Maria's Homecare Companions

Maria established Maria's Home Care in 2009, bringing with her a strong background in care that began at the age of 17. She has worked in Nursing Homes, provided private care, and supported various agencies, quickly building extensive experience as both a caregiver and a manager. Having also cared for her own family members, Maria understands the emotional aspects of care from both the giver’s and the receiver’s perspective, giving her a deep sense of empathy.

In addition to her work in care, Maria has experience as a police officer, where she supported individuals through a wide range of challenging situations, further strengthening her compassion and resilience.

Maria is also the proud founder of the Dean's Senior Tea Club, a charity established in 2010 to support older people in the communities of Peacehaven, Saltdean, Telscombe, and Rottingdean. The club encourages social interaction and helps reduce isolation, growing from strength to strength to now welcome around 300 members. Clients are also encouraged to attend and enjoy the social activities. Many members describe the club as a lifeline, particularly as they have lost friends over time.

Maria has won numerous awards in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the community through this remarkable charity as well as for her CQC-rated "good" care company.

Hayley has been part of the journey from the very beginning. She brings an extensive medical background, including managerial roles at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, which has played a key role in building a successful and trusted service. From the outset, the company has been built on a hands-on approach, and to this day, both Hayley and Maria continue to step in and cover visits when carers are unwell. They remain fully involved in every client’s care and rehabilitation, offering guidance and making referrals to appropriate community specialists where needed.

Hayley is also our dedicated Palliative Care Champion. Clients and families going through difficult times often describe her as a true source of strength. With her advanced knowledge and compassionate approach, she helps ensure clients can remain in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded by loved ones, while receiving high-quality, pain-free care.

In addition, Hayley oversees staff training, ensuring that all team members remain fully up to date and compliant with current health and social care standards.

Sara has been a valued member of Maria's Home Care since 2020. Over this time, she has progressed from a dedicated carer to Care Co-ordinator, where she now supports and leads a team of 40 carers, helping them grow and deliver the highest standard of care.

Sara is nearing completion of her Level 5 apprenticeship in Health and Social Care Leadership, further strengthening her skills and knowledge within the role. Colleagues often praise her kind and compassionate approach to teaching, guidance, and support, ensuring that both staff and clients feel valued and well cared for.

She has built strong relationships with key stakeholders, helping to ensure that every client can access the specialist support they need within the community, including equipment services, District Nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians, and GPs.

Sara is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish, and recently welcomed a beautiful baby girl—congratulations to her on this wonderful milestone.

Mitzy joined the team as a carer in 2020 and has since progressed to the role of Care Co-ordinator. In this position, she supports and guides our carers while also managing the rostering of all client visits.

She has played a key role in developing and streamlining our systems, ensuring clients benefit from continuity of care with regular carers and that their preferred visit times are consistently met to a high standard. Mitzy’s organisation and attention to detail have helped establish our reputation for reliability, particularly in delivering care at the times we promise.

Clients often comment on how easy it is to contact the office and receive a prompt, helpful response. Our service operates 24/7, including an out-of-hours telephone line, ensuring support is always available when needed.

Mitzy also makes regular visits to clients, allowing them to put a face to the name. We believe this personal approach is important in building trust and maintaining strong, friendly relationships.

Mitzy is deep in her apprenticeship for a Level 4 in Health and Social Care Leader

John has been a valued member of the team since 2019 and is highly sought after by our clients. He is known for his gentle, calm approach and great sense of humour, often boosting morale and encouraging clients to stay active and social.

John has also completed a secondment with the District Nurses as an Assistant DN, gaining valuable experience working alongside community nursing teams. He brings this knowledge into his role, enhancing the level of care and support he provides.

He is currently training to become a Care Co-ordinator and is working towards his Level 4 qualification in Health and Social Care Leadership.

John has a particular interest in dementia care and demonstrates a natural ability to support clients with understanding and compassion, even in more complex situations. He is skilled at encouraging engagement, promoting good nutrition and hydration, and lifting mood through techniques such as memory boards, reminiscence activities, and familiar music.