.jpg?format=webp&w=2560)
Our Culture
Join Our Caring team
At Silver Birch Care Holdings, we deeply value the commitment, diligence and professionalism of our team – made up of highly skilled and experienced individuals dedicated to caring for and improving the lives of children.
Putting Our People First
It is paramount to us, and the young people we support, that our team members feel valued and well rewarded. Doing right by our staff and their families has always been at the core of everything we do, guided by Kaizen principles of continuous improvement..
A Place to Grow and Thrive
We offer a supportive and inclusive environment where your skills and contributions are truly appreciated, and where opportunities abound to learn, grow and develop your career.
From comprehensive training and professional development to meaningful projects that make a real difference, a role with us is more than just a job – it is a chance to be part of something genuinely rewarding.
Expanding Excellence Nationwide
As we expand our services across the UK, our accreditations and awards help us attract highly qualified staff who are fully committed to supporting young people and building fulfilling, impactful careers in the social care sector..
Our Awards and Accreditations
The National Children & Young People’s Awards 2024
We were delighted to win Best Children’s Home Manager (South) at the National CYP Awards 2024 – with Rebekah also being Highly Commended in this category – and The Oaks won Best Children’s Home (South)! We are incredibly proud of our team and would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone involved in making this success possible.
The Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard
We are proud to be the first social care organisation accredited by the Mayor of London as a Good Work Standard (GWS) employer. We also represented the social care sector on the original steering committee in 2018. We were thrilled to be selected for one of the GWS case study films celebrating their 5-year anniversary, showcasing best practices in fair pay, employee wellbeing, skills and progression, and inclusive recruitment.
.jpeg?trim=738%3B3%3B482%3B0)
Living Wage Foundation
We believe that a fair day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay, and are very proud to be the first 16+ semi-independent provider in the UK to be formally accredited by The Living Wage Foundation. We have pledged to always pay all our staff above the recommended Living Wage rate.
The Good Business Charter
We are proud to be the first social care provider and one of the first 20 organisations to join the Good Business Charter (GBC). The GBC is an accreditation comprising 10 components aimed at raising the bar on business practices for employees, tax, the environment, customers, and suppliers.
.jpeg?format=webp&w=2560&trim=738%3B3%3B482%3B0)
Our Benefits
.svg)
Birthday Breaks
A day off to mark your birthday
.svg)
Sage Benefits
Free access to exclusive discounts, wellbeing support via an OnDemand GP, and a 24-hour confidential helpline
Pension
Contributions into NEST pension scheme
Recommend a Friend Scheme
Refer a friend and help grow our team
Company Car
(Registered Manager level and above)
Company Bonus
Eligibility for company bonus scheme (Deputy Manager level and above)
Meet The Team
Karim Lalani
Chief Executive
Karim has over 40 years’ experience of founding and running successful businesses with prudent fiscal management and capitalisation, from start-ups, to retail and healthcare. He strives to help vulnerable groups in society wherever possible. SBCHL is run as a controlled multi-site growth programme to develop high quality education in Peterborough and regionally respected Ofsted regulated children’s care services across the UK.
Phil Cass
Chief Operating Officer
Phil brings a wealth of experience from across the care sector. Most recently, he served as Managing Director at Homes2Inspire, overseeing 53 children’s homes. His career journey – from Special Needs Teaching Assistant to Residential Care Worker, Team Leader, Senior Home Manager, and Ofsted Social Care Regulatory Inspector – demonstrates both deep sector knowledge, and a genuine commitment to the wellbeing of young people.
Alison Blyth-Bishop
Director of Operations
Alison brings over two decades of exceptional leadership in residential childcare, having held senior operational roles across Outcomes First Group, Keys Group, Cambian, and local authority services. Her expertise spans quality improvement, strategic partnerships, and regulatory compliance, alongside a strong commitment to achieving outstanding outcomes for children and young people.
Tim Gladston
HR Director
Tim is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD with over 20 years’ experience leading HR functions across a range of sectors, including social care, education, technology, media, and retail. He has held senior roles at major organisations such as Sony PlayStation, Sainsbury’s, and a global education group, where he led people strategy, transformation, and employee engagement across complex and regulated environments.
