About Allegra Care

Allegra Care are redefining care in the UK. Operating high quality nursing, dementia and care homes, our mission is to set new benchmarks in home-from-home comfort, inclusive community and person-centred care. With individuality, privacy and dignity at the heart of our ethos, we seek to operate welcoming care homes where a profound sense of belonging and personal wellbeing are shared by residents and staff alike.

Allegra Care is part of Seniors Living Group, and sister business to extra care operator Amicala.

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Our company

As a progressive care operator, we’re establishing a family of quality homes across central and southern England. Not only following, but leading the latest thinking in healthcare practice, we’re committed to elevating standards, experiences and expectations.  In so doing, we aim to change the way that we, as a nation, think about caring for our elderly and our disabled

The Allegra Service Philosophy

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Our unique approach to care

The Allegra Service Philosophy encompasses built form and operational elements that drive our unique approach to care delivery across all our homes. The Household Model is one of the most important elements of our service philosophy as it provides opportunities to our residents for genuine activities of daily living to occur.

It supports each resident’s authentic sense of self, to continue with their daily hobbies, habits, and interests which provide them with joy and independence.

 

What care do we provide?

All Allegra Care homes provide dedicated residential nursing care, with respite, long term and end-of-life provisions. From elegant period properties to modern, purpose-built homes, each has its own unique character, but all offer Allegra’s progressive and compassionate care model. Selected homes also deliver additional specialist care, such as dementia, aggressive behaviours, wandering with purpose and young physically disabled care.

Dementia care

Safe, secure and stimulating environments are the foundation of exceptional dementia care. Dedicated dementia households provide comfort, companionship and security, supported by compassionate care for residents and their families.

Nursing care

All of our residents and their families can feel secure in the person-centred care offered 24/7 by our experienced team - care that prioritises the individual’s dignity, privacy and independence.

End-of-life care

Supported by highly trained nursing staff, our End of Life care sensitively delivers specialist pain and symptom management, assisting residents and their families through the process with profound compassion and humanity.

Short stay

From giving loved ones respite from the routine of daily homecare to providing the perfect environment for recuperation after a hospital stay, all Allegra homes offer flexible short term options.

Young physically disabled

Practical and professional care for 18-65 year olds with a wide range of physical and learning disabilities and conditions, and enhanced with a varied programme of life-enriching activities and excursions.

Wandering with purpose

Our Wandering with Purpose households enable residents to continue with meaningful tasks in a safe, supportive environment, so they can enjoy pottering around and getting involved with everyday activities.

Behaviours that Challenge

Sensitive, empathetic care for those who have Behaviours that Challenge, through dementia. Characterised by calm, patience and understanding, highly specialised care that provides essential time, space and compassion around the clock.

Residential care

Providing residential care that positively enhances the quality of life, all our homes offer safe, secure and comfortable environments that promote the physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing of every resident.

Executive team

Our executive team brings together a wealth of operational, financial and commercial  expertise. A group of highly experienced individuals collaborating to pool talent and knowledge from the healthcare, property and finance sectors. A team that shares a vision for a care sector that’s fit for purpose and ready for the changes - and the challenges - that lie ahead.

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Helen Jones

Helen Jones

Chief Executive Officer

Helen had a 20 year career in the Australian care and senior living sector before transferring to the UK in 2017. In the senior living sector Helen has held the senior roles of General Manager for Tricare Nursing Homes (1,200 Residents), Chief Operations Officer for Domain Principal Group (5,000 Residents) and Executive for Strategy, Standards and Service Development with Australian Unity Independent and Extra Care (3,000 residents, 55,000 home care clients). Helen has undertaken global research to shape her award winning residential care service model. Helen was the first aged care recipient of the Endeavour Executive Australia Award, and is a Board member of the Common Age Association, a charitable organisation focused on improving aged care standards in all Commonwealth countries.
Helen is a Director of Seniors Living Group and Chief Operations Officer of Allegra’s sister business Amicala.
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Michael

Michael Davies

Chief Financial Officer

Michael has spent the last 7 years in the senior living sector and has 30 years’ experience in the finance sector. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant at KPMG. He was formerly Head of Group Mergers and Acquisitions at UBS, having started his career at Morgan Grenfell in London. Michael has been involved in a wide range of corporate advisory assignments, including IPOs and restructurings.
Michael is a Director of Seniors Living Group and Chief Financial Officer of Allegra’s sister business, Amicala.
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Paul Spence

Paul Spence

Chairman

Paul has spent the last 7 years in the senior living sector and has 30 years of management experience. He was a partner at Q Street Capital and co-owner of Matrix Alternative Asset Management. He began his career at Barclays Capital, where he was Deputy Head of Equities Trading globally and Head of Equity and Derivatives Trading at BZW Japan.
Paul is Chairman of Seniors Living Group and Chief Executive Officer of Allegra’s sister business Amicala.
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Mark Horton

Mark Horton

Non-Executive Director

Mark Horton joined Slaughter and May in 1979, having read law at Cambridge University. He practiced as a corporate Partner for over 30 years, based mainly in London. In Hong Kong he was head of the firm’s China practice and also served as a Council Member of the Hong Kong Law Society. For many years, he led both the firm’s Government practice as well as its infrastructure, energy and natural resources (IEN) group. He was seconded to the Brexit unit within HM Treasury in 2016, before retiring from the firm in 2018.

