Rachel Shute

Business owner here! Wow. 2 years! I was at uni trying to decide what business was needed for the disabled community in my town. I studied Special educational needs and disabilities from 2022 to 2025. Since university ive done refresher training in first aid and epilepsy and will continue more courses to better the clients and I.

Im autistic and can relate to other disabled people in so many ways and that makes me great! My background is also in disability care, elderly care and with children, from babysitter to running Beaver Scouts. Loved all my jobs, but with being autistic i needed my own routine.

Going to university and meeting people and doing w/e in SEND schools has really grown my confidence. Alongside my degree i have got childcare level 3, health and social care level 3 and youth work level 2. As dementia is also a massive part of my background, which can be very disabling too, im happy to continue working in that field. Im happy to work with any age group as long as they enjoy my active silly sweet personality, my cats if they come to my house and fitting a cup of tea in as much as possible. 

Im currently getting round by bus or bike BUT im learning to drive! Finally!

Sally Payne

 I work as a Senior Support Worker for Rachel's Respite Service. I met Rachel in 2025 when we worked together at a SEND establishment and shared our ideas on best practice for supporting vulnerable people. We discovered we had a similar outlook on life and I am now happy to be a part of RRS and the future development of the company.

I have a 38-year history of working professionally with children and adults in a client-centred manner, both in the statutory and private arena, including support and assessment of parenting with children from birth, and experience of supporting end-of-life care. I also have lived-experience of caring, daily, for a number of family members. I am well-practiced in providing therapeutic, dynamic, individual and family support both in people’s homes and in the community. This can involve teaching new skills and helping implement new ideas to the family environment. It also means, most importantly, recognising the client’s experience; and this, in turn, can help support decision making regarding their ongoing care and any relevant planning needed around this.

My relevant training and qualifications include: BA (Hons) Social Work; BSc (Hons) Psychology; Dialectic Developmental Psychotherapy - Level 1; NVQ level 3 In-service Course in Social Care; Safeguarding Level 1 & 2; Child Sexual Exploitation Awareness; Child Mental Health Awareness; Autism Awareness.

My previous employments include: Supervising Social Worker, in Private Fostering; Senior Social Worker, in Child Protection for Local Authority; Residential Support Worker, in L.A. Children’s Homes, Secure-Residential and Crisis Intervention - community/peripatetic; Specialist Teaching Assistant with teenagers, community and classroom based; Teaching Assistant in SEND School, working with children with autism, ADHD, developmental trauma, epilepsy, and sensory and physical limitations. 

Glen Duke

I enjoy working with people and I enjoy being outdoors. I have many years of experience working from a multicultural perspective, with a diverse client group including, traumatized children, young offenders, asylum seekers, young adults with learning difficulties and mothers with toddlers. I have worked both indoors and outside in a range of settings, including education, residential care, secure care and community based. I have experience of helping people who exhibit behaviours that challenge, and I am well practiced in mentoring and using my skills and initiative to problem-solve.

I have social care and teaching qualifications, including: Further & Adult Education Teachers’ certificate (730 - City and Guilds); BTec Higher National Certificate, Caring Services - Social Care (NVQ 3 equivalent). I have undergone training in Child Protection, Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults, Managing Behaviour, Diversity & Equality, Fire Safety, Deprivation of Liberty Standards, Epilepsy amongst others.

I have also studied and gained qualifications relevant to working outside: Royal Horticultural Society, level 2, Certificate in Horticulture; Discovery Award, Recognition of Awareness & Responsibility for Wild Places, Natural England; and, Forest School Leader, level 3. I have experience of managing groups of people on outdoor projects and am used to making dynamic risk assessments along the way.

I've recently started working for RRS and I'm enjoying meeting and supporting new people.