We are Passionate and Ambitious
We strongly believe in doing what we do to the best of our ability - even if nobody is watching, and even when it’s not easy! We set our sights high and challenge ourselves. We share our interests, experiences, and aspirations to help us collectively grow and develop.
We Celebrate Every Success
Some days you get the big wins, and some days you only get the small wins - we believe it’s important to celebrate both. Life can be tricky sometimes, and when it is, celebrating the small things keeps us happy, focused, and motivated. Celebrating doesn’t necessarily mean having a party every night! It means acknowledging when things went well, how hard someone tried, praising strength of character, or even saying to someone “I’m really proud of you”.
- We are playful and funCharlie Chaplin is credited as saying “a day without laughter is a day wasted”. At Skylight, we make it our mission to laugh every day, because we believe laughter is good for the soul. Having fun and being light-hearted is important for our minds and bodies, and fostering a sense of playfulness helps us to feel relaxed, safe, and close to those around us.
- We are accepting and respectfulEvery person at Skylight has something unique and interesting to bring to the table – we embrace individuality and diversity. Furthermore, we accept each child’s inner life/perception without judgement – this is at the core of a child’s sense of safety. We help each other practically and emotionally, however we can. We respect differences of taste, opinion, and experience and admire people for their individuality. We are kind, polite and treat everyone the way we’d like to be treated, too.
- We are curious and reflectiveWe always seek to understand the reason or meaning behind a particular behaviour or emotion. By applying this curiosity without judgement towards ourselves and others, we can begin to reflect upon the reasons for responding or behaving in the way that we do. By reflecting, we can process our experiences and learn from them.
- We are empathetic and kindWe understand the importance of empathy and ensure we are demonstrating it in all our interactions and approaches. Empathy allows us to bond with other people and deepen our connections with them – this will involve understanding others’ perspectives, feel what other people are feeling and showing compassion to help others. Being connected to other people in this way is great for our wellbeing and happiness, expands our world view and ensures we are proactively meeting the needs of those around us.




Quality and Safeguarding
At Skylight, we are committed to providing the highest quality care and ensuring the safety and well-being of every young person we support. Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do, with rigorous policies, ongoing staff training, and a trauma-informed approach that prioritises protection, stability, and empowerment. We uphold the highest standards of care through continuous improvement, strong multi-agency collaboration, and a culture that listens to and values young people, ensuring they feel safe, supported, and able to thrive.
Therapeutic Care Model
Our therapeutic model of care is built on a trauma-informed approach that fosters safety, trust, and emotional growth. We embed PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy) into daily interactions, creating a nurturing environment where young people feel understood and supported. By combining Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) with therapeutic relationship-building, we help young people develop resilience, regulate emotions, and build positive connections, empowering them to move forward with confidence.
Meet the Team

Emma Partington
Managing Director
Emma brings over 25 years of experience in children’s health and social care. Her extensive background includes leadership positions in Ofsted and CQC registered environments, spanning youth offending initiatives, secure children’s homes and the full spectrum of private sector children’s residential homes and related facilities.
Emma’s career also encompasses roles as a health and social care lecturer in further education and as a specialist consultant. Her consultancy expertise focuses on legislative and regulatory compliance, commercial operations, and both operational and strategic governance within children’s social care services.

Jilly Roberts
Head of Specialist Support & Practice Development // Acting Responsible Individual
Jilly Roberts is a highly experienced senior manager with a strong background in Specialist Support and Complex Care. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Psychology, an MSc in Psychiatry with a specialism in Trauma, and an MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis. Jilly joined Skylight in January 2024 as the Registered Manager, where she established the organisation’s first residential children’s service from the ground up. She later progressed to her current role as Head of Specialist Support & Practice Development and Responsible Individual.

Anj Rashid
Registered Manager - Nova House
Anjuman (Anj) Rashid is a dedicated and experienced childcare professional with a BA (Hons) in Childhood Studies and a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England). She joined Skylight in September 2024 as Deputy Manager at Nova House and is now the Registering Manager. Anj brings a wealth of experience in residential childcare, early years education, and leadership.

Ben Vale
Managing Director
Ben Vale is a versatile director with over 25 years of extensive experience in leadership and strategic guidance. His diverse skill set and comprehensive knowledge enables him to provide clear direction and effective oversight to the organisations he has founded.
Ben’s considerable expertise ensures consistent high-quality services, reflecting his dedication and commitment to excellence.

Paul Duncan
Director of Finance
With over 25 years of experience in senior finance roles, Paul Duncan brings exceptional depth and precision to financial management. Throughout his career, Paul has consistently delivered strategic insights and innovative financial solutions, tailored specifically to meet the unique needs of every organisation he has supported.