"I am committed to working with others to improve services and speak out for present and future users and carers. I’m a Stopfordian born and raised, passionate about the NHS.
I’ve been active in my governor role and have visited many of the services provided by Pennine Care in Stockport including Healthy Young Minds and the eating disorders service.
During this time I’ve helped to organise and welcome people to Stockport’s ‘Big Celebration’ event on World Mental Health Day 2018, and I’ve participated in the Pennine Care ‘What Matters to You’ listening event.
Having been a carer I care very much about improving services for people in the communities where I was born and where we live. I would like to contribute to shaping the next few years of work at the Trust.
I’ve also been a senior manager in manufacturing both in Stockport and the North West.
My previous experience has enabled me to be an active listener, ask difficult questions and speak out for people.
I regularly participate in community events, I’m a member of Stockport Healthwatch and I have a particular interest in young people’s mental health, eating disorders, anxiety and depression."
"As Stockport councillor I was an appointed governor of Pennine Cares, and would now appreciate the opportunity to continue my work in an enhanced role.
Most of my working life was spent in teaching, some of it in the most deprived areas of London. As a result of my experiences there I took a university course in counselling. My work as a councillor, for 16 years has helped to improve my listening skills.
When I was a teacher, very little help was available for children with mental health problems and very little has changed since the nineteen-eighties.
The ‘Healthy Young Minds’ initiative and the extra funding which goes with it, has the potential to change all that and I relish the opportunity to be a part of it. The spin-off from this will, I think, benefit the whole community.
After taking early retirement I’ve done voluntary work as a Samaritan and a Citizens’ Advice adviser.
In my previous roles I have learned to speak up for people with problems. As a governor I am able to discover our residents’ issues and be involved in resolving them."
"As governor I have continuously striven to ensure that all aspects of mental ill health have been recognised, and included in, changes to and development of services in Stockport.
I am a social worker and was a care co-ordinator in Stockport community mental health teams for almost thirty years. I worked across the spectrum of mental illness, from acute psychosis to complex personality disorders.
I retired in 2007 but have continued to work part time for Pennine Care NHS FT until the present time.
I understand the impact of mental disorders and treatments upon individuals and their carers and have ensured that their concerns are raised at Healthwatch meetings, and at review panel meetings of the CCG in Stockport, and at council of governor meetings at Pennine Care.
I will continue to represent Stockport members as a governor, to identify and raise awareness of services needed for people suffering from mental illness, across boundaries of both health and social care.
I have experience, knowledge and skills of how Pennine Care board works and the statutory duties of governors. I am able to communicate succinctly, challenge effectively, negotiate, diffuse stress, recognise risk and manage difficult situations.
I also use these skills as a Witness Support Volunteer with the Citizens Advice Bureaux at Manchester Crown Court; where I look after vulnerable, anxious witnesses of all ages and across all social spectrums. I will continue to use these skills on behalf of Pennine Care members, service users and carers in Stockport.
"With the recent re-organisation of Pennine Care into a dedicated mental health service I will continue to hold the Board to account for its actions.
I’m married with two grown up children, but my wife has been in long term care for eight years with front temporal dementia (FTD)
On behalf of the FTD carers group I am a member of, I’ve succeeded in obtaining funding from Pennine Care’s Charitable Foundation for a project to make a short video outlining the difficulties faced by carers in looking after their spouses/relations.
I’m also a director and trustee of Age UK Stockport, and a member of Healthwatch Stockport and the Dementia United task force - looking at early onset and rarer forms of dementia
I hope to further increase my understanding of mental health issues to add to my already considerable experience in this field.
Previously I was marketing director for an aircraft manufacturer based in South East Asia for 13 years; I’m a former executive councillor of Stockport Council responsible for finance, and former director of Stockport MIND."
