Meet the team at Badby park
Gayle Palmer
Care Centre Director
Gayle joined Elysium Healthcare in 2023 as Care Centre Director for Badby Park. A qualified RNMH Nurse and Registered Manager, she brings more than 30 years of clinical, management and commissioning experience in healthcare provision across both independent and public sectors. Previous roles working for various national projects, such as The Mental Health Measure and The Transforming Care Programme have provided Gayle with an impressive understanding of Specialised Commissioning. She is passionate about delivering safe and effective services to every resident and is fully committed to staff development and career progression. Gayle believes that training, development and staff wellbeing initiatives create a strong, cohesive team. Gayle says… ‘developing resilience and reflective practice throughout my career ensures that every touch point with our services and the people who access them, are the best that they can be.’ Gayle is a confidant and compassionate leader who will continue to ensure that person centred care is at the heart of every intervention at Badby Park.
Nora Mancho
Deputy Care Centre Director & Lead Nurse
Nora Mancho has been a Qualified Mental Health Nurse for over 14 years and has spent much of her Career working within inpatient and community settings with a special interest in supporting patients with Neurological conditions. Nora has worked in a specialist healthcare setting for 13 years prior to Badby Park, during that time worked in a number of roles from staff nurse, clinical lead nurse, acting Advance Nurse Practitioner right through to ward Manager within a variety of ABI settings as well as well as forensic inpatient services. Nora has led a variety of units overseeing, improving and maintaining clinical standards. Nora then worked as an Acting Advance Nurse Practitioner where she was part of implementing safety wards for the neuropsychiatry pathway, working with staff and patients to implement the service. During this time, Nora worker closely with the primary care service focusing on enhancing physical health of patients before returning to Ward Manager where developed her team and worked closely with families and patients. Nora Joined Badby Park in September 2023 as Deputy care Centre Director and Lead Nurse providing leadership and support to the service as well as providing a wealth of experience to the wider multidisciplinary team.
Darren Smith
Regional Lead Social Worker & Safeguarding Lead
Darren joined Elysium Healthcare as Regional Lead Social Worker in 2018. He swiftly progressed to Regional Safeguarding and Social Work Lead, covering 10 Elysium Neurological Sites across the UK. Having started his career in Adult and Children services in the independent sector, he went onto to work as Regional Lead Social Worker for the Neurological Division of Partnerships in Care. His current dual role enables him to be an integral part of both Badby Park’s Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) and the Senior Management Team (SMT). He really enjoys that the flexibility of his work allows him to retain an active case load at Badby Park and time to offer support with complaints and investigations. He has a keen eye for governance ensuring safe practice across the division. Darren continues to supervise Social Work staff and to deliver Safeguarding and Mental Capacity Act Training. He practices the organisation’s values and ethos throughout his work and has an active voice in the Diversity, Equality & Inclusion and Quality Improvement groups. He is both lead and sponsor for the internal Hidden Disability Group and the Carer’s Round Table.
Noreen Baldwin
Service Lead on Watkins Unit
Noreen is a Registered General Nurse with almost ten years’ experience, spanning acute, community, and complex care. She began her career in A&E before moving into the Medical Assessment Unit, where she built strong expertise in caring for acutely unwell patients. Her interest in neurological rehabilitation developed while working as a Charge Nurse, leading her to complete a master’s qualification in Acquired Brain Injury and Stroke. Noreen later gained valuable experience in community nursing, supporting safe discharges for patients with complex needs. Now a Service Lead, she combines her clinical background with strong leadership skills, ensuring the highest standards of care. Passionate about patient outcomes, she thrives on supporting residents, families, and colleagues through the challenges of complex care.
Theresa Fitzpatrick
Service Lead on Spencer
Theresa joined Badby Park in 2011 progressing through her career to her current role. She now leads the team on Spencer Unit to provide specialised care and support for the management of Progressive Neurological Conditions (PNC). Theresa has over 35 years of experience, qualifying as a Registered Nurse in 1984 at The Coventry & Walsgrave Hospital. She gained specialist experience in coronary care working in North London and Luton & Dunstable. She continued to build her knowledge of PNC through working in the Adult Community Rehabilitation and End of Life Care Services. Theresa is a qualified NVQ assessor and has specialised knowledge in Huntington’s disease and end of life palliative care.
Rose Bradshaw
Therapy Lead
Rose is an Occupational Therapist who has spent most of her career specialising in neurology and brain injury. Her passions include rehabilitation, specialist seating, falls management and end of life care. Rose’s role at Badby Park is to oversee the day to day running of therapy provision across the site, provide specialist clinical support to her colleagues and to play an active part in the development of Badby Park. Rose has worked with Elysium Healthcare since 2022 and feels there is something special about Badby Park. Between the vast grounds, stunning countryside views and fantastic therapeutic resources, Rose says ‘it really is a wonderful place to work.’
Sarah D’Oca
Specialist Occupational Therapist
Sarah is an experienced Occupational Therapist (OT) who qualified in July 2013. She started her career in Canada working in a Neurological Care Centre with people with Dementia. On her return to the UK, she worked in Acute Hand Therapy with the NHS, across care homes and as an NHS Discharge-to-Assess OT. She later took on the role of an Independent OT within a private Neurological Physiotherapy practice. Sarah has worked at Badby Park for over 4 years and is joint Lead OT. She predominantly works with residents who have a range of Neurological conditions including Huntington’s disease, Dementia, Stroke and those in PDOC. She also works with people with acquired brain injuries who are actively on a rehabilitation pathway. Sarah's role currently involves a clinical caseload, assessing for and providing equipment, care-planning, training, and discharge planning. She oversees the Occupational Therapy service for the more complex therapy and equipment needs across all four units at Badby Park.
Peter Pardiwala
Senior Chartered Physiotherapist
Peter is a Senior Chartered Physiotherapist specialising in neurological rehabilitation. With an MSc in Neurological Physiotherapy and extensive specialist training, he provides evidence-based treatment to help people adapt, regain independence, and reintegrate into their communities. His career spans both adult and paediatric services; he worked as Lead Paediatric Physiotherapist at Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Trust and previously supported stroke and medical patients in hospital wards. At Elysium, Peter is valued for his thorough assessments, tailored interventions, and ability to improve functional outcomes for individuals with complex neurological conditions. Active in professional networks, he remains committed to applying the latest clinical insights. Away from work, Peter enjoys fitness, reading and coffee; passions that reflect his curiosity and enthusiasm for life.
Rebecca Floyd
Service Lead on Knightley
Beccy is a highly experienced mental health nurse with over 15 years in the field, including nine years in neurological services. Since qualifying in 2008, she has worked extensively in secure mental health settings, supporting both physical and psychological wellbeing. Passionate about collaboration, Beccy champions co-production and family involvement, and has led initiatives to strengthen patient engagement and improve quality of care. She has held leadership roles focused on the The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), and is trained in Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) as well as a qualified Best Interest Assessor. Her expertise, values, and commitment to person-centred care make Beccy an invaluable addition to our team.