Management Team | Ambient - Passionate About People

Group Executive Team

Ambient Support is led by a Group Executive Team. This group provides operational management and proposes strategic plans and policies to the Board.

To find out more about the team expand on the names below.

Mark Milton – Chief Executive

Appointed Chief Executive from November 2015.
Spent 5 years as Chief Operating Officer/Deputy CEO at The National Autistic Society prior to joining Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care).
Previously held CEO positions at Odyssey Care Solutions for Today and The Aurora Charity.
Over 25 years’ experience in social care – younger adults, children and older people.
Qualified Social Worker with Masters Degree in Applied Social Studies, IOD Chartered Director.

Sarah Daniel – Director of People & Culture

Joined as Director of HR in June 2016.
Most recently worked as Senior NHS HR interim at Director and Deputy level.
Previously held substantive HR Director roles in a large mental health and learning disability trust, a primary care trust and Crossroads Caring for Carers.
Worked in a variety of operational HR roles in Health and Local Authority, in both generalist roles and Equality and Learning.
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, with a Masters Degree.

Naomi Atkinson - Director of Operations

Joined Ambient Support as Director of Operations in May 2023.
Has worked across social care services for many years having completed a Social Science Degree and a Social Work Qualification.
From 2019 to 2023 was Director of Operations at Potens, an organisation providing specialist Learning Disability and Mental Health supported living and registered services for children and adults with complex needs.
From 2017 to 2019 was Operations Director at the Priory Group (PAC) which provides intensive support for adults with Learning Disabilities and Autism in registered community settings.
Has worked across a variety of different sectors including disability charities, housing associations and the private sector as well as providing consultancy services for small organisations.

Lee Hodgson – Chief Information Officer

Appointed Chief Information Officer in January 2021.
Prior to the appointment spent 3 years as Director of Technology at Macmillan Cancer Support.
Experienced in service delivery and design, leading Macmillan’s service delivery teams for 2 years, supporting the design and delivery of Macmillan’s 5 year strategy.
Has worked as CEO at local and regional charities.
Previously an experienced Commercial Director in Marine technology and civilian ordinance disposal.
Served for 16 years in the Royal Navy as an aircraft technician.

Sue Bate – Financial Consultant

Davina Sellick – Director of Business Development & Communications

Promoted to Director of Sales, Marketing & Communications in April 2019 and added Business Development responsibilities in April 2023.
Took on the full-time position as Head of Marketing & Communications for the Heritage Care Group in April 2016.
Joined Community Options in a part time Communications role in 2013, combining this with a second position in industry.
A Communications and Business Development professional with a broad range of industry experience.
Worked in the corporate sector for British Airways, development for a UK-based charity, as a Project Manager for the NHS and more recently a Client Service Director in an integrated full-service marketing agency.

Troy Henshall – Chief Executive Officer at Amber Housing

Joined Amber Housing in July 2022 having worked in the housing and care sector for 20 years+ across the country in a number of key roles.
Previously he had the position of Director of Business Services and Operations at Wandle Housing Association with responsibility for Housing services, customer experience and the majority of back office services across South London.
He was also former Chief Executive of the Barnet Group which included Your Choice Barnet, who delivered specialist care and support to adults with a range of physical and learning disabilities.

Senior Leadership Team

The Group Executive Team is supported by the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) responsible for regional operational and corporate services.

To find out more about the SLT, expand on the names below.

Samantha Downer – Divisional Director, London, South East & East Anglia

Appointed as Regional Manager for London in September 2022.
Over 30 years’ experience in Adult Social Care.
Experience of Supported Living services, Residential homes, Domiciliary Care, Day Services and Community Support.
Supporting people with learning disabilities including profound and multiple learning disabilities, autism, sensory loss and mental health needs.
Trained in Positive Behaviour Support, Mental Health First Aid and Counselling.

Rob Hunt – Head of Older People's Services

Joined Ambient Support (formally Heritage Care) in April 2019 as Scheme Manager and appointed as Interim Operations Manager in November 2020.
Currently responsible for Buckinghamshire & Hertfordshire Older People’s services.
Previously held senior roles in voluntary and charitable care and support organisations, developing and monitoring quality assurance.
20 years’ experience in managing older people’s services in a range of roles and settings including Community, Residential and Extra Care services.

Rob Anscomb-Gates– Regional Manager, Lincolnshire & Midlands

Joined Ambient in July 2023 as Regional Manager for the Midlands & Lincolnshire.
With a career spanning 30-years in the social care sector and with specialist experience in supporting complex and individual needs, Rob’s appointment aims to expertly expand and drive forward Ambient’s Learning Disability services across the region.
Since achieving a BA in Social and Professional Studies and a MSc in Intellectual Disabilities and Challenging Behaviour, Rob has held several senior management and strategic leadership roles including Regional Director, Chief Executive and Chair of the Board.
Rob brings a strong and specialised skillset to Ambient’s management team, including expertise in positive behaviour support, quality functions and occupational health offerings. Rob has also worked with assessment and treatment centres to successfully implement accommodation requirements for individuals with complex needs.

Ian Bland – Health & Safety Manager

Joined Heritage Care Group in 2013.
Ian is NEBOSH qualified and a member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
Ian has experience of working across the public, private and voluntary sector and has been working in the health and social care field for the last 15 years. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics and also has qualifications in teaching, quality assurance and project management (Prince 2 Certified Practitioner).
Ian has considerable experience of providing training and consultancy services to paying customers. Ian’s role is to lead on health and safety.

Dave Chopra – HR Manager

Jane Homer – Head of Business Development

Joined Ambient Support as Head of Business Development in September 2023.
Fifteen years’ experience working as a senior practitioner within Local Authority.
Twenty year’s multi-site experience responsible for operational and business development. Employed across third sector and private companies supporting all client groups including children and young people.
Extensive partnership working with commissioning teams and regulators in the development and mobilisation of new and turnaround projects for both children and adults.
Passionate about developing services that meet the needs of the people we support, ensuring that service provision and delivery evolves with them.

Vicky Morris - Head of Quality

Joined Ambient Support as Head of Quality in July 2023.
25 years of experience in adult social care, in a variety of sectors, not least charities, local authorities and the private sector.
Had a previous role with the regulator, and other senior roles in operations, quality & safeguarding.
Experienced in designing quality initiatives and frameworks and implementing monitoring systems to drive up quality in homes & services.
Qualifications include a degree in Social Science and a Post Graduate Diploma in Occupational Therapy.

Philippa Ouston – Learning & Development Manager

Joined the Heritage Care Group in February 2014.
Over 30 years’ experience working in the Finance and Insurance Sectors for FTSE 100 companies in the UK and abroad.
Previously worked as a Learning and Development Manager, Training Consultant, Digital and Instructional Designer, Business Analyst and Project Manager, in both permanent and freelance positions.
TAP Accredited by the British Institute for Learning and Development.

Rupali Shah – Financial Controller

Michael Burris – Senior Finance Manager

Joined Ambient Support as Senior Finance Manager in June 2022.
Over the course of my accounting career, I have worked predominantly in the housing sector as a Development & Capital Accountant. Held other roles such as Financial Controller and Management Accountant.
Worked as a consultant for five years managing projects such as implementation of Oracle Release 12 for the NHS Shared Services and various other Project Accounting roles.
Attained BSc Accounting & Finance June 2000, qualified as ACCA in 2002 and attained MSc Accounting & Finance in June 2004.