Experience

Citizens Advice Reading

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Executive Officer

  • Jan 2021 - Present



Citizens Advice East Berkshire

• United Kingdom
• Individual and Family Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• CEO

  • Mar 2015 - Dec 2020



Wokingham Borough Council

• United Kingdom
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Education Welfare Officer

  • Nov 2010 - Nov 2014

  I work in close partnership with schools, primary, secondary and special, and other agencies/colleagues to support young peoples’ education, dealing with attendance, absenteeism and those at risk of exclusion. Safeguarding, early intervention and inclusion are key principles of my work which also therefore includes completing Multi-Agency Referral Forms (MARF) & Common Assessment (CAF) forms and acting as Lead Professional. I have been a member of the Special Educational Needs Panel, I liaise with the Youth Offending Service to support young people we have in common and I am also a member of the Housing Panel, helping to maintain links between departments to protect vulnerable families. More recently I have also been very interested in working in a restorative way with families and young people. I have attended training in Restorative Practice and I am a Restorative Practice Champion for Wokingham Borough Council. Show less



Sandy Lane Primary School

• Trainee teacher

  • Jan 2009 - Dec 2009

  A one year full-time employment based route into teaching leading to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). I trained to teach the full curriculum across two consecutive age ranges (7-9 years and 9-11 years) at Primary level. This was followed by time as a supply teacher when I did regular supply teaching in Years 1 and 5, and one to one tuition for Year 5 and Year 6 pupils. I was a one to one tutor for two Year 6 boys who required additional support, being at risk of exclusion. A one year full-time employment based route into teaching leading to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). I trained to teach the full curriculum across two consecutive age ranges (7-9 years and 9-11 years) at Primary level. This was followed by time as a supply teacher when I did regular supply teaching in Years 1 and 5, and one to one tuition for Year 5 and Year 6 pupils. I was a one to one tutor for two Year 6 boys who required additional support, being at risk of exclusion.



Bracknell Forest Council

• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Extended Services Coordinator

  • Aug 2007 - Dec 2008

  I was responsible for the coordination and management of a local Area Steering Group (ASG) and implementation of Extended Services for the North Bracknell and Sandhurst localities including:• Budget management• Liaison and collaborative working with Councillors, schools, local organisations & community• Development of central government initiatives at a local level• Extended Services school audits & progress reports for both local and national recording and monitoring.

• Democratic Services Officer

  • Jun 2004 - Aug 2007

  I managed statutory and non statutory Council meetings through:• Organisation of venues/coordination with key officers & partner organisations• Preparation & dispatch of agendas and minutes to statutory time limits &• Advice & support for Chairmen & Councillors on the correct procedure for running statutory meetings• Liaison with Councillors and senior council officers• Support for the Bracknell Forest Partnership Board & other Partnership meetings, including editing & publishing a quarterly Partnership newsletter Show less



Hull Citizen's Advice Bureau

• Specialist Advice Unit Manager

  • Sep 1998 - Aug 2003

  As part of a small management team, I was responsible for the effective operation and expansion of a specialist money advice and welfare rights unit, which included:• Management of twelve staff providing specialist second tier advice service within the Citizen's Advice Bureau in Hull including recruitment, training, supervision & development and staff appraisal • Expansion of the service through co-ordination of the implementation of Legal Aid franchising within the Unit• Liaison with external bodies and partners such as funders to attract additional funding and commission services• Collaboration with other advice agencies, to coordinate services and working practices• Preparation and management of a substantial annual budget • Management of a caseload to include representation at Social Security Appeals Tribunals• Delivery of specialist training for the Bureau and other local advice agencies, including the University of Hull• Representation of the CAB at the Humberside Law Centre Management Committee (elected Vice Chair in Sept. 1999) Show less

• Money Advice Worker

  • Apr 1995 - Sep 1998