Meet Our Team
Carol Benbow - Business Director and Responsible Individual
Carol is the Business Director of Amber Family, and she provides business support, staff management, and office organisation for the entire service. Carol is responsible for ensuring the service provided complies with Ofsted's expectations and is in line with National Minimum Standards and published legislation relating to residential family centres.
Carol comes from a project management/business organisation background, specialising in construction, and she has worked on major schemes for Central Government across the UK. Carol is keen to support Amber Family’s vision for good quality, approachable, honest residential family centres in the North West for parents and their children. From the feedback received from the Courts, Local Authorities and other professional services, it’s apparent that this is a much-needed service.
In addition to many construction-related qualifications, Carol has also achieved the Level 5 Health and Social Care (Adult Pathway—Advanced Practitioner) qualification and expanded her knowledge in Restorative Practice, which has been implemented throughout the Amber Family service.
Nicola Miller - Ofsted Registered Manager for Amber House
Nicola has worked at Amber Family since October 2016. She began her journey as a Support Worker and then progressed throughout the company to become a Key Worker and a Family Assessor before becoming the Registered Manager for Amber House. Nicola has a wealth of experience working with families, Local Authorities, and other professionals and is very passionate and dedicated to her work.
Nicola is a registered Social Worker. She has continued her professional development, which has included undertaking PAMS (Parent Assessment Manual) training. She is now undertaking a Level 5 in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services.
Emma Sutcliffe - Ofsted Registered Manager for Amber Lodge
Emma has worked at Amber Family since 2016. Like many staff, she progressed as a Support Worker, working weekends and nights while her children were very young. As they grew and started school, she progressed to Key Worker, where she supported many families during their placements at Amber Family before progressing to become a Registered Manager for Amber Lodge.
Emma has completed studies in Child Psychology and Childhood Studies and has a Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare. She is now undertaking a Level 5 in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services.
Nat Clarke - Ofsted Registered Manager for Amber Grange and Amber Grove
Nat has worked for Amber Family since it opened in 2014 and was the Key Worker for the first-ever family to come to placement. Nat was the allocated Key Worker for more than 30 families and naturally progressed to become the Registered Manager for Amber Family’s third setting, Amber Grange, which opened in August 2018. Nat has also since been appointed as Registered Manager for the fourth setting, Amber Grove, which opened in January 2024.
Nat is qualified for the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services (Adults’ Residential Management). In addition to this qualification, Nat is a Registered Social Worker and, in 2024, graduated with a BA in Social Work, completed through the University of Central Lancashire.
Lauren Fitzjohn - Service Manager
Lauren has worked for Amber Family since July 2017. Initially considering a career in Law, Lauren completed a Law Degree at the University of Leeds and then a subsequent Law Practice Certificate at Manchester University. Lauren worked for law firms for several years before embarking on her role as Service Manager for Amber Family.
Lauren completed her Master’s in Human Resource Management at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN). In addition to handling all Amber Family HR matters Lauren participates in the monthly Strategic Meetings, which decide the direction of Amber Family over the next twelve months.
Our Assessors, Social Workers, Key Workers, and Family Support Workers
Each Assessor, Social Worker, Key Worker and Family Support Worker employed by Amber Family have either achieved or is working towards the Level 3 Children and Young Peoples Workforce, Level 3 in Health and Social Care, City and Guilds Level 4 Working with Families or the Level 5 Diploma in Health and Social Care. In addition, all our staff are qualified Mental Health First Aid Champions and Emergency First Aiders; they also hold active Enhanced DBS and Care Certificates.
At Amber Family, our primary objective is to foster a team of positive role models for parents. We are dedicated to maintaining a fully qualified, comprehensively trained, competent, and deeply committed workforce.
