Meet The Gloucester and Stroud Team

Joanne Folkes

Managing Director & Registered Care Manager

Joanne joined Caremark Gloucester & Stroud early in 2018 as Registered Care Manager.

Joanne qualified as a physiotherapist in 2016 and worked at Gloucestershire Royal as an orthopaedic physiotherapist to older people. During this role Joanne worked closely with the Discharge Team and Occupational Therapy, working on discharge and equipment planning, and also carrying out home visits to check her patients were OK.

As this work was very similar to the services Caremark provides, Joanne decided to join Caremark and her experience in patient-facing care has made her a hugely valuable addition to the team.

Her role as Care Manager sees her taking on a range of responsibilities including co-ordinating the care delivered, making sure care assistants and customers have everything they need to liaising with local authorities and care professionals.

Michael Folkes

Director

Michael Folkes is our Managing Director and ultimately responsible for everything that happens at Caremark, ensuring we deliver the very highest quality of care to people we support across Gloucestershire. He is ensuring that Caremark is leading the way when it comes to innovation in homecare, including the use of robot technology.

Michael completed his members grade with the Institute of Leadership in September 2024 showing his commitment to growth and development at Caremark.

Sarah

Registered Operations Manager

Sarah has worked in the care sector for over 20 years and has covered many different roles. Since 2018 she has focussed on management, quality and business development within the sector, and she can’t see herself doing anything else. Sarah loves working in care and gets so much job satisfaction from making sure her customers get the care they deserve.

Sarah recently relocated from London to Gloucester and is enjoying exploring the local area and finding her way around. She is delighted to have joined the Caremark team who have welcomed her with open arms.

Sarah’s Top Tip A piece of advice Sarah was given some time ago and which she uses quite often is, “When you feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath and focus on one thing at a time“.

Emily Perrett

Recruitment & Onboarding Manager

Emily joined Caremark in March 2022 as their Recruitment and On-Boarding Manager.

Emily has always been passionate about nurturing talent. Prior to joining Caremark, she spent 23 years dedicated to care and support, not only working to support the homeless, but also those living with mental health problems.

As the Recruitment and Onboarding Manager Emily’s aim is to inspire future caregivers to embrace this rewarding career!

Emily’s Top Tip “Smiles are infectious, stay cheerful and spread them as far you can”.

Jessica

Compliance Support

Jessica started as a Care Assistant and quickly progressed through the ranks, becoming a Field Care Supervisor and now Compliance Support. Jessica is dedicated to delivering the highest standards of care and support with high levels of passion for the work she does and is firmly aligned with our company values of kindness and support for our team and customers.

Sophie Gardiner

Registered Adult Nurse and Clinical Lead

My professional background has largely focused on providing clinical care for individuals with Neurological diseases and disorders as well as for individuals with complex physical and mental health needs.

A large proportion of my career has been working in rehabilitative settings, both physical and mental health, with a focus on helping individuals manage their conditions as independently as possible to enable them to live their most fulfilling lives.

I also have a background in clinical research and a strong professional interest in healthcare innovation.

When not at work, you will find me in a swimming pool or out on my bike.

Sophie’s Top Tip “I am a firm believer in the therapeutic benefits of keeping active and like to share this information with those around me.”

Katie

Care Coordinator

Katie started at Caremark as a home care assistant before being promoted to the position of Field Care Supervisor and now a Care Coordinator, ensuring our customers have the right care package to meet their needs and co-ordinating staff to ensure that care is delivered as per individualised care plans.  Katie is an amazing care coordinator and demonstrates her ability to support our customers and the team every day.

Jade

Care Coordinator

Jade joined us in March 2024 and has experience as a care coordinator in a previous role.

Jade has worked in the care industry for most of her adult life and attended Cornwall College and Plymouth University to further her knowledge in health and social care.

The role of care coordinator suits Jade perfectly as she loves to help people. She really enjoys working as part of the fast-moving environment and says the office team are really kind and caring and great to work with.

Jade’s Top Tip “Bring chocolate into the office regularly and promote independence with your customers.”

Rachel

Field Care Supervisor

Prior to working for Caremark, Rachel, a busy mum of 5 cared for some family members. Unfortunately, that came to an end when they sadly passed away.

However, Rachel still craved that sense of purpose that caring had given her, so she joined Caremark in April 2022 as a Care Support Worker. This was a role that she absolutely fell in love with and in particular the great relationships she built with her customers.

Rachel decided she wanted to progress within the company, and when the position of Field Care Supervisor became available, she jumped at the chance. She was delighted when Mike and Jo felt she would be an amazing choice.

Rachel’s Top Tip “Always try to stay calm and be patient. Providing a listening ear and a cuppa ‘just how the customer likes it’ is usually a good conversation starter.”

Kirstie Jones

Field Care Supervisor

With a lifelong commitment to caring, I’ve dedicated myself to supporting others, from raising my family and daughter to caring for my mum until her passing. My passion for helping others led me to achieve a Level 3 qualification in care, working in diverse settings and gaining valuable experience.  After a brief break, I’m eager to return to care, driven by my belief that kindness and compassion can make a real difference. You’ll always find me with a smile, ready to listen, support, and uplift those in need.  I’m proud to be part of a community that truly cares, and I’m excited to continue making a positive impact.

Kirstie’s Top Tip “As a carer, I see every customer as being part of my family and treat them with the care and respect they deserve.  Remember, it’s also important to take time out for yourself and switch off when you can.”

Lydia Nduku

Senior Carer

Prior to working for Caremark, Lydia worked as an administrator for 9 years at a pensions administration company back in Zimbabwe.

Following this, she became a carer for a family member who had been ill for 2 years. Whilst doing this she realised how much she enjoyed and gained satisfaction from helping people and she went on to volunteer at a local clinic and from there moved on to work in a hospital as a nurse aid for a few months.

Fast forward to today. Lydia has been working in care for the past 3 and half years, whilst also working towards completing her NVQ Level 4 in Adult Social Care. She joined Caremark in July 2025. Lydia enjoys travelling, reading and listening to music, although she may sing off key from time to time.

Lydia’s Top Tip “Put a smile on your face when you visit a customer, especially for the first time. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you are unsure about something and remember that everyone is different and like things done differently”.