Tell us a bit about your role
I am responsible for ensuring that the needs of autistic adults and adults with a learning disability are met across our services. I line manage our four Learning Disability and Autism case managers and our Autism Specialist Adviser, working with them to provide the right level of challenge, and importantly, support, to the providers of both specialist and mainstream services.
How long have you been in your role/working for the Provider Collaborative?
I have just had my three-year anniversary. It might not sound long to most people but it's the longest I have been in the same role for more than a decade! I tend to seek out new opportunities when things get repetitive or it feels like there is no room to grow in a role. I feel like I am a long way off from that stage as this role has so much to it.
What's the favourite thing about your job?
I am a commissioner at heart. I love that my role gives me both the responsibility and opportunity to listen to colleagues, system partners and the people we serve about their experiences and ideas, to research best practice and innovations and then pull it all together in ways that improve outcomes. I especially like it when I can do this collaboratively across systems and geographies, working with providers, local authorities, ICBs and other provider collaboratives to maximise impact.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Much the same as I do in work! I am a co-director of a small voluntary organisation which provides information, peer support and training to parent-carers of children and young people identified as having special educational needs/disabilities. I have also just joined the governing body at my son's special school and am looking forward to supporting the team there.
Beyond the world of learning disabilities and autism (sometimes it's hard to remember there is one!) I am a big fan of Terry Pratchett's Discworld books and am always re-reading one or another of those. I also play Pokémon Go every day - I downloaded it because my son wanted to play but he lost interest and here I am, level 71…
Is there anything people would be surprised to know about you?
Probably not - I am an open book! But for those who don't know, my love for pigeons can come as a bit of a surprise…
