Our Head Office Team
Our team consists of highly qualified and motivated professionals, who are all experts in their field. With many years of experience in the industry, they have the expertise to provide comprehensive, first-rate services to our clients.
Blake Parikh
Director & Responsible Individual
Blake joined New Horizons in 2009. Starting off working directly as a key worker with our Young People, Blake then progressed to Management and now oversees Operations as the Operations Director.
Blake has a BA in Accountancy & Finances along with numerous other industry related courses.
Sharron Edwards
Head of Care
With over 27 years of dedicated service in children’s residential care, Sharron has supported young people across England and Wales with an extraordinary breadth of diverse and complex needs. Her experience includes sexual trauma, exploitation, gang affiliation, social, emotional and mental health challenges, learning disabilities, and many other situations where children need the steady presence of a skilled, compassionate adult.
What truly sets Sharron apart is not just her experience, but the warmth she brings to every interaction. Her career has been grounded in creating safe, nurturing environments where children feel seen, valued, and understood. She believes deeply in the power of relationships, and in giving young people the stability and kindness they need to heal, grow and thrive.
As Head of Care, Sharron oversees our Home Managers and carries out detailed audits to ensure every home is not just Ofsted-ready, but a genuinely welcoming, loving and emotionally safe place for children to live. Her knowledge is exceptional, her standards are high, and her presence lifts every home she walks into.
Sharron’s warmth, humour and gentle approach make her a much-loved part of our homes — and once she’s supported a team for a while, no one ever wants her to leave. Every decision she makes comes back to one simple priority: making life better, safer and happier for the children in our care.
Victoria Barton
HR Manager
Victoria joined New Horizons (Stockport) Ltd in July 2009 as an Administrative Assistant and was quickly promoted to PA to the Director. After completing a Level 5 in Business Management Victoria was again promoted to Head of HR.
Victoria also holds CIPD Level 5 Advanced Diploma in HR which gained her Associate CIPD accreditation.
As well as HR, Victoria is also responsible for the tendering of Local Authority contracts, for which we currently have "Preferred Provider" status across the almost the whole of the UK.
Victoria also assists with the strategic development of the organisation.
Bernice Poole
Learning and Development Manager
Bernice has over 14 years experience of working with Children and Young People.
Bernice has vast amounts of experience managing support staff, enabling them to provide outstanding care to the children and young people they support. She is passionate about developing staff to fulfil their role and reach their career aspirations.
Bernice started at New Horizons Stockport in 2019 as a Deputy Manager before moving into a Learning and Development role in 2021. She is responsible for the organisations training and development needs ensuring all staff are equipped to deliver the highest possible care to the children we look after.
Bernice also supports the Operations Director in managing the operational running of the properties.
Our Willowdene Team
Our team consists of highly qualified and motivated professionals, who are all experts in their field. With many years of experience in the industry, they have the expertise to provide comprehensive, first-rate services to our clients.
Ian Williams
Registered Manager
Ian has over 12 years of experience in Residential Child Care, focusing on complex behavioral issues and providing therapeutic support for children with challenging and sexualized behaviors. He is an experienced Home Manager with expertise in overseeing therapeutic and crisis childcare services.
Ian holds NVQ Level 5 Diploma in Health & Social Care Services (Children and Young People’s Residential Management) and NVQ Level 3 in Children and Young People.
Additionally, he has attended various courses including Radicalization of Young People, First Aid, Child Protection & Safeguarding, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, and more.
Ian's training also includes working with external partners such as a Missing From Home coordinator, demonstrating his proactive approach to child protection and safety.
His diverse skill set is essential for providing a therapeutic, safe, and nurturing environment for children and young people while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
Curtis Jones
Deputy Manager
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