compassionate, and high-quality care that allows them to remain independent and enjoy the best possible quality of life. Ross is also focused on creating a positive working environment where the team feels valued, supported, and empowered to deliver exceptional care.

Outside of work, Ross enjoys running, travelling, and watching most sports. Running helps him stay active and set personal goals, while travelling gives him the opportunity to experience different cultures and ways of life.

Jess joined Home Instead out of a deep desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives and give back by supporting those in need. As the Senior Client Experience Representative, she brings a wealth of hands-on care experience and a genuine passion for putting individuals first.

Before joining the Home Instead team, Jess built a strong foundation in healthcare and specialised support. After qualifying as a Dental Nurse, she transitioned into the NHS Mental Health Services, where she worked in a secure hospital setting supporting women with learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. She then went on to work within police custody, providing essential care and support to individuals facing a wide range of vulnerabilities. This background gave her extensive experience in managing complex needs, communicating with empathy, and delivering high-quality care in high-pressure situations.

In her current role, Jess’s ultimate goal is to ensure our clients receive outstanding, tailored care that enables them to remain living comfortably and independently in their own homes for as long as possible. She is dedicated to advocating for clients' needs and ensuring their experience with Home Instead is consistently positive, safe, and compassionate.

Outside of work, Jess loves to relax by binge-watching the latest shows, going on walks with her two miniature dachshunds, and spending quality time with her family.