Meet Our Team
Donna Vella - Director and Responsible Individual
2023
Im Donna Vella one of the directors for PHX55 and Responsible Individual I came into fostering via Terri, my partner as when we were courting, she was an established foster parent with a young person.
Once we lived together, we went into fostering together 15 years ago and have continued to do so. We started forming an idea to open our own agency a few years ago as we have seen poor practise over the years along with exceptional practise. It is my belief all foster practise should be exceptional.
In 2021 we began to sew the seeds and in Dec 2021 we opened our office and started registering our service.
I have a varied background in terms of work experience but by far the most enjoyable has been working in education and fostering. Both hard and at times challenging but equally rewarding.
2025 update
I am deeply proud of the service and how it is growing. We have stood by our ethos and mission as a service and individuals.
Our team is growing and going from strength to strength. We are still as passionate today as we were in 2021. We will continue to support foster carers rights and advocate for all carers to join the National Union and we commission membership for FosterWiki. These have both been organisations that we have used as foster carers and the only ones that have done what they have said they would do.
Terri Jenkins - Director
My name is Terri Jenkins I am 51 years young. I have wanted to be a foster parent from a very early age as my parents were foster parents when I was younger. This gave me a slight insight in what it meant to give a home to children and young people and that fostering was also so much more than this.. For nearly 20 years, I have been a foster parent myself, with many highs and lows through the years and I wouldn’t change a thing!
For many years now my partner and I have wanted to be in a position to open up our own Independent Fostering Agency and we have! My background is varied having worked for a children’s residential company dealing with very challenging children, where I was deputy manager with a level 3 playworker qualification. I believe having the experience from both being a foster parent and having worked within residential has enabled me to see different aspects of the pressure faced as well as celebrating the achievements big or small.
We want our fostering agency to embrace an ethos from a foster parent's perspective; they are our priority, without them we do not have an agency and we want them to be valued, supported and trained to successfully meet the needs of the children and young people placed with them and together we will achieve positive outcomes for the children and young people.
Sarah Ellis - Fostering service manager
I am Sarah Ellis, the Fostering service manager for Phoenix55 Fostering Service. I qualified as a social worker in 1998 and have had the opportunity to develop my practice and experience in working with a number of Local Authority's and Independent Fostering agency's. In 2013, I helped develop a fostering agency and was able to experience first-hand what works and what does not work within an Independent fostering service and what support constitutes as effective support for foster carers and what isn't.
I am proud to be part of the strong caring ethos within this fostering agency and work alongside Donna and Terri who are experienced foster parents. In working closely with foster parents, it has allowed me an insight into their daily lives and what it takes to enable a child and/or young person to thrive and reach their own individual potential. To fulfil this journey for the child it is essential that foster parents are able to access the support and help that provides the structure to empower foster parents to meet the complex needs of children and young people placed within their care.
2025 Update.
I recently obtained my qualification in MA Clinical Counselling, which has enhanced and developed my skills base from a therapeutic aspect that will support the infrastructure of what Phoenix55 offers for their foster carers, children and young people.
I feel privileged to be part of a growing fostering service where its foundations are built from a foster carer's perspective.
Kayleigh Kempster- Supervising social worker.
Anastasia Wilson- Office Coordinator.
My name is Anastasia Grace Wilson and I am the office manager for Phoenix55 Fostering Service. My background is in early childhood education, and I have a deep passion for child development and wellbeing.
Previously, I spent six years working as a preschool assistant. During this time I developed hands-on experience in supporting children through key stages of their growth and learning. My time in this role sparked a genuine curiosity in the complexities of how children think, play, and develop emotionally, socially, and cognitively.
My professional development and academic pursuits have always been important to me. During my time as a preschool assistant, I gained a level 2 and level 3 qualification Children’s Care, Learning & Development QCF. These qualifications deepened my knowledge, enhanced my practice and reinforced my desire to pursue higher education. In 2024 I graduated with a BA (Hons) in Childhood and Education Studies.
Throughout my studies, I developed a strong academic interest in attachment theory – particularly in how early relationships influence lifelong development and wellbeing. My fascination with this area culminated in my dissertation, which focused on attachments interventions for children and young people, exploring practical strategies to strengthen emotional resilience and secure attachments.
In 2023, I joined Phoenix55 Fostering Service, where I now support the team as office manager. I feel incredibly proud and privileged to be part of a dedicated and passionate team that is committed to making a real difference in the lives of children, young people and foster families. Being part of this journey, watching the Service grow and evolve from its early stages has been both inspiring and meaningful to e. I’m excited about what lies ahead and remain deeply committed to contributing to Phoenix55 Fostering Service and its continued success.
Jo Nuttall - Education and Support Coordinator.
My name is Joanna Nuttall and I joined Phoenix 55 Fostering in September 2024 as the Education and Support Co-ordinator.
I am exceptionally excited to be given the opportunity to work for a passionate and forward- thinking company that has such deep installed values regarding children and young people who they support.
I have many years’ experience of working within a school setting, supporting children of different ages to ensure that their school life is settled and safe so that they can thrive in their education.
Joining Phoenix 55 Fostering has enabled me to enhance my own progression through studies of Trauma and mental Health in children and young people. Supported by Donna and Terri , I am lucky to have been given the opportunity to complete a Diploma in Trauma and Mental Health as well as completing Welsh Language lessons.
I am proud to be part of such a wonderful and experienced team whose strong caring ethos is to be admired.