Our people are the driving force behind everything we do. We deeply value each team member for their dedication, passion, and commitment to our mission. Every individual plays a pivotal role in creating a safe, loving environment where children can experience the childhoods they deserve. We are united in our belief that strong, compassionate relationships are key to changing lives. By investing in our people, we create lasting, positive change every day.
The “P” in PJL. Paul had worked in finance for 30 years when he was contacted by his friend Janis, in 2006, to discuss Mayfield Children’s Home’s closure.
Paul and Janis made an offer to purchase the home back in 2006 and the rest, as they say, is history.
In his free time Paul is a busy Grandpa who loves nothing more than spending time with his family.
The “J” in PJL, Janis’ journey took an unexpected turn after a long career in the travel and service industry, when her daughter Leah asked her to cover an administrative role at Mayfield Children’s Home.
Despite being new to residential childcare, Janis quickly found her passion.
When she learned the home was closing in 2006, it became her mission to save it. Mayfield House had been a home for over 50 years, and many of the children had grown up there.
This pivotal moment marked the Beginning of PJL.
The ‘L’ in PJL, Lycia, was a dedicated health professional throughout her career, initially working as a paediatric dietitian in a large London hospital before continuing her work in Sussex.
Passionate about the nutrition and diets of children, she ensured those living at PJL’s homes received not only nutritious but also enjoyable meals. Lycia also provided invaluable confidential counselling to staff, offering much-needed support.
Sadly, Lycia passed away in 2021, and she is deeply missed by all. Her legacy lives on in the care we provide to both our young people and team.
Leah began volunteering at Mayfield Children’s Home in 1999 and quickly realised she had found her true calling.
Over the years, her passion for supporting children and young people led her to become a Registered Manager three times. In 2014, Leah joined the Board of Directors at PJL Healthcare, where she continues to bring her heart, experience, and vision, helping our PJL family grow and thrive.
When she isn’t at Mayfield House or Acre Farm, Leah enjoys spending time with her family, taking spontaneous trips in her campervan, and exploring the countryside with her French Bulldog.
Alison is a qualified Chartered Management Accountant with a background as a Finance Director.
After taking a career break to raise her children, she joined PJL in a part-time accountancy role and quickly became an integral part of the team. In 2019, Alison was invited to join the board as Finance Director, where she continues to have a vital role in achieving our mission.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, horse riding, skiing, and walking her dogs.
Karli has been with PJL since 2005, starting as a support worker at Mayfield House before progressing into management.
Her dedication has been key to shaping Mayfield into the outstanding home it is today.
In 2016, Karli took on the role of Rota and Induction Manager and expanded her impact across the whole PJL team in 2019. In 2024, Karli joined the Board of Directors, continuing to guide PJL with her passion and experience.
Outside of work, she enjoys running and indulging her love of chocolate!
Alethea, aka “Leathy,” began her journey at PJL in 2009, initially working in reception and recruitment before discovering her true passion for caring for the children.
In 2015, she became Deputy Manager at Acre Farm and played a key role in shaping it into the loving, nurturing home it is today.
Now, as the Responsible Individual for both Acre Farm and Mayfield, Alethea remains dedicated to ensuring every child feels safe and valued.
When she isn’t in the homes, she enjoys travelling and spending time with her large family.
After a career in teaching and time spent working abroad, Rob joined PJL in 2015, diving into residential childcare with no prior experience. He quickly adapted, taking on roles such as Support Worker, Key Worker, and Team Leader at Mayfield, gaining invaluable experience.
In 2019, Rob became Deputy Manager at Acre Farm and, in 2023, was promoted to Registered Manager.
His leadership has guided the home to achieve Outstanding judgements from Ofsted for six consecutive years, testament to his dedication and leadership.
After joining PJL in 2022, Reece began his career in residential childcare with enthusiasm and quickly progressed through a variety of roles, including Key Worker and Senior Childcare Practitioner. His commitment and adaptability led to his promotion to Deputy Manager in January 2025.
During his time with PJL, Reece has contributed to six consecutive Outstanding judgements from Ofsted, reflecting his consistent dedication to high standards across the home.
Reece’s practice is grounded in kindness, the healing power of nature, and empowering young people to recognise their strengths and build confidence.
Megan is a passionate individual with 10 years of experience across various settings, including residential care, day services, and community outreach. She has developed a deep understanding of supporting individuals with complex learning disabilities, epilepsy, autism, and physical disabilities
Outside of the time she spends at Mayfield House, Megan has used her skills to introduce individuals with learning disabilities and mental health challenges to horse riding.