Mark is an investor in, and director of, private companies operating in a number of different business sectors. He became a Board member of Allegra Care in 2020.

Leadership team

Our leadership team comprises a group of highly experienced healthcare professionals with extensive track records in the care sector - both in the UK and internationally. Well-versed in all operational aspects of care home management, human resources and collaborative continuous improvement, the team play a central role in realising Allegra Care’s corporate objectives.

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Michael Smith

Michael Smith

Operations Director

With over 16 years of experience in the care industry, Michael has worked across a diverse range of services, from sheltered housing and day care to extra care housing and care homes. His extensive career has taken him across both the north and south of the border, giving him a deep understanding of regional care needs.

Michael spent nine years with Aberdeenshire Council, playing a key role in the implementation of the Integrated Care Partnership. In 2017, he relocated to Epsom, where he gained valuable experience as both a Registered Manager and a Regional Manager.

As Allegra Care’s Operational Director, Michael is dedicated to creating warm, welcoming, and happy environments for residents and guests alike. He is committed to delivering care with enthusiasm, empathy, and skill.

Outside of work, Michael enjoys spending time with his two wonderful children. A passionate football fan, he dedicates his weekends to watching, coaching, and playing football, with a particular love for Glasgow Celtic.
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Emmie Baker

Emmie Baker

Standards Manager

With over 30 years of experience in the health and social care sector, Emmie has dedicated much of her career to supporting older adults living with dementia. Her journey in care began at just 15 years old, volunteering with young adults in physical disability respite services.

Throughout her career, Emmie has worked across both the public and private sectors in various influential roles. These include serving as a CQC Inspector, leading Quality and Safeguarding for Hampshire County Council, managing multi-site services as a Registered Manager, and taking on roles such as National Project Manager, Service Director, and Governance Lead. Notably, she played a crucial role in delivering NHS clinical contracts for 111 services during the Covid pandemic.

Emmie is passionate about leading by example, with a focus on providing high-quality, safe service provision for both service users and staff. She values integrity, compassion, and a collaborative approach, always offering guidance and support with a positive, "critical friend" attitude to ensure harmonious teamwork with frontline colleagues.

Outside of work, Emmie is a devoted mother to four children, including three adults and a 10-year-old, as well as the proud owner of three cats, a dog, and hundreds of fish! She enjoys spending her free time outdoors, indulging in her love for hiking, birdwatching, and all things nature-related.
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David Morgan

David Morgan

Commercial Manager

Originally from South Africa, David moved to the UK in the mid-1990s. He holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration, Economics, and Law, and later completed his MBA at Heriot-Watt University. A Chartered Management Accountant, David is also currently expanding his knowledge by studying an introductory computer science course through Harvard University. In addition to his formal education, he has studied physics—for fun.

With 25 years of experience in senior finance and management roles, David has worked with start-ups and high-growth SMEs. He was a partner in a start-up online pharmacy before expanding into pharmaceutical distribution and healthcare consultancy. Following this, he served as Finance Director for a charity offering dementia support services, and later as Director of Finance and Quality Management for a group of residential care homes specializing in severe autism care. Most recently, David held the position of Financial Controller for a private equity-owned self-storage group, where he upgraded and integrated systems to support an ambitious growth strategy.

At Allegra, David’s role focuses on systems harmonisation, business integration, and realising operational efficiencies across the expanding portfolio.
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Joanna Hugh-Jones

Administration Office Manager

As Administration Office Manager for Allegra Care, Joanna brings a wealth of experience and organisational skills from her years as a PA in the interior design, media and music sectors, the latter giving her a claim to fame for having once met David Bowie. Her role with Allegra Care sees her coordinating the various administrative functions of the business and ensuring the smooth running of the company’s head office in Guildford.

Joanna lives in Ripley, Surrey and much of her time away from work is taken up by her three wonderful children.
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Tim Hazel

Tim Hazael

Financial Controller

With a 14-year track record in the healthcare sector, working as financial controller for four multi-site care home groups, Tim is a highly experienced finance professional. From acquisitions and disposals to diversification and a de-merger, he brings a wealth of corporate change experience to his role with Allegra Care, working closely with executive management and shareholders of privately-owned residential care groups. His wide-ranging remit has seen him acquire and cultivate a diverse skillset, including systems integration and process implementation and development. A self-confessed lover of spreadsheets, Tim is dedicated to helping people understand the story the numbers are telling. In his time off, he enjoys walking and cycling in the Surrey Hills with his family, whilst his fascination with history has seen him recently learn Hebrew.
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Sue

Sue Riches

Marketing Manager

Sue brings a diverse range of experience and skills gained from various marketing roles in South Africa and the UK, to her role as Marketing Manager at Allegra Care. She is driven by her great enthusiasm for marketing and a desire to make a positive impact on people's lives. She firmly believes that everyone deserves the best care and attention and is committed to promoting the excellent care provided by Allegra Care to a wider audience. Despite her busy schedule, Sue enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, taking long walks with her Dachshund Sunny, and exploring the beautiful countryside that surrounds her.

