About Refugee Host Support

Management

A foster carer herself, Jan has devoted over 40 years of her life to the care of children and young people in the UK. Jan Rees is widely considered a pioneer in developing therapeutic foster care services and specialist support for children and families, not just in the UK but around the world.

Management

A senior social work manager with over 30 years’ experience. Luke has worked in the statutory, commercial, and voluntary sectors. Luke has successfully led many services including those providing services to children in care, care leavers and refugees. His driving passion is supporting those who support others.

Management Consultant

Management

Kerry’s passion for travel whilst studying led to 10 years as an air stewardess before settling down to have children. Kerry then spent many years teaching in schools both primary and secondary and often supported children with additional emotional/learning needs. Kerry’s experience then led to roles within social care as a practitioner and manager. Kerry has an in-depth understanding of local authority governance, leadership, and commissioning procedures. This knowledge has been invaluable for Refugee Host Support enabling us to work directly with teams responsible for supporting refugees.

Management

Nicole has over 25 years experience working with children and families as a practitioner and service manager and is an independent member of the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP).

Nicole was awarded the 'Team of the Year' at the National Social Worker Awards in 2019 for Family Group Conferencing services and Lifelong Links delivered to children and their families, enabling their voice to be heard and empowering them to be a crucial part of the decision making process; thus making a significant difference to those in need.

Nicole is passionate about organisations being trauma informed and as a trained counsellor understands the need for anyone working with children and young people to increase awareness of trauma in refugee and asylum-seekers. She feels strongly about providing comprehensive support to each host family as they arrive and to the children and young people in the years that follow.

Associate

Claire is a Human Resources and Training manager, and a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

She has been involved in fostering organisations in the capacity of operational management for over 20 years at a senior level, working in both private, public, and charitable organisations in the UK and abroad.

She serves on a charity board as a Trustee.

Claire is an accredited Mental Health First Aid instructor through Mental Health First Aid England specialising in youth and adult mental health. Her childhood experiences have focused her passion and drive to bring about a positive difference in the lives of children and young people.

Associate

Afshan is a qualified social worker with 30 years’ experience in the areas of residential childcare, preparation for independence, counselling, support services for sexually abused young women, fostering services and most recently worked for a charity supporting care experienced people.

Previously, Afshan was a Project Development Manager and Life Story Work Consultant. She has presented international workshops, produced training for carers, professionals and young people, co-authored articles on life story work and direct work with children and has also co-produced films and training tools.

Afshan has been a foster carer since 2014. She currently works part-time as an Independent Social Worker and is a Panel Member on both Fostering and Adoption Panels.

Associate

Dr Rachel Taylor is a neuroscientist who is dedicated to supporting all to live a life full of potential, possibilities and wellbeing. She researches, designs and develops processes and programmes that facilitate transformation and change with a particular focus on how the environment interacts with the whole person. She has a passion for working with and through trauma to enable acceptance, peace and growth.

Associate

Mike O’Hara is passionate about mental health based on his own lived experience and 12 years of service in the Royal Air Force. A qualified Mental Health First Aid Instructor, he focuses his energy on promoting workplace wellbeing and reducing the stigma around mental health. Within the RAF and externally through his own employee wellbeing company Start Within, he uses his platform to encourage employees at all levels to thrive at work. In 2020, Mike was announced as the winner of the Legal and General national Inspiration Award, for championing mental health conversations in the workplace. He was also recognised in the 2022 Queen’s New Years’ Honours list for his services to mental health within the military.

Associate

Katie is a qualified teacher with many years experience working with different children of all ages. She became a foster carer 6 years ago, after a career change from managing a frontline service for Devon County Council to having the same young people live within the family. Much of her work is emergency and respite work, but she has also had long term placements, several of which have been unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (all of whom she is in regular contact with and continuing to support).

Katie especially loves the challenge of forming relationships in difficult situations and making connections that build stability within a placement and with the young people that she is looking after.

Katie is a peer guide within the fostering service and has much experience of leading support groups both virtually and face-to-face. She enjoys helping and enabling others to succeed in their placements and family situations.