Meet the team

Our Senior Leadership Team is comprised of experienced individuals from a range of professional backgrounds, who all work collectively to deliver the strategic goals and vision of Benecare. Learn more below.

Karim Lalani

Chief Executive

Karim has over 40 years’ experience of founding and running successful businesses with prudent fiscal management and capitalisation, from start-ups, to retail and healthcare. He strives to help vulnerable groups in society wherever possible. SBC(RS) is run as a controlled multi-site growth programme to develop high quality education in Peterborough and regionally respected Ofsted regulated children’s care services across the UK.

Rebecca Ouellani

Chief Operating Officer

Rebecca has worked in children’s care for over 14 years and has held several positions within this sector, including residential care specialising in supporting children with emotional difficulties, learning disabilities, and challenging behaviours. She has a range of qualifications including Diploma 5 NVQ 4 in Management, and NVQ 4 in Health and Social Care, ILM Level 5, and BTEC Level 4 in Education and Training.

michelle robinson

Michelle robinson

Director of Operations

Michelle has worked in childcare settings for over 13 years, working with children with EBD and Learning Difficulties. Michelle has worked in several positions within residential children’s homes, including assurance. She has a range of qualifications including Level 5 Diploma Leadership and Management, Level 1 DDP (Dyadic Developmental Psychology) and Level 4 Train the Trainer.

Greg_Lapham

Greg Lapham

Corporate Development Director

Greg has over 20 years of experience in adult and children’s specialist services at executive level. He has an extensive background of developing new business, and is experienced in creating and enhancing brands with a primary focus on exceeding expectations for service delivery, whilst ensuring optimum commercial performance, growth, and most importantly, improving outcomes for young people.

Shazia Lalani

Marketing Director

Shazia has a broad range of B2B and B2C Marketing experience gained from several years of working across companies in professional services and retail. She has a Professional Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and is skilled in digital marketing, end-to-end campaign project management, PR, events, and client relationship management.

Trish Clinton

General Manager

Trish Clinton has been with our company for a total of ten years and is now General Manager. Trish has been an Ofsted Registered Manager in several of our homes over the years rising from Deputy Manager to Registered Manager very successfully. Prior to joining Benecare Trish was a Kent Foster carer for some years prior to moving into Residential work.

Claire Akers

Responsible Individual

Claire has worked in Childcare for the past 20 years started working in a Nursery setting. Claire went on to work in a Therapeutic residential care setting for 6 years with children who had suffered significant trauma in their lives and displayed severe challenging behaviours. Claire progressed her career through managing teams of family support workers, becoming deputy manager of an early help service in Lewisham. Most recently Claire was an operations manager in a leaving care service offering supported accommodation for young people. Claire came to Benecare and became the registered Manager of Roseland house for over two years. Claire then took over a sister home Ocean Lodge for a short time before becoming Benecare’s responsible individual.

Diane Davies

Home Manager

My name is Diane, I am the Registered Manager at Madison House. I started at Madison house as a support worker back in 2019, I quickly progressed and became the Manager in November 2021 before becoming registered with Ofsted. I have worked in childcare for over 25 years previously working in children’s nurseries, helping and supporting families and staff within these settings and working with different professionals. Since becoming Manager at Madison House, my team have achieved consecutive GOODS with Ofsted.

Karen Witham

Home Manager

Hi, my name is Karen and I am the Homes Manager of Woodbridge House. I have been committed to Benecare for over 14 years, I have been a Deputy manager for 3 of the homes over the last 8 years. I have been working in the care sector for over 25 years. I am committed to the young people I work with.

Mark Hook

Home Manager

My name is Mark and have been the Home Manager of Roseland House since February 2024. Prior to becoming the Home Manager my role was a Peripatetic Deputy Manager, my role involved assisting the Responsible individual across all of our five homes within Benecare. I have worked within social care for over 14 years in both adult and young people residential settings. My aim now is to focus on Roseland house. The dedicated team I have here at Roseland House are passionate about the care that we provide to our young people, ensuring that nurture, structure, routine and stability is provided to our young people.

rochelle wiseman

Rochelle Wiseman

Home Manager

Hi my name is Rochelle and I am the Home Manager of Ocean Lodge. Over the past decade, I have honed my skills as a caregiver while fostering young individuals for Kent County Council. Over the past three and a half years at Benecare, I have enhanced my leadership abilities, progressing from a senior role to that of Home Manager.

portrait of Abs Latif

Abs Latif

Head of HR & Payroll

Abs has over 15 years’ experience in developing, recruiting, inducting, training, and leading teams. His expertise spans the entire HR lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding, to talent development and employee engagement. His qualifications include a Degree in Computer Communication and IT, HR Management – Advance, and GDPR Practitioner.

Karen Fowler

Placements Manager & Safeguarding Lead

Karen has extensive experience within the children and young people’s social care industry. She has in-depth knowledge and skills in safeguarding, and experience with building excellent rapport with young people and Local Authority placement teams across England. Her qualifications include BA Hon Psychosocial Studies, HE Diploma – Social Work and Community Work, and Level 3 Designated Safeguarding.

Dr Kamal Khan

Head of Quality & Service Management

Kamal has extensive experience in developing and establishing quality management systems, based on a variety of national and international accreditation standards. He was previously an internal auditor and science teacher, and has a Doctorate in Finance, BSc (Hons) Pharmacology, and Masters in Business Administration & Quality Management System.

kazim kassam

Kazim kassam

IT & AI Specialist

Kazim is an experienced web developer specialising in full-stack development with over six years of expertise across both MERN and LAMP stacks. He excels in building dynamic, user-focused websites that drive engagement and business growth. Skilled in front-end technologies like React and Vue.js, and back-end frameworks including Node.js, Python, and PHP, Kazim has a proven track record of delivering tailored solutions to meet diverse business needs.

Ganesh Kandiapillai

Finance Manager

Ganesh is a highly qualified Accountant with over 25 years of retail and industry experience. He is skilled in managing the complete accounting cycle of control, planning, budgeting, and reporting of companies. He qualifications include CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting, and BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance.

jade waterman

jade waterman

Training Manager

Jade has held various operational and managerial roles across Children’s Homes and Supported Accommodation services. She holds a Level 5 qualification in Leadership and Management (Distinction) and a Level 3 Award in Education and Training. She is also a certified Level 2 Safeguarding Train the Trainer, Fire Marshal Trainer, and Emergency First Aid at Work Trainer.

marie bliss

marie bliss

Executive Assistant

Marie spent 18 years as an EA at Tesco, supporting Government Affairs, Corporate Responsibility, and Group Communications. Alongside her role, she volunteered as a mentor for women in prison and later with SHOUT 24/7. Over the past two years, Marie embraced new challenges, including working with patients on a CAMHS ward, and contributing to The Medical Research Network.