Our Senior Leadership Team is comprised of experienced individuals from a range of professional backgrounds, who all work collectively to deliver the strategic goals and vision of Silver Birch Care (Residential Services). Learn more below.
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. SBC(RS) 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.
Rebecca Ouellani
Director of Care
Rebecca has worked in children’s care for over 14 years and has held several positions within this sector, including residential care specialising in supporting children with emotional difficulties, learning disabilities, and challenging behaviours. She has a range of qualifications including Diploma 5 NVQ 4 in Management, and NVQ 4 in Health and Social Care, ILM Level 5, and BTEC Level 4 in Education and Training.
Craig Wallace
Head of Operations & Responsible Individual
Craig has worked in social care settings for over 17 years, working with and supporting children in an EBD setting. He has previously also been part of a front-line crisis intervention team. Craig has a range of qualifications including Diploma 5 in Leadership and Management in the care of Children & Young People.
Claire Akers
Head of Operations & Responsible Individual
Claire has worked in Childcare for the past 20 years having first started in a Nursery setting before going into a Therapeutic residential care setting for 6 years. Claire first joined us as a Registered Manager before becoming our Head of Operations and Responsible Individual.
Sam Smout
Head of Operations & Responsible Individual
Sam brings a wealth of frontline and operational experience, from Support Worker to Responsible Individual. He has a strong track record of opening and overseeing multiple children’s homes, building high-performing teams, driving quality improvement, and leading with a values-based, child-focused approach.
Folashade Olayiwole
Registered Manager (Acacia House & Hawthorn House)
Folashade has over 20 years’ experience working within residential homes for children, young people, and adults with complex needs, learning disabilities, autism, and mental health. She has various qualifications including Level 2 Team leading, Level 3 Diploma in Children and Young People, Level 5 in Leadership and Management Children & Young People, BSc in Psychology with Counselling and a postgraduate in Healthcare Leadership and Management.
Mariam Gbaja
Registered Manager (Magnolia House & Ash House)
Mariam has over 20 years of experience working in the social care sector. She is currently undertaking Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare, and her other qualifications include MSc Criminology with Forensic Psychology, BA Honors Criminal Justice & Criminology, Level 4 NVQ Social Care, Level 4 NVQ Registered Managers Award, Diploma in Psychodynamic and Person-Centred Counselling.
Shannel Espuet
Registered Manager (Acorn House & Hazel House)
Shannel has over 12 years’ experience in the health and social care sector. She has worked with children and young people with varying behavioural needs, county lines, asylum seekers, complex needs, and learning disabilities. Shannel is currently undertaking her Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management in Health & Social Care in Children & Young People in a residential setting.
Mandy Ohenhen
Registered Manager (Olive House)
Mandy has 8 years’ experience working in the Health and Social Care sector with children and young people. Mandy has various qualifications including Level 5 Diploma and Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care in Children and Young People’s Services, Bachelors in Law, and MBA in Business Management
Mutyaba Katamba
Registered Manager (Holly House)
Mutyaba has many years of experience in various fields related to childcare, Support Care Worker, SEND Teaching Assistant, Medical Clinician, Clinical Psychologist Mental Health Researcher and has a variety of qualifications, Orthopaedic Medicine, Community Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Global Mental Health.
Monique Edwards
Registered Manager (The Oaks)
Monique has over four years of experience in residential childcare. Passionate about safeguarding and child development, Monique works closely with young people, staff, and external professionals to foster a warm, family-like environment. Monique is currently enrolled on Level 5 Diploma Leadership and Management in residential services.
Jessica Waters
Registering Manager
Jessica brings over 20 years of experience in the health and social care sector, working across a range of settings including residential care homes, day centres, nurseries, and supported living services. She holds a Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care, a Level 3 Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care, a Level 2 in Employment Responsibilities and Rights, and has recently completed her Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jessica Barlow
Senior HR Advisor
Jessica brings strong people management experience and thrives in fast-paced environments, having worked in some of London’s busiest shopping destinations. She has 5 years of HR experience, is a CIPD Associate Member, holds a Level 5 Diploma in People Management, and is currently studying for an MSc in Global HR Management.
Miriam Santana
Recruitment Advisor
With over eight years in the Healthcare sector and four in operations management, Miriam has built a career around supporting people and driving organisational success. She holds a BSc in Human Resource Management, and her experience spans customer service, recruitment, employee relations, and learning and development.
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.
