Manager – Amanda Cooper
Amanda has been with us since March 2012. She is enthusiastic and approachable with an infectious smile and a sunny disposition! She sets a fantastic example to everyone at the home with her hands-on approach and helps make Barton Lodge the best home in the New Forest Region.
Amanda holds qualifications in Health and Social Care and has completed her master’s degree equivalent, QCF Level 7 accreditation. She is also a Mental Health First Aider and qualified in grief and bereavement counselling, as well as Dementia Care Practice Level 3. She continues to maintain her qualifications and knowledge through attendance at training courses and seminars throughout the year.
In her spare time, Amanda enjoys spending time with family and friends, and has discovered the joy of cruising. She also has a cat called Smudge – which she is allergic to!
Head of Care – Ioana Contra
Ten years ago, Ioana came to the UK for work – she found not just a job, but a home with the Manucourt family. From the very beginning, she was welcomed into a compassionate and respectful team; a community that works hand in hand to provide the highest standard of care.
Over the years, she has grown both personally and professionally within this beautiful collective. Ioana’s goal has always been to help lead our team toward success, fostering an inclusive environment where every individual feels supported, valued, and empowered to contribute.
Ioana was fortunate to bring her husband and son with me from overseas, and today, they are proud to call Barton Lodge their home. As a family, they are deeply committed to caring for our residents ensuring they feel safe, respected, and truly at home.
Home Administrator – Christina Holliday
Christina joined Barton Lodge in July 2024. She has lived and worked in the UK since 1993 and brings a wealth of experience from a career spanning a variety of office environments. She has led numerous teams over the years, and several of her roles even took her abroad regularly — something she thoroughly enjoyed.
Highly organised and quick to laugh, Christina jokes that she has “a great sense of humour despite being German.” Her warm, approachable nature helps people feel at ease the moment they meet her. After spending 25 years in Worcester, she relocated to the South Coast in 2020. During lockdown, she worked as a companion in a local care home, where she won an award in the ‘Resident Engagement’ category. She loves being part of Barton Lodge, describing it as a big, happy family where everyone looks out for one another.
Christina is married with two stepchildren and six grandchildren. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, cycling, walking along the beach, visiting the theatre — especially the opera — and travelling to Germany to see her mum and friends.
Activities Coordinator – Susan Hawkins
Susan has been married to her husband, David, since 1987, and together they have three children – two sons, Simon and Mark, and a daughter, Victoria – as well as five grandchildren.
Throughout her career, she has held a variety of roles and after relocating to New Milton, she joined the care sector. There, she discovered a passion for the activities side of care, particularly engaging with residents, which is where she feels most fulfilled.
In her spare time, she enjoys crafting and is always seeking new creative projects. She began knitting as a therapeutic and social outlet following her breast cancer diagnosis. She is pleased to share that she is now cancer-free and has since completed a 3k charity walk along the Bournemouth seafront – an event she looks forward to participating in again.
Activities Coordinator – Jenny Edge
Jenny has been part of Barton Lodge for eight years, and she continues to take great joy in helping keep residents engaged, entertained and inspired each day. With over twenty-five years of experience in the care industry, she brings a deep understanding of person-centred care and the important role that meaningful activities play in residents’ wellbeing. She holds NVQ Levels 3 and 4 in Health and Social Care and has spent the past ten years dedicated specifically to activity coordination.
Creative, compassionate and full of ideas, Jenny’s hobbies influence much of her work. She enjoys floristry, reading, knitting, aromatherapy and holistic therapies – all of which she loves incorporating into her activity sessions when she can.
Jenny is married, with one son and three grandchildren who keep her happily busy outside of work. She also shares her home with a rescue Persian cat named Dolce Vita, who brings plenty of character and charm to family life.
Chef – Suwanna Talbott
Suwanna joined Barton Lodge in September 2024, bringing with her a growing depth of culinary training and a genuine passion for cooking. She completed her NVQ Level 2 in Multi-Skilled Hospitality Service in April 2009, followed by the NVQ Level 2 Diploma in Professional Cookery in April 2024 at Bournemouth & Poole College. Her commitment to developing her skills shines through in every dish she prepares.
Curious and creative by nature, Suwanna spends much of her free time expanding her culinary knowledge – whether exploring diverse and nutritious recipes, experimenting with sugar-free ingredients, or honing her cake-decorating techniques through online learning and YouTube tutorials.
She takes great pride in cooking for the residents at Barton Lodge and nothing makes her happier than hearing that her meals have brightened someone’s day. For Suwanna, great food is both a craft and a way of caring – and she brings that spirit into the kitchen every single day.
Maintenance – Gavin Johnson
Gavin oversees the upkeep of our Home and our wonderful grounds at Barton Lodge. He specialises in landscaping and gardening, which is evident from the beautiful open space we have here. Gavin can turn his hand to just about anything and is a great addition to the team.
In his spare time, Gavin enjoys spending time with his wife and three children and getting out for walks in the New Forest. He also enjoys boxing and is an avid AFC Bournemouth fan.
