History of Organisation

Care with Heart began with one young person who was looking for something new. Having completed her college programme, she was ready for the next step and wasn’t sure where to start. Deciding what to do with your life, and finding what makes you happy, is tricky for lots of people; it’s even harder if you need extra help exploring and interacting with the world. We started with one person that she knew well and trusted to help her try new things. We began with things we knew she liked, being outdoors for example. Also doing some baking, dancing, and singing. As she got more confident, other people were able to help her too. She felt braver, and able to take more risks. She learned new skills and pushed her limits. Now she has a full life – full of the right people, busy enough but not too busy, challenging but still comfortable. She’s proud of her achievements, and she’s happy.

One young person became two, and then ten! Everyone had a different story, but the same ambition – to find out what makes them happy, take risks, and pursue a life that’s meaningful for them. Care with Heart was founded in November 2018 to help make that happen. We’re a small, family-run company with 5 members of staff.

What We're About

Fundamentally, Care with Heart exists to help people with learning disabilities live the life they choose. It really is that simple. We believe that all people have the right to make meaningful, informed choices about their lives, and the right to act on those choices.

Mission:

Care with Heart provides skilled, attentive, person-centred support to help people with learning disabilities live the life they choose. Values:

Values

  • We believe all people should have equality of access to opportunities and services. That includes the world of work, leisure activities, community and friendships, education, housing and health services (we could go on!). We work actively to reduce or remove barriers to access experiences for the people we support.
  • We believe all people are able to make choices about their lives. We have a responsibility to actively listen and help people act on those choices. We believe in giving people the opportunity to take positive risks, be ambitious, try new things, make mistakes and change their minds. What’s the worst that could happen?!?
  • We bring passion, commitment, and determination to our work in addition to care, dignity and respect.

Staff Profiles

 

Sophia Trinder, Service Manager

Hello! I’m Sophi, and I’m the service manager for Care with Heart. I’m also a registered nurse for people with learning disabilities. I qualified as a nurse in 2004, but I’ve known people with learning disabilities all my life and it’s been my passion to make the world a fairer and more enjoyable place for as long as I can remember. I started Care with Heart because I wanted to create a company I was proud to work for, and where the focus was truly on helping people with learning disabilities make real choices about their lives and then to live the life they had chosen. I feel truly blessed to share the lives of the wonderful people I meet at work – both people with learning disabilities and their families – and I’m never happier than when I’m out and about helping someone go ice skating, meet up with their friends, or challenge themselves in their own work. When I’m not at work, I like spending time with my husband Ian and my little menagerie of pets: Leila the dog, Neroli the cat, my 16 (ish!!) guinea pigs, and my herd of giant African land snails.

Hello! I’m Sophi, and I’m the service manager for Care with Heart. I’m also a registered nurse for people with learning disabilities. I qualified as a nurse in 2004, but I’ve known people with learning disabilities all my life and it’s been my passion to make the world a fairer

Ian Trinder, Carer and Finance Manager

Hi I’m Ian, I officially joined Care with Heart in October 2018, however, as Sophia’s husband I had the pleasure of getting to know the people she worked with and their families since she started the business. It is now clear that I was on an inevitable path to eventually join her in the organisation and to get to know them even better! I have a passion for working with people and helping them to overcome challenges and lead fulfilling and happy lives. Before I joined Care with Heart I spent a decade working in homelessness and substance misuse services, with the last 4 of those years managing a residential service for people with substance misuse issues. Along with my caring responsibilities, I am also the financial manager, dealing with the more boring but essential financial aspects of the service. In my spare time I like spending time with Sophia, Leila the dog and Neroli the cat, though I do not have too much involvement with the herd of guinea pigs and African land snails!! I am also a musician, I play guitar, sing and write songs and I love sharing my passion for music with the young people we support. I also love listening to music in old fashioned ways (records and CDs!).

Hi I’m Ian, I officially joined Care with Heart in October 2018, however, as Sophia’s husband I had the pleasure of getting to know the people she worked with and their families since she started the business. It is now clear that I was on an inevitable path to eventually

Jen

Hi, I'm Jen. I’ve been working in the care industry for 12 years in a variety of settings and have experience across a wide range of roles. I love the variety and fun that working with learning disabilities brings and being able to help young people live fulfilling lives! I have a background in folk arts and event management, and I sing and play whistles, so I love all the musical activities our young people enjoy. I’m also a keen Morris dancer!

Hi, I'm Jen. I’ve been working in the care industry for 12 years in a variety of settings and have experience across a wide range of roles. I love the variety and fun that working with learning disabilities brings and being able to help young people live fulfilling lives! I

Nikki

Hello, I’m Nikki and I have been working part time for Care with Heart since November 2020. I do a mixture of administration and support work. This is my first time working within the Care sector as my previous jobs have been office-based working as an account manager or more recently in a café. I am married and live locally and have a son who is 6 years old who has Downs Syndrome and keeps me on my toes! Since having my son, I also volunteer and help fund raise for our local support group Downs Syndrome Oxford. I applied to work for Care with Heart as I was drawn to the company’s ethos, it gave me hope and reassurance to what services will be available for my son when he is older. I have always loved horses and volunteer with both the Wantage, and Abingdon Riding for the Disabled groups and have been since 2017. I have a horse called Rebel on loan, who I ride as often as I can. I love food, and love cooking, I’m a real foodie. I also love live music and going to festivals.

Hello, I’m Nikki and I have been working part time for Care with Heart since November 2020. I do a mixture of administration and support work. This is my first time working within the Care sector as my previous jobs have been office-based working as an account manager or more

Ellie

Hi, I’m Ellie and I started working for Care with Heart in June 2020, after eight years working in retail. I really enjoy working with young people with learning disabilities, helping them live fun and successful lives and supporting them to achieve their goals and overcome challenges in a positive and rewarding way. I love getting to know the young people and seeing them grow and change – recently I’ve been helping someone develop their communication skills, and it’s been amazing to see her spontaneously communicate using Makaton signs where before she found making choices and expressing her needs very stressful. I love hiking and bouldering and I’m also a morris dancer, as demonstrated by my picture which was taken at the 2018 Swanage Folk Festival.

Hi, I’m Ellie and I started working for Care with Heart in June 2020, after eight years working in retail. I really enjoy working with young people with learning disabilities, helping them live fun and successful lives and supporting them to achieve their goals and overcome challenges in a positive