A passion for enabling the best experiences in later life
Plan with Care was born from the personal and professional experience of friends and founders, Chris and Nathan. They saw time and time again that later life is often overshadowed by needless suffering. They knew they could change this.
Like many of us, Chris and Nathan have seen older members of their families enter the stage of life where more care is needed. Couple this with Chris’s background of over a decade leading quality improvement in care and Nathan’s nearly two decades of improving access to good-quality financial planning, and they have a very holistic view of how later life can play out. Sadly, for many, it often means a drop in the quality of life – quite a drastic drop.
Their drive behind Plan with Care is that older adults, especially those living with conditions such as dementia, should have access to the best care and life experience – no matter their circumstances. But this involves a lot of creativity to devise care and wellbeing plans that are fully tailored to individuals. Unfortunately, due to time restraints and resources, this is often beyond the remit of care homes or in-home care organisations, and often too overwhelming for families to tackle on their own.
Chris and Nathan have created the opportunity to be able to sit down with families, friends and often the individuals themselves, and create a care and wellbeing plan that assures the person gets to maintain the best possible quality of life.
CHRIS GAGE
Co-Founder
Chris is an internationally respected social entrepreneur – working for social change. He co-founded Plan with Care in order to bring change and innovation to the care sector. He believes in the importance of creativity in care, and in later life being a time rich with experience. Alongside his role at Plan with Care, Chris is Managing Director of Ladder to the Moon, where he supports care settings to become creative and vibrant places to live and work. Chris’s TEDx talk explains this further (and includes a wonderful story of ex-landlady Beryl leading a care home lock-in!).
Chris has a Master’s-level qualification in Innovation, Creativity and Leadership from Cass Business School and is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
What makes Chris tick:
“I love living by the sea in Folkestone with my wife and daughter, and in my spare time I enjoy walking, practical philosophy, playing football (badly) and doing improvised comedy.”
NATHAN HARRIS
Co-Founder
Nathan’s experience of his grandparents going into care triggered a passion to improve the transition for people who find they need care and support to live later life to the full.
He is a Chartered Financial Planner, with over 20 years’ experience in financial services. Over that time, he’s put his expert knowledge of pensions, investments and tax planning to use by providing financial planning that is focused on the people he serves. He is a Fellow of the Personal Financial Society, a Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, and a Member of the Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA).
What makes Nathan tick:
“In my spare time, I like to run along the coastline, and I enjoy watching rugby and spending time with my wife and daughter.”
REBECCA BENNETTS
Registered Manager
Rebecca's journey with us over the past three years has seen her rise from a key member of our team to Deputy Manager, and now to her well-deserved role as Registered Manager. With a robust foundation in HR and managerial support within the care sector, she brings a wealth of first-hand experience to her leadership position. Her calm and composed nature, honed during her time as an Emergency Medical Advisor for Secamb, ensures she is unfazed by any challenge.
Rebecca's expertise extends to the intricate workings of care operations, where she has significantly contributed to system development and policy enhancement. Holding a Level 5 qualification in Leadership and Management in Care, she is currently furthering her knowledge through a master's level qualification, underscoring her commitment to excellence in care management.
What makes Rebecca tick:
“I love to go on adventures with my daughter, exploring the many things to do in Kent. I am an avid reader and usually have about 4 books on the go at a time.”
ALISE KIRTLEY
Director for Personalisation
Alise works directly with older people as well as alongside their families and professional carers. She’s specialised in working with people living with dementia, helping them to flourish. She holds a Master’s in Ethical Business Development in Dementia Care, as well as qualifications in Leadership in Person-Centred Dementia Care and Advanced Dementia Care Mapping.
With over 10 years’ experience in the care sector, Alise has worked as a Culture Change Manager and Practice Development Consultant with care homes; delivered training for professional carers, nurses and family carers; and led and contributed to research for the Mental Health Foundation (such as Dementia Truth Inquiry), My Home Life and Innovations in Dementia.
What makes Alise tick:
“Taking care of other people’s wellbeing means I have to take care of mine too! I’m an active musician and hiker, and am heavily involved in organising community events.”
NEIL HUNT
Care & Wellbeing Consultant
Neil is a qualified social worker with 30 years’ experience. Initially in voluntary work and residential care, he has been working for Kent County Council since the early 1990s, supporting older people and people living with disability in various settings.
