Meet the Green Care Quality Mark team
Our trusted quality assurance team run the Green Care Quality Mark.
Denise Sear - Green Care Quality Mark Officer
Denise has a background in green care and became Green Care Quality Mark Officer in June 2022.
Pearl Cousins - former Code of Practice Administrator
Pearl was the main point of contact for Code of Practice applications between 2019-2022. With a background in environmental science, Pearl managed applications and helped people with the process. Most recently, Pearl supported the redevelopment of the care farming Code of Practice into the Green Care Quality Mark.
"I think the Code (now the Quality Mark) is a great way of ensuring that care farms / other green organisations are delivering services to a uniform standard. It’s also a good way of allowing care farms to think of how they run their practices and challenge themselves in ensuring that they deliver to the best of their ability."
Ab de Bree - QM reviewer
Ab de Bree has been involved in care farming quality assurance since 2012. Ab chaired the Quality Standards Working Group responsible for the development of the care farming Code of Practice. Ab previously assessed Code applications and is now a Quality Mark reviewer. He managed farms for many years, providing training and work for people with learning difficulties. Working with machinery, sharp tools and livestock led to Ab obtaining an IOSH Certificate in Health & Safety. Ab became keen to learn how he could safely manage potentially hazardous work with people of varying abilities and with special needs. He also worked in Residential Care, initially as a Shared Lives Carer and gained a QCF Level 5 Certificate in Health & Social Care. In 2015, Ab became Care Manager and Safeguarding Officer for Ruskin Mill College in Gloucestershire, which caters for young people with special needs. He is now responsible for compliance with CQC Regulations, work with external agencies, legislation and policies and procedures on a daily basis.
"Having experienced the benefits of working on the land, I fully endorse Social Farms & Garden's Vision and Mission, and feel privileged to be part of this growing organisation and its aim to promote quality and professionalism in care farming and green care."
Noelle Wilson - QM Reviewer
Noelle Wilson is a retired care farmer with 40 years of experience in the sector. Starting as a Rural Science teacher, Noelle went on to run a 50-acre school farm. Her career also includes being a lecturer at county agricultural colleges, starting and running her own care farm and helping to run an organic market garden. As a board member for Care Farming UK (now part of Social Farms & Gardens), Noelle was part of the steering committee who developed the care farming Code of Practice. She also became an assessor and is now a Quality Mark reviewer. Noelle's experience as a care farmer means she understands the rigorous compliance proceedures that care farmers need.
"The Code of Practice (now the Green Care Quality Mark) is a valuable reference tool for those entering care farming and green care. Success in obtaining it provides assurance that all legal and relevant areas have been thought about and actioned before attendees commence service. It also provides a way of raising standards within care farming and serves as a benchmark for care farms working with schools, social services, probation services and other commissioning agents. The Code of Practice is a valuable reference tool for those entering care farming."
Dr Rachael Fell-Chambers - QM Reviewer
Rachael Fell-Chambers is Director of Densholme Care Farm in East Yorkshire, established in 2009. Rachael is involved in strategic developments on the care farm with lead responsibility for policy, funding and safeguarding. Rachael also works full-time as a Senior Lecturer in Childhood & Youth at Bishop Grosseteste University. Prior to joining the University, Rachael held a Senior Management post in a large Local Authority with lead responsibility for alternative curriculum provision. In her own time, Rachael is a School Governor and Trustee of the Make it Shine SEND Charity. Rachael has recently completed a PhD at the University of Hull entitled 'Care Farming, Learning and Young People'.
"As a farmers daughter I have always been fanatical about the benefits of being in nature - and care farming is the icing on the cake for me! I am passionate that care farms thrive as an invaluable resource to society, and the Code of Practice (now the Quality Mark) enables us to not only showcase the brilliant work we do...it also provides a benchmark for all care farms and green care sites to adhere to."
Ian Egginton-Metters - QM Reviewer
Ian is a retired Assistant Director of Social Farms & Gardens. He has been involved in care farming at a UK level since organising the first care farming conference in 2005. Ian was part of the group of organisations that established Care Farming UK (now part of Social Farms & Gardens) and served on its board. He also co-organised the gathering of care farmers which led to the formation of a Quality Standards Working Group and the Code of Practice.
"Demonstrating the quality of care farms in their management and service delivery is crucial to broader and increased acceptance by commissioners, and to relatives responsible for the care of individual beneficiaries. It is a credit to experienced care farmers that the Code (now the Quality Mark) has evolved and is increasingly being recognised as a standard that every care farm should be able to demonstrate they meet."
Keily Elvin - QM Reviewer
Keily Elvin is Care Farm Manager at Elm Tree Farm in Bristol. Keily assessed applications for the care farming Code of Practice and is now a Quality Mark reviewer. Keily has worked as a care farmer since 2004 when she started teaching and assessing horticulture and conservation skills to adults with learning disabilities. Keily immediately fell in love with the role because of the beautiful natural environment she worked in, the people supported and the team of people she worked with. Since then Keily has learnt many new skills, from tractor driving to splitting kindling and apple pressing. Back in 2014 Keily took a Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme (CEVAS) course to find out if there was anything she could do to improve the service she was providing. Her tutor and fellow reviewer Noelle Wilson introduced Keily to the care farming Code of Practice. Keily submitted a successful application and Elm Tree Farm became an accredited care farm soon after. It was not long before Keily was attending regular Code of Practice updates and volunteered to assess future applicants.
"I still feel the same passion for my job nearly 16 years later. I have always believed that a job worth doing is worth doing right, and that the Code of Practice provides a framework that sets the standards for the care farming industry. Quality Assurance should be part of the culture of every care farm, and the Code of Practice (now the Quality Mark) provides the foundation to support and promote high standards from the ground up."
Find out more and apply for the Social Farms & Gardens Green Care Quality Mark.