As co-managers at Mayfield House, Megan and James led the home to an Outstanding Ofsted judgement after their first full year in their roles, with the home now achieving Outstanding for two consecutive years.
James is a dedicated professional with a passion for empowering children and advocating for their rights. His commitment to ensuring children feel heard, valued, and supported has made a lasting impact on many lives.
With experience across residential care, supported accommodation, outreach, and youth centres, James has held roles from Support Worker to CQC and Ofsted Registered Manager, bringing a wealth of knowledge to his work.
As co-managers at Mayfield House, James and Megan led the home to an Outstanding Ofsted judgement after their first full year in their roles, with the home now achieving Outstanding for two consecutive years.
Elesia joined PJL in 2016 as a Night Support Worker, balancing the role alongside raising a young family. With no previous care experience beyond her own parenting, she quickly developed her skills and progressed into the Night Shift Leader position. When the long-serving Deputy Night Manager retired after 36 years, Elesia stepped into the role with confidence and enjoyed her time leading the night team as Night Deputy Manager.
In 2023, Elesia moved into her current position as Deputy Manager at Mayfield House. Known for her commitment, enthusiasm, and strong advocacy for the children, she has found a genuine passion for her work at PJL. Her experience and dedication continue to have a hugely positive impact on the team and the young people in our care.
Debbie has years of experience in childcare, beginning as a support worker in residential childcare. She’s held leadership roles and is qualified in early years, youth work, and wrap-around care, specialising in children with complex disabilities or conditions. After qualifying as a College Lecturer, she led community learning initiatives and delivered parenting courses Health & Social Care and Childcare qualifications.
Joining PJL in 2018 as an Assessor, Debbie is now Training Manager and a qualified Health & Wellbeing Coach, passionate about making learning meaningful and supporting staff to provide the highest quality care.
Olly joined the PJL family in January 2020 as the Registered Manager of one of our homes. Olly has supported children with a variety of different needs in residential settings over the last 15 years. These needs include Social and Emotional difficulties as well as Disabilities and complex medical conditions.
Olly is also a Regulation 44 visitor alongside his Training and Assessing role.
Lilly has worked for the last 10 years in early years settings and has had experience in various roles such as being the Special Educational Needs Coordinator and Designated Safeguarding Lead. She recently joined PJL as a Trainer and Trainee Assessor, using her background in early years to support the staff that work with the younger children at PJL. Lilly is keen to learn about PJL and everything the home has to offer.
My name is Lewis. I have been working at PJL for over 4 years. I previously worked in a school, delivering learning support to children with varying needs such as challenging behaviour and delayed development.
At PJL, I mainly work with the children at Mayfield. I love the teamwork and the opportunity to make each day fun and enjoyable for the children. Whether it’s making a cake, or going to see a show. We all like putting a smile on their faces.
For the last three years I have been a Team Teach trainer. I find the training role very rewarding, giving me the opportunity to work with another lovely team. We collaborate to keep the training fresh and engaging, making sure that the importance of training is maintained and memorable for the learners.
Laura brings over 19 years of experience in psychological support for children and young people, specialising in attachment disruption and developmental trauma.
Having led a specialist CAMHS service for children in care prior to leaving the NHS in 2019, she now runs her own practice, Roots and Wings Clinical Psychology Ltd. Laura also works as a school psychologist and collaborates with social services and adoption charities.
We are privileged to benefit from her expertise at Mayfield, providing psychological support, staff training, and consultation in trauma-informed care.
Lisa brings over 20 years of experience of working with children, specialising in complex communication needs and trauma informed practice.
Lisa worked in the NHS for 18 years and now runs her own independent practice.
We are delighted to have the benefit of Lisa’s expertise at Mayfield, providing speech, language and communication support, and staff training in trauma informed therapy and care.
Vanessa is an experienced Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of practice across various settings.
Specialising in sensory integration, she has worked with a wide range of individuals facing diverse challenges, including those with learning disabilities and Autism Spectrum Conditions.
After roles in adult social services and community mental health, Vanessa spent 11 years working at a school for children with learning disabilities, where she was Lead Occupational Therapist.
Since 2017, she has worked as an independent practitioner, dedicated to helping clients reach their full potential.
Sophie Gill is an experienced behaviour practitioner who takes a holistic approach to supporting both staff and young people. She works proactively to understand the ‘how,’ ‘when,’ and ‘why’ behind challenging behaviours, aiming to prevent them before they arise.
By conducting functional assessments, Sophie identifies the underlying causes of behaviours and teaches staff effective strategies to address them.
She also offers guidance on how staff can adjust their own behaviour to better meet the needs of the young people and reduce challenging behaviours.
