Dementia team

Julia Atherton

Director of Nursing and Dementia

I have worked within care industry for just over 25 years; I started out as a carer looking after people with learning disabilities and sensory impairments. I have worked in and managed many different types of care services including a home for people recovering from drug and alcohol dependency, a care home for deaf blind people, as well as various residential services for the elderly. I have always returned to my passion and that is the care of people living with dementia. I have a couple of family members living with dementia so I feel I have a good understanding of the sort of pressures faced by families and carers. I have been working as a dementia care specialist for several years and I really enjoy supporting our homes to offer the highest possible specialist dementia care for our residents/their families and the staff teams.  

Show More

Claire Peart

Claire Peart

Dementia Care Specialist

I qualified as a nurse over 20 years ago and have worked in various roles within the private sector including a role as Head of a Complex Dementia Unit in North East England. I now work within a team as a Dementia Care Specialist for Barchester.

Leon Smith

Leon Smith

Dementia Care Specialist (South Division)

I have worked within care industry for just over 25years; I started out as a carer looking after people with learning disabilities and sensory impairments. I have worked in and managed many different types of care services including a home for people recovering from drug and alcohol dependency, a care home for deaf blind people, as well as various residential services for the elderly. I have always returned to my passion and that is the care of people living with dementia. I have a couple of family members living with dementia so I feel I have a good understanding of the sort of pressures faced by families and carers. I have been working as a dementia care specialist for several years and I really enjoy supporting our homes to offer the highest possible specialist dementia care for our residents/their families and the staff teams.

Show More

Tom Hodges

Tom Hodges

Dementia Care Specialist

I have worked with people living with dementia since the age of 16 as a care assistant.  Finding a passion for this area of specialty I qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 2007 and later completed a Master’s of Science degree in Dementia Care, in 2012.  I have worked in a number of roles in the private sector, including, Nurse, Head of Unit, Deputy and General Manager.  Over the last few years however, I have worked as a consultant/specialist in the area and worked in Brisbane, Australia for nearly two years. Wherever it may be in the world, I will always have a strong desire to help improve care standards and the lives of those affected by dementia.

Show More