Our Team

All the personal assistants of R&H have a great deal of experience and are sympathetic to Our Ethos of providing high-standard, consistent, quality care for people in their own homes.

After working for many years for others, we have all decided we would like to work for ourselves and have set up our ethically run company so that we can deliver help and assistance to those who need a little extra input in their lives to achieve their dreams.

Team of Personal Assistants from Ashburton
R&H Personal Assistant Liz Wood

Liz Wood

Liz really enjoys working with older people. She joined the team as a Personal Assistant in November 2019, and was very pleased to be given the opportunity to head R&H Home Assistance when Sally Rhodes, the founder, retired in March 2021. Her varied career also included 6 years as an Activities Co-ordinator at St Andrews House in Ashburton and 4 years as an Administrator in two care homes in Torquay.

Liz has 3 lovely daughters, all of whom worked in care at weekends and during the school holidays. They have since chosen careers in caring fields – one is currently doing her PhD in Psychology, one is a Paramedic, and one is a children’s Staff Nurse.

As an active musician in her spare time, Liz plays the trumpet in the Exeter Symphony Orchestra, a brass quintet and various other ad hoc ensembles.

With the help of Stephanie Gould and all the PA’s, Liz will be continuing the ethos R&H is known for—unhurried, bespoke and built around individual needs.

R&H Personal Assistant Stephanie Gould

Stephanie Gould

Stephanie is working with Liz to run the R&H business with its service and core values intact. She describes herself as having a cheerful, sensitive and patient nature which respects the needs of elderly people.

She is married with three lovely boys and one grandson, and looked after her own mother for 2 years at home until she went into full-time residential care.

Steph has many diverse interests which include walking, swimming, doing adventurous activities and spending time with her family.

R&H Personal Assistant Karen Thwaite

Karen Thwaite

R&H Carer in Ashburton

Karen joined R&H Home Assistance in November 2022 to find a rewarding, part-time job in a caring capacity, following her retirement from 35 years as a Primary School Teacher. She was drawn to R&H Home Assistance due to its local reputation for providing individualised care that enables relationships to flourish between their clients and the team who support them in their homes.

Having spent years meeting the needs of very young children, she felt confident she would have the patience and thoughtfulness to support, encourage and care for people needing help at different stages in their lives.

She lives with her husband and a beautiful, Siamese cat in Ashburton, and has two sons in their twenties.

She enjoys yoga and swims regularly. She loves crafts and has tried her hand at most things over the years, but recently, she has been particularly passionate about creating with clay.

R&H Personal Assistant Pip Hyams

Pip Hyams

R&H Carer in Ashburton

Pip has previously worked as a Nursing Assistant at Bristol Hospital as well as a Teaching Assistant in Spain. She enjoys spending time with clients and is fully committed to providing high quality care to them all.

She likes to think that she is a friendly and outgoing person and believes it’s important to make people feel relaxed and comfortable in their own homes.

She has lived in Ashburton for 5 years and has 2 children. Other than looking after 2 very active children, she enjoys pilates and baking.

R&H Personal Assistant Ruth Leonard-Williams

Ruth Leonard-Williams

R&H Carer in Ashburton

Ruth joined R&H Home Assistance in 2023. She has a degree in Psychology and has spent most of her career working in the charity and voluntary sector on projects supporting communities to respond to the climate crisis.

She is a mum of two, and is lucky to have all of her immediate family living in Ashburton, where she has lived for the last 16 years.

She loves being part of this community and particularly enjoys working one-on-one with people, getting to know what makes them tick, and supporting them to live as independently as possible.

R&H Personal Assistant Jo Coaker

Jo Coaker

R&H Carer in Widecombe

Jo has previously been a Preschool teacher for 20 years, a private nanny, and a childminder. She also worked in a busy livery yard, before joining R&H Home Assistance.

She really enjoys her job and likes to welcome everyone with a smile. She is committed to making people feel safe, listened to and happy in their own homes.

Jo grew up in Hexworthy, and now lives in Widecombe with her husband and 3 gorgeous children. When Jo is not caring or helping out on their busy farm, she enjoys riding her horse.

Alison Irens

R&H Carer in South Devon

Alison joined R&H Home Assistance because she wanted a job where she could make a difference in people’s lives. Care work and having the privilege to meet people in their homes and get to know their life story is very rewarding.

She is a mother of three: the youngest is 14, and the other two are young adults