Carers of East Lothian has a diverse staff team with a wide range of experience and expertise. Many staff work part time. Please contact the centre on 0131 665 0135 or centre@coel.org.uk if you think we can help and we will put you in touch with the most appropriate member of staff to support you.
Jenny White
Chief Executive Office
Jenny leads the overall management and strategic development of Carers of East Lothian. Jenny directly reports to the board of directors.
Claire Spiden
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Claire’s role is to support, supervise and line manage the Carer Support Team and provide direct support to carers.
Linda Walker
Innovation & Improvement Manager
Linda leads on the development and implementation of strategies, processes and procedures that ensure Carers of East Lothian are offering the highest quality services for carers.
Kirsty Rootes
Admin and Finance Manager
Kirsty supervises the administration team at Carers of East Lothian. Her role includes strategic and operational responsibilities, and she is part of the management team at CoEL, providing support to the Deputy Chief Executive and the Chief Executive in relation to finance, data management and legal requirements.
Sharon McGoldrick
Admin Assistant
Sharon works with Louise on administrative duties to help the charity to run smoothly. She also provides a warm welcome to carers visiting or contacting the organisation.
Louise McQuade
Admin Assistant
Louise works with Sharon on administrative duties to help the charity to run smoothly. She also provides a warm welcome to carers visiting or contacting the organisation.
Rowena Price
Hospital Link Coordinator
Rowena is based on wards 3 and 4 at East Lothian Community Hospital and her work involves identifying carers, helping them to feel recognised, informed, and involved from the moment the person they care for is admitted to the ward through to discharge and beyond. Working closely with hospital staff and the wider care team, she focuses on making sure carers are part of the conversation, understand what’s happening, and know where to turn for help once the person they care for leaves hospital. Rowena works with NHS volunteers to help them to be supportive to carers during the time that the person they care for is in hospital. Rowena leads on development work within the hospital link service.
Sarah Earl
Hospital Link Carer Support Worker
Sarah works on wards 5 and 6 of East Lothian Community Hospital. Her role involves identifying carers, helping them to feel recognised, informed, and involved from the moment the person they care for is admitted to the ward through to discharge and beyond. Working closely with hospital staff and the wider care team, she focuses on making sure carers are part of the conversation, understand what’s happening, and know where to turn for help once the person they care for leaves hospital. Sarah also works with NHS volunteers to help them to be supportive to carers during the time that the person they care for is in hospital.
Lydia Eunson
Counselling Service Manager
Lydia oversees the counselling service, supporting volunteers and managing carer’s journey through the service, alongside holding a small client caseload.
Claire Thomas
Carer Support Worker – Mental Health
Claire supports carers throughout the county who are caring for someone with significant mental health problems.
Lisa Mcilwraith
Welfare Rights Coordinator
Lisa can help identify what benefits you and the person you care for qualify for and help you claim them. She can also help with challenging decisions and administrative errors and problems. Our Benefit enquiry line means you can get quick and straightforward help and advice on any welfare rights issue without having to go on a waiting list. Lisa also ensures the staff team have up to date training and knowledge so we can provide the best possible service to carers.
Diane
Welfare Rights Accessibility Community Coordinator
Diane’s focus is on removing barriers for unpaid carers to access advice and support with a specific focus on improving financial wellbeing, tailoring support in a way that meets carers individual needs. Diane promotes this service in our local community to reach all carers who need it, and gathers feedback to improve service delivery. This is a pilot project funded by Robertson Trust and ELHSCP.
Gemma Twells-Davison
Communications and Engagement Coordinator
Gemma coordinates communications for CoEL and supports carers to have their voices heard in consultation, local and national service development and planning. Gemma coordinates a programme of events, workshops and training for carers.
Raj Singh
Men Who Care Therapeutic Worker
Raj supports male carers through the delivery of a regular support group as well as offering 1:1 therapeutic support sessions.
Suzie Queripel
Carer Support Worker – West & Parent Carers
Suzie primarily supports carers in the west of the County and Parent Carers who are supporting people under the age of 18 with additional support needs.
Catherine Cain
Volunteer and Training Coordinator
Catherine leads on volunteering at CoEL. She has a particular focus on supporting people with lived experience of caring to volunteer. Catherine oversees our telephone befriending programme. Catherine delivers CoEL’s ‘Think Carer’ training for professionals, raising awareness around carers.
Margaret Elliot
Carer Support Worker – East
Margaret primarily supports carers in the east of the county.
Aileen Gillies
Carer Support Worker – East
Aileen primarily supports carers in the east of the county.
Julie Oswald
Carer Support Worker – Haddington and Rural and Care Home Link Worker
Julie primarily supports carers living in the Haddington and Rural areas. She is also our link worker with care homes in the County.
Louise Kennedy
Carer Support Worker – West.
Louise primarily support carers living in the West of the county.
Kate Horne
Carer Support Worker – East & Parent Carers
Kate supports parent carers who are supporting people under the age of 18 with additional support needs. She is also a general carer support worker in the East of the county.