Our Team

Our Team

Our Team

Meet those who make it happen.

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Nicola Richards

Founder and Trustee

Nicola founded SSCH as a means of caring for our carers, continuing the positive support, sense of togetherness and appreciation that came to the sector through the challenges brought about by Covid19.

With over 20 years’ of experience within health and social care, Nicola is Managing Director of two nursing homes in Sheffield as well as being Chair of Sheffield Care Association and a Board Member of the National Care Association. She also runs her own healthcare and recruitment training agency.

Nicola believes that the best way to protect social care begins with genuinely looking after those working tirelessly to deliver it, and that there has never been a more important time to really care for our carers. Her belief in holistic wellbeing, sustainable methodologies and her grass roots approach underpin the SSCH ethos and form the backbone of our work.

Seb Kane

MSc Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health | BSc Sport & Exercise Kinesiology | PGCert Ethical Leadership | Researcher in Neurodevelopment & Learning Behaviour

Supporting the people who support others has never been more important. Seb’s passion lies in working directly with those on the frontline of care, understanding their challenges, and helping them strengthen their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

Seb believes that behind every resilient care team is a network of individuals who need to be seen, valued, and supported. These aren’t just professionals, they’re the quiet force holding our communities together.

With over twenty years of experience in the health, fitness, and wellbeing sector, Seb’s work has spanned Olympic athletes, corporate leadership teams, schools, and government institutions, including the UK military intelligence and Westonbirt School. His research and practical work focus on helping people regain control of their brains, bodies, and minds through a holistic, whole-system approach.

Now, as a researcher in neurodevelopment and learning behaviour at the University of Central Lancashire, he is using his knowledge and research to improve the wellbeing of social care professionals.

“Social care workers operate in emotionally and physically demanding environments, often with little recognition or rest. They give so much to others, but who is looking after them?

When we take care of the people who care, the benefits extend far beyond the individual. It leads to better care for those who rely on support, stronger teams, and a healthier care sector overall.

And it starts with listening, showing appreciation, and giving them the tools to thrive, not just survive. Their wellbeing matters, not just for them, but for all of us.”

Picture of Viki Garrett Social Care Heroes Nutrition and Menopause Coach.

Viki Garbett

Nutrition and Wellbeing Coach

As a qualified Nutrition, Culinary Medicine and Menopause Coach, Reiki Master and Mental Health First Aider, Viki is supporting our Social Care Heroes with programmes and events to improve physical and mental wellbeing.

“I am very proud to be taking on this new role to support social care workers who do such an important and amazing job every single day. I hope to help them find balance and ways to look after themselves while also bringing some fun and joy back into their days.”

A diagnosis of IBS, which she didn’t want to treat or cure through generic drug therapies, and a young child who was struggling with her enjoyment of food, resulted in Viki signing up to the Nutrition Coach Academy (Culinary Medicine College previously) to learn about the science and how the body works; to figure out how to manage this condition and heal herself.

Diving deeper into this area, after 15 years as part of global risk management team, Viki became very passionate about nutrition and wellbeing and decided to leave the corporate world behind in early 2023, completing Reiki Master training, initially just for her family’s benefit.

Realising the positive impact her new skill set could have on both mental and overall health, she started to offer the service to a wider audience.

“Looking after staff wellbeing is very close to my heart. I have found that caring for the people you work with, listening to them and being there for them, creates a positive culture. It not only improves staff retention, but also makes the workplace an uplifting experience, with people genuinely enjoying the work they do and improving staff retention. I believe there are many ways to achieve this; you just need to make the time to have these conversations and listen to what they are telling you. This will help you build a personalised and holistic approach that can cater for all without creating a general approach to fit all.”

Viki grew up in Hungary and always likes to add a Hungarian twist to recipes. She makes everything from scratch and uses her studies in nutrition to constantly evolve and improve what can be offered – helping staff not only at work but advising on how to “take home” new ideas for diet and general wellbeing adding to better lives for their families and, by word of mouth, spreading good health culture in the community.

“I tried many different techniques and methods to get my daughter to eat better and to enjoy her food. Seeing her appetite grow while enjoying cooking and baking with me in the kitchen gave me the idea to teach children and other families too. I wanted to empower other busy mums to be able to deal with their fussy children better and help them find the joy in the kitchen again.”.

Bradley Richards

Health and wellbeing practitioner

Bradley began his career in social care as part of a specialist sector recruitment team, dealing directly with care teams and managers. He brings to SSCH his valuable experience of the day to day issues faced by the care staff he recruited, as well as the challenges of the day to day operations for managers within a care setting.

It was his insight gained during the difficulties faced in the midst of the Covid19 crisis that led him to want to work more closely with frontline care staff and which led him to his role within SSCH.

Working closely with our community of carers and managers, Bradley not only assists in co-ordinating and delivering our programmes and projects in care settings, but works to build and strengthen our partnerships with our member homes.

His blend of humour, enthusiasm and empathy and his core belief in a fully holistic approach, help to ensure that our programmes are delivered with maximum impact, inclusively and in a style that suits our beliefs.

Our Trustees

Diane Bennett

Andrew Smith

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