My professional background includes a full time career in Education, with Leadership roles in schools as Headteacher and as a Senior Adviser/Ofsted Inspector in a Local Authority in Greater Manchester. I had a range of Board experience in Education including integrated working with Social Services, NHS, Private, Voluntary and Community sectors contributing to, and leading on key corporate and targeted strategies to improve education, health, social and economic outcomes for children and families.

My full time career was cut short by illness and disability, due to arthritis and spinal problems, and since then I have developed a part-time working portfolio of Non Executive/Lay member/Patient expert/advisor roles.

This portfolio has included voluntary work with two national charities, fundraising for Marie Curie Cancer Care and working with Rochdale & District Mind Association as a trustee and Chair of the Board.

I have significant strategic Board level experience from my Education career and as a Non Executive Director, Lay Member in different roles in healthcare, which have included a Non Executive Director post at NHS Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale PCT and Lay member/Lead Business Advisor post with NHS Greater Manchester Commissioning Support Unit.

In addition I have experience as:

A Partner/Lay Education visitor with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) http://www.hpc-uk.org.where I worked with the Education Department on the Approval of Standards & Education & Training for the prospective registrants that HCPC regulates.
Patient expert/advisor member of the co-production team for the Coalition for Collaborative Care http://coalitionforcollaborativecare.org.uk an organisation working towards personalized health and social care for people with Long Term Conditions

Recent roles have included

Non-Executive/Lay Member for Patient and Public Involvement with NHS Stockport CCG
Chair of the GM Carers Strategy Group for the Greater Manchester Health & Social Care Partnership

I was registered with the North West NHS Leadership Coaching Hub https://coaching.nwacademy.nhs.uk and have coached NHS Senior staff in the region for leadership and performance development. I have Foundation level accreditation with the European Coaching and Mentoring Council (ECMC).

Current status

Not working formally for any health and care organisation but remain an independent advocate for disability related issues, person centre care and promoting patient/carer/public involvement and partnerships.

My other interests include all things literary, writing, Mindfulness meditation and using Twitter for networking opportunities