Shazia Lalani
Marketing Director
Shazia has a broad range of B2B and B2C Marketing experience gained from several years of working across companies in professional services and retail. She has a Professional Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and is skilled in digital marketing, end-to-end campaign project management, PR, events, and client relationship management.
Michelle Robinson
Assistant Director of Operations
Michelle has worked in childcare settings for over 13 years, working with children with EBD and Learning Difficulties. Michelle has worked in several positions within residential children’s homes, including assurance. She has a range of qualifications including Level 5 Diploma Leadership and Management, Level 1 DDP (Dyadic Developmental Psychology) and Level 4 Train the Trainer.
Abs Latif
Head of HR & Payroll
Abs has over 15 years’ experience in developing, recruiting, inducting, training, and leading teams. His expertise spans the entire HR lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding, to talent development and employee engagement. His qualifications include a Degree in Computer Communication and IT, HR Management – Advance, and GDPR Practitioner.
Ollie Halligan
Head of Placements
With over 15 years of progressive experience in residential care, Ollie has advanced from Support Worker to Registered Manager, earning his NVQ Level 5 qualification in Health and Social Care. His expertise spans placement management roles where he specialised in comprehensive assessments, led successful fee negotiations, and ensured appropriate placement matches.
Karen Fowler
Placements Manager
Karen has extensive experience within the children and young people’s social care industry. She has in-depth knowledge of safeguarding, and experience with building excellent rapport with young people and Local Authority teams across England. Her qualifications include Level 3 in AET, BA Hon Psychosocial Studies, HE Diploma – Social Work and Community Work, and Level 3 Designated Safeguarding.
Ganesh Kandiapillai
Finance Manager
Ganesh is a highly qualified Accountant with over 25 years of retail and industry experience. He is skilled in managing the complete accounting cycle of control, planning, budgeting, and reporting of companies. He qualifications include CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting, and BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance.
Dr Kamal Khan
Group Head of Systems Development & Data
Kamal has extensive experience in developing and establishing quality management systems, based on a variety of national and international accreditation standards. He was previously an internal auditor and science teacher, and has a Doctorate in Finance, BSc (Hons) Pharmacology, and Masters in Business Administration & Quality Management System.
Edwin Maharaj
Head of Facilities
Edwin has over 13 years experience in the social housing sector and retail management. He specialises in setting up new homes, managing maintenance issues, and all aspects relating to health and safety/ compliance. He is a qualified IOSH inspector, and his qualifications include IOSH Managing Safely, NVQ in Customer Services Level 2, and FAA Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work.
Jade Waterman
Training Manager
Jade has held various operational and managerial roles across Children’s Homes and Supported Accommodation services. She holds a Level 5 qualification in Leadership and Management (Distinction) and a Level 3 Award in Education and Training. She is also a certified Level 2 Safeguarding Train the Trainer, Fire Marshal Trainer, and Emergency First Aid at Work Trainer.
Marie Bliss
Executive Assistant
Marie spent 18 years as an EA at Tesco, supporting Government Affairs, Corporate Responsibility, and Group Communications. Alongside her role, she volunteered as a mentor for women in prison and later with SHOUT 24/7. Over the past two years, Marie embraced new challenges, including working with patients on a CAMHS ward, and contributing to The Medical Research Network.
Anusha Ravichandran
Deputy Finance Manager
Anusha holds a BSc in Accounting and brings over eight years of experience in the retail and finance sectors. As Deputy Finance Manager, she oversees key financial operations, including revenue management, invoicing, supplier payments and account reconciliation, ensuring accuracy, efficiency and compliance across all processes.
Kieshan Niranchanan
Accounts Assistant
Kieshan is a motivated Accounts Assistant who is skilled in month end reporting, maintaining accurate financial records and assisting with day-to-day financial tasks. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics and Finance, using his knowledge to support effective financial management and delivering high quality support to the Finance team.
Learn more about how we support staff development and progression