Nevertheless, her dedication to her job and her passion for marketing motivates her to continuously seek innovative ways to promote Allegra Care and ensure its ongoing success.
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Darryl Catley

Darryl Catley

Recruitment & Retention Manager

As a seasoned executive leader, Darryl brings years of expertise and progressive performance in the health care sector, both in Australia and here in the UK. His career with Allegra Care started as General Services Manager at St George’s Nursing Home in Weston-super-Mare, before becoming The Recruitment and Retention Manager, based at the company’s Guildford head office. In this capacity, he oversees the recruitment process for Allegra Care's homes, ensuring that the company has a skilled, caring and committed workforce.

Darryl’s other interests away from work include golf, gym and sports cars. He is also a passionate foodie who enjoys trying out different cuisines and new recipes.
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Kerry Feltwell

Training Manager

Kerry began her nursing career over 40 years ago at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, London. Throughout her diverse career in the NHS, she has worked in areas such as Intensive Care and Bowel Cancer Screening, while also being deeply involved in the training and development of others. After leaving the NHS, she became a regional trainer for a domiciliary care company before joining Allegra Care in 2021 as the Care & Clinical Competency Assessor for the Hampshire homes.

In August 2023, Kerry was promoted to Training Manager at Allegra Care, where she now leads all training initiatives across the portfolio. She places particular focus on educating teams around the core principles and care approach that underpin Allegra's Household Model of care. Kerry is known for her enthusiasm and commitment to delivering person-centred care, always striving to positively impact residents' lives and support staff development.

When not at work, Kerry enjoys spending time with her two grown-up daughters, as well as with family and friends. She has a passion for modern jive dancing, going to the theatre, and dining out.

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Adam Keens

Adam Keens

Director of Asset Management

Bringing over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry to his role with Allegra Care, Adam Keens’ track record encompasses key estate management roles in both the public and private sectors.

In addition to a Post Graduate Diploma in Facilities Management at Reading University, Adam has also completed the Sterling University Dementia Design Course. This wide-ranging academic research underpins his belief in the importance of ongoing investment to prolonging asset life, and the crucial roles played by solid compliance foundations and good design in the optimised delivery of care.

In his professional capacity, Adam has innovated and developed strategies for dealing with backlog maintenance and continued investment in the built environment, as well as a tool for monitoring and proactively managing property compliance in Care Homes. He has also spent time in the US studying the American Community model of Senior Living and their approach to dementia care through their Reminiscence programme.

Away from work, when he isn’t avidly following Formula One and other motorsports, Adam can often be found tinkering with classic cars and motorbikes.

Joining Allegra Care after over six years as Director of Facilities at Sunrise Senior Living, Adam Keens brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his position as Director of Asset Management.
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Jacqui Smith

Jacqueline Smith

Regional Manager South

Working for 11 years as a Social Worker and Team Manager in Adult Services, Jacqueline relished supporting care providers with their safeguarding, quality and compliance requirements. Based on this experience, she then sought a move into working with a residential care provider. Jacqueline approached Allegra Care first, as she felt that the company’s values, care principles and household model aligned very closely with her own vision of what good care should look like. As Regional Manager, her passion for outstanding care is self-evident as she supports homes and colleagues across Hampshire. She also thinks laughter is a great tonic – and her cheeky sense of humour is infectious.

Away from work, Jacqueline enjoys eating out, cinema and horse racing. As a mother of two grown up children, she enjoys spending time with her friends, her family and her two grandchildren.

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Jamie Sales

James Sales

Regional Manager Central

Recently celebrating his 40th plus year working in the care sector, James brings a wealth of experience to his role as Allegra Care’s Regional Manager for our Central Region. His career spans care in a range of settings and sectors, with his initial training as a nurse leading on to a variety of roles throughout 20 years’ service in the NHS. James is passionate about elderly care and shares Allegra Care’s dedication to person-centred care delivery, ensuring that every aspect is tailored to each individual’s specific needs. In his free time, he will most likely be found walking in his beloved countryside, faithful four legged companion in tow.
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Amanda Porcel

Amanda Porcel

Regional Manager West

Amanda brings 40 years of working experience in social care to her role as Regional Manager for the Western Region of Allegra Care. Amanda was Registered manager at both Olive Tree House and Rose Garden since they opened over 8 years ago. Very much a people person, she’s dedicated to helping others and passionate about elderly care and the difference it can make to people’s quality of life. From training and mentoring colleagues to building strong working relationships with healthcare professionals in the local community, it’s a positive outlook that also benefits her working relationships.

STRONG INVESTMENT BACKING

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Allegra Care work in partnership with a leading UK real estate fund manager with specialist expertise in the senior living sector since 2008. Building on a £125m initial investment, we have a strong and committed investment partner with an environmental, social and governance focus that aligns closely with our own. Together, we aim to create a portfolio of modern, fit-for-purpose nursing and dementia homes across central and southern England.