Neil has extensive experience in safeguarding with people living with dementia and, most recently, managed the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards service for Kent. Neil has a science degree, a Master’s in social care and social policy, has been a practice teacher, and is a trained best interests assessor.
What makes Neil tick:
“I am keen cyclist and member of San Fairy Ann club, so am often to be found touring Kent on a Saturday morning. I also enjoy spending time with my family and friends and walking the Kentish countryside, as well as playing guitar badly!”
AGOTA SZABO
Care & Wellbeing Consultant
Agota has had several different roles within Adult Social Care over the past 10 years; specialising in Dementia Care, Nursing Care and Residential Care. Her work has centred around promoting positive relationships to ensure the highest standards of care provision, using evidence-based practice to support the goals, wishes and independence of those in her care. In her last role she managed a residential care unit supporting 40 people, and helped develop the first accredited care home education centre within a care home setting.
What makes Agota tick:
"I enjoy cooking in general but especially for my family, and going out to explore new places to eat. I'm a socialite and my friends are hugely important to my wellbeing, and during winter I like to practice ice skating."
PETER KING
Operations Coordinator
Peter's background is in facilities management in the Arts, charity and not for profit sector - he has worked for leading institutions including V&A, Wellcome, Barbican Centre and Somerset House.
Alongside a host of FM and health and safety qualifications, Peter also holds a management Masters degree and a PGCE in Secondary Education.
What makes Peter tick:
"I love to walk by the sea with my partner and our dog. I also have a passion for music, reading and craft beer! I like to swim in the tidal pool and run up the coast to stay fit and healthy. I have developed a recent interest in gardening, though I am not very good at it!"
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CHRIS O'CONNOR
Dementia Specialist Nurse Consultant
Chris is a highly experienced Nurse Leader with a particular interest in dementia and the care of older people. He is the Consultant Admiral Nurse (Dementia & Older People) at Surrey & Sussex Healthcare Trust where he has introduced a number of initiatives that have had a positive impact on patients and carers, winning the Best Dementia friendly Hospital Award in 21019.
In 2002 Chris established the first dementia support group for patients newly diagnosed with dementia in South West London, he is a Dementia Friends Champion and an ambassador for “Johns Campaign” supporting the needs of carers of patient with dementia in Hospital. He has published a number of articles and editorials on dementia.
Chris supports our team in helping them to develop specialist plans for people living with dementia, and provides us with expert supervision with complex cases.
What makes Chris tick:
“I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, cycling with my daughter, watching football with my son or country walks with me wife. I love the outdoors and spend probably too much time tinkering about in the garden.”
SALLY KNOCKER
Care and Wellbeing Advisor
Sally is a dementia specialist consultant trainer. She has worked with older people for her entire career spanning 30 years.
Sally was the first London Regional Development Officer for the Alzheimer’s Society setting up local branches and carers’ support groups. She has also worked in Social Services in London developing best practice in dementia care, and trained as a drama therapist. Following that, she spent ten years with the National Association of Activity Providers; here she pursued her passion for ensuring that life is still for living if we move into a care home.
She is the author of a range of books and publications in the field of older people’s care and in the needs of older LGBT+ people.
Sally has been walking alongside her mother through the pain of separation from her husband living with dementia in a care home until he died recently, and feels now, more than ever, she wants to use her expertise to offer guidance to individuals and families who are finding life more difficult as they age.
What makes Sally tick:
“I love being in contact with nature in my daily walks with our rescue dog Daisy. Despite some stereotypes to the contrary, I have enjoyed finding love again in my 50s and spending quality time with my quirky and clever teenage daughter.”
Wellbeing Support Membership
We provide support when and where you need it. This can be one-off in a crisis, as needed, or on a long-term basis with our Wellbeing Support Membership. After an initial consultation and assessment, we create a report and a care and wellbeing plan. Our future planning also looks at what your care needs are now, and what they are likely to be in three years, ten years and beyond. Wellbeing is reviewed every six months to always ensure the very best quality of life possible.
Trusted partners
We collaborate closely with a range of trusted partners to facilitate a complete range of optional services that may be needed to provide the best possible quality of life for the person you support. We make no money from the partners we work with – but we often get preferential rates for you, as our only concern is that you can access the best possible services for your loved one.
We are always looking for Trusted Partners who can offer supplementary services to ensure, enhance and exceed the wellbeing needs of our clients. If you would be interested in becoming a Trusted Partner of Plan with Care, feel free to get in touch.