Owner - Andrew Van Parys

Before opening Home Instead Senior Care Harrogate, Ripon and Thirsk owner Andrew worked as a Senior Manager for a large FTSE top-10 company gaining extensive experience in all aspects of customer and service delivery to an exceptional high standard. He was attracted to the ethos of Home Instead after seeing how Home Instead can make a real difference to people’s lives in their own homes, as well as providing employment opportunities in the community. His role is to build relationships with local providers and organisations; look for opportunities for Home Instead to contribute to the local community and to manage the business side of the operation.

Owner - Sheena Van Parys

Sheena worked as a facilities manager for 10 years prior to taking a career break to have a family. Like many of her generation she faced the dilemma of looking after her own children whilst coping with the increasing demands of supporting her parents as they grow older.

Sheena's mother lived with Alzheimer's and required daily support from a team of carers. This experience was the driving force behind her decision to open a Home Instead Senior Care office of her own.

Sheena balances her family life and her responsibilities in the business for marketing and finance alongside a number of voluntary positions she has maintained with local community groups.

Andrew and Sheena have 3 young children so understand how difficult it can be for family members who have to work or raise their own family but also have a loved one who needs support and care throughout the day.

Head of Care - Pet Fowler Watts MBE

Pet is the proud recipient of an MBE for her services to care whilst she was Matron/ Manager for the Royal British Legion home, Lister House in Ripon. Pet managed the home for 13 years during which time she oversaw a successful refurbishment and development of the day care centre, Dementia unit and Young Physically Disabled unit.

Before she left the Royal British Legion, Pet oversaw the final stages of a £7 million project at Halsey House in Cromer, Norfolk.  

Pet brings with her a wealth of experience and specialism especially in the field of dementia which she is passionate about.

Care Coordinator- Sarah Crawford-Evans

Sarah joined our rapidly expanding team in 2011. She coordinates and maintains schedules for our clients and CAREGivers, focusing on their consistency, compatibility and continuity. Her role is key in ensuring both Clients and CAREGivers are happy with the service. Sarah also carries out introduction calls, this enables the CAREGiver to build up a clear understanding of the clients background, activities they enjoy and what support they would like from their CAREGiver when they are together. This ensures the smooth beginning of a relationship, one of trust and honesty between client and CAREGiver. Sarah lives in Harrogate and has worked in the care sector for over 20 years, and has a varied, vast knowledge of care. Sarah possesses a BTEC Diploma in Health & Social Care, NVQ3 in Promoting Independence and City & Guilds Family & Community Care.

Recruitment & Retention Coordinator - Shelley Hamilton

 I am the first point of contact for prosepective new CAREGivers. responsible for the recruitment of new staff and the retention of our existing CAREGivers. These are exciting times for me as I help to develop our CAREGiver team and look at ways to repay our CAREGivers for the dedication that they give to our clients.

I love hearing the personal stories that brought our CAREGivers to us, they are very passionate about what they do. I am very proud to be part of such a close, strong team.  My work involves completing the paperwork involved in the recruitment process, ensuring everyone is thoroughly reference checked and assisting with the delivery of our initial induction training. I also work in the community to recruit that special someone so if you see me please do say hi!

Staff Coordinator - Corrina Rose

Corrina is responsible for matching our clients with a suitable CAREGiver and ensuring that all our visits to our clients go to plan.

Corinna has her NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care and is well on her way to her Level 3. Corinna is also a qualified instructor in the Safe Moving and Handling of people helping to ensure that out training is carried out to the highest standards.

Admin Assistant - Elizabeth Parker

Elizabeth lives in a village between Harrogate and Ripon. She joined Home Instead Senior Care in November 2010 as a CAREGiver, quickly taking up the position of Administrator in our busy office as well as continuing with her CAREGiver duties supporting her regular Clients. Her duties include keeping on top of the inevitable mountains of paperwork, helping with last minute care work, conducting client introductions, providing holiday cover and shadowing new members of staff.

Our CAREGivers

We have a fantastic team of committed, professional, reliable and compassionate CAREGivers. Many of our team draw on their own past personal experiences to encourage, assist, and stimulate our clients over a wide range of daily activities that help improve their quality of life and help them maintain as much independence as possible.

We are always looking for people with these qualities to join our ever expanding team. If you would like to enquire about becoming a Caregiver please call the office on:-

01423 774490  (Harrogate)

01765 530400 (Ripon)

01845 440510 (Thirsk)

or email us on harrogate@homeinstead.co.uk , ripon@homeinstead.co.uk or thirsk@homeinstead.co.uk or why not drop in to see us face to face. The kettle is always on!!

Ripley - Therapy Dog (trainee)

Hello, my name is Ripley. I am a Border Collie and I work at Home Instead Senior Care.

I spend most of my days in the office where I get to meet all the wonderful CAREGivers who work here. I get lots of walks and tummy tickles. At night I go home with Andrew & Sheena who adopted me from a rescue centre when I was 8 months old.

I am currently attending obedience classes and hope soon to graduate with my Kennel Club Good Citizen Bronze Award. I will then go on to do my Silver & Gold. After that I plan to take my Level 1 Therapy Dog training with the Society for Companion Animal Studies.

My hobbies include chasing footballs, jumping in puddles & catching balls.