Stephen is a values-driven leader with a deep commitment to social impact and person-centred care. As Managing Director of You First Support Services, he oversees strategic direction, operational excellence, and the continued growth of services that empower adults with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs. With a background spanning frontline support, service development, and senior leadership, Stephen brings a wealth of experience and a hands-on understanding of the sector.
He is passionate about creating meaningful change through collaboration, innovation, and a relentless focus on quality. Stephen believes that true transformation happens when people are heard, supported, and given the tools to thrive. Under his leadership, You First continues to champion dignity, inclusion, and independence—putting people at the heart of everything it does.
Jade brings over 16 years of experience in the health and social care sector. She began her career as a support worker and, over the past decade, has held a variety of senior leadership roles across both large national charities and smaller community organisations. Deeply passionate about delivering high-quality, person-centred care, Jade is a strong advocate for championing the rights of individuals. She believes in empowering people to achieve their goals and live fulfilling lives on their own terms. As a proud neurodiverse professional, Jade leads with empathy, authenticity, and a strong commitment to inclusion. At You First, she plays a pivotal role in shaping care delivery that is innovative, responsive, and firmly rooted in the voices of the people we support. Her leadership reflects the organisation’s core values: putting people first, embracing diversity, and striving for excellence in everything we do.
Bex Symes brings over 15 years of dedicated experience in the Health and Social Care sector. She began her career as a Care Assistant in a residential home, supporting individuals living with dementia and those receiving end-of-life care. Alongside her frontline role, Bex pursued full-time study to achieve a BSc(Hons) in Health and Social Care Management, paving the way for her progression into leadership. In 2014, Bex became a Registered Manager and was honoured with the Home Care Manager Award for the South West region—a testament to her commitment to excellence in care. Her career has since spanned key positions, including Team Leader, Care Coordinator, Regional Manager, Business Support Manager, and Operations Manager. Bex is passionate about fostering inclusive, high-quality care environments and upholding the highest standards of compliance. Her leadership style blends professionalism with heartfelt empathy, ensuring that both the people supported and staff feel valued and empowered.
Sarah is a dedicated Registered Manager at You First Support Services, bringing a wealth of experience and a calm, compassionate approach to her leadership. With many years of experience across diverse health and social care environments—from acute settings to community-based services—Sarah is passionate about supporting individuals with learning disabilities, mental health needs, and complex support requirements.
A strong advocate for person-centred care, she is committed to ensuring thatthe support we deliver meets the same high standard she would expect for herown loved ones.
“As a Registered Manager at You First, I am committed not only to the people we support but to our incredible team. I take great pride in fostering professional growth, building confidence, and enabling others to thrive—because strong teams are the foundation of truly impactful care.”
Since joining You First in October 2022, Belinda has contributed extensive leadership experience as a former Registered Manager.
Following maternity leave in November 2024, she now works part-time within the Business Support Team, focusing on training compliance and recruitment, while maintaining a personable approach with every candidate she engages.
I’m a dedicated professional with a strong background in the health and social care sector. I’ve worked in the industry since 2009, gaining extensive experience across a variety of roles, including operational leadership, before stepping into my new role as Registered Manager. Over the years, I’ve developed strong skills in person-centred planning, training and development, and teamwork — all essential to delivering high-quality, compassionate support for adults with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health challenges.
Driven by both professional expertise and lived experience as a parent to an autistic, nonverbal child, I’m especially passionate about positive behaviour support and person-centred approaches that empower people to live fulfilling, independent lives.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my family and exploring creative hobbies such as knitting and crocheting. A self-proclaimed geek, I also love immersing myself in the world video games.
.Mimi is a driven and detail-oriented Business and Finance Officer at You First Support Services. She supports the finance team with day-to-day operations, helping to ensure transparency, accuracy, and efficiency across the organisation’s financial processes.
Passionate about learning and growth, Mimi brings fresh perspective, enthusiasm, and a commitment to excellence as she develops her skills in social enterprise finance. In addition to her finance role, Mimi also creates much of the organisation’s social media content—blending creativity with strategic communication to amplify You First’s values and impact.
Jack Donavan operates behind the scenes at You First Support Services, bringing expertise across financial processes, payroll systems, and IT infrastructure. With a laser focus on efficiency and reliability, Jack plays a critical role in ensuring the organisation’s systems run smoothly—safeguarding accuracy and enabling seamless service delivery.As Business Support Manager, Jack’s process-driven mindset and professional approach make him a trusted anchor for both internal teams and external partners. Whether fine-tuning digital workflows or troubleshooting tech hiccups, he’s all about creating smarter, smoother ways of working.
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Our team delivers person-centred support that empowers adults with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs to live full independent lives.
