Employment History

 

November 2016-date: Equality & Diversity Lead for the three Hertfordshire and west Essex CCGs (Integrated Care Board (ICB) from 1/7/22)

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The same as at Bedfordshire CCG but covering three Clinical Commissioning Groups instead of one. 

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January 2015 to November 2016 : Equality & Diversity Manager, Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

 

Main duties include:

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• develop and implement the organisation’s equality and diversity action plan, aligned to the strategic plan outcomes;

• develop and implement equality impact analysis processes and systems;

• develop and implement equalities monitoring processes for highlighting patterns of inequality in service delivery and workforce development;

• develop and implement opportunities to improve participation and engagement of people from ‘protected characteristic’ groups internally and across the community;

• design and deliver equality and diversity staff development programmes and initiatives;

• support community consultation and engagement processes to increase the representation of ‘protected characteristic’ communities;

• provide specialist advice and input to managers and leaders on equality legislation and issues of compliance.

 

May 2011 – 8th October 2014: Luton Borough Council - Disability Access & Equality Advisor

 

• Application of current and new legislation, guidance and good practice

• Writing & Delivering training sessions for staff and customers

• Marketing & promoting the services to potential internal & external customers

• Negotiation with potential customers and then meeting customer needs

 

Working in-house and externally to market Disability Access and Equality & Diversity training and consultancy services to the public, private & third sectors. This included undertaking access audits of commercial buildings, advising leisure facilities on access to services as well as buildings and delivering Equality Act training.

 

Made redundant in October 2014. All about the Council needing to make savings. 
 

February 2004 – May 2011: Luton Borough Council - Disability Policy and Access Officer

 

• Advice and guidance on legislation & good practice to practitioners, Senior Management and elected Members

• Consultation with public and special interest groups

• Negotiation with stakeholders to develop & agree final policies & procedures

• Designed, achieved agreement on & implemented a service auditing procedure including training staff on using the procedure

• Auditing of services against standards set both internally and by external bodies

• Reporting progress, briefing Senior Managers and elected Members, preparing statements, press releases and answering questions from the public

• Contact, including job relevant interviews, with the press including printed press and local radio

 

Generic equalities work and lead on the Local Authority’s disability equality function. Developed and delivered the Council’s Single Equality Scheme. Interpreted and implemented equality legislation, and best practice, to ensure that the Council met its legal responsibilities. Developed and implemented the Corporate Equality Impact Assessment processes. Lead Officer for the Equality Standard for Local Government which included advising on practice, setting up auditing systems and auditing against the Standard. Designed and delivered Corporate Equalities and Disability Access training.

 

Appointed to two one year roles in addition to the 'day job'; firstly as a Diversity Peer for the local government Improvement and Development Agency and, secondly, to the Independent Disability Equality Advisory Group for Arts Council England.

 

April 1997 – February 2004: Luton Borough Council - Supported Employment Manager

 

• Researched  and identified service and customer need

• Negotiated internally, and won external bids, for funding

• Recruited & managed staff

• Developed links and partnerships with relevant individuals and organisations

• Accountable to a range of internal & external stakeholders including reporting on meeting targets, performance against budget & marketing the service

• Established and managed a Corporate employee group to support the organisation to develop effective and evidence based policy and practice.

 

Established an innovative project from scratch. Conducted research into customer need. Identified and secured funding to establish the service (including negotiation with Local Authority funders, obtaining Single Regeneration Budget funding, Public Sector Agreement funding and Local Government Modernisation funding). Recruited, led and managed a team of Supported Employment Advisors, Assistant Job Coaches and Admin Support staff. Established and managed partnership to bid for and then run New Deal for Disabled People Personal Advisor Pilot. Lead Officer for the Development of the Luton Joint Investment Plan for Welfare to Work for Disabled People. Member of the National Executive Committee of the Association for Supported Employment. Member of the local Health Action Zone Strategic Inequalities Working Group. Disability Awareness and Disability Discrimination Act training for staff and customers.

 

Jan -96 - April 97 : Manager, London Borough of Brent Supprted Employment Service
Led and managed a team employed in a range of roles from professional (Job Coach or Graphic Designer) to manual (cleaners, assembly workers etc).

Notable achievements included increasing services performance by 75% (placing over 100 people into work in a full year), designing and introducing an appraisal system, obtaining Investors in People status, winning a TEC Training for Work contract and developing and delivering Disability Awareness and Disability Discrimination Act training to the Authority. Member of the North West London Committee for the Employment of People with Disabilities (a Statutory committee). Mentor to another Manager from within the Authority.

 

 

July 1984 - Jan 1996  Various positions - The Employment Service.

 

Feb 1992 - Jan 1996   Disability Employment Advisor

April 1990 - Feb 1992   Inspection [Benefit Fraud] Services 

Oct 1988 - April 1990   Assistant Divisional Job Club Liaison Officer

Nov- 1987 -Oct 1988  - Admin Officer Regional Equal Opportunities Unit                   

July 1984 - Nov 1987   Admin Officer - Unemployment Benefit Office 

 

Education 

 

2018 - ILM Level 4 - Managing Equality and Diversity

2013 – Passed Level 4 Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS)

2002 – Passed NVQ 5 in Operational Management

2001 – Obtained MSc Disability Management in Work and Rehabilitation from City University

 

Other information

 

Iam a Director of Luton Lives Promotions and Events Ltd - a vountary live music promoter.I support a team of 10 volunteers to put on live music in the Luton area. 

 

I was Secretary of a local Charity from 2012 to 2022.

 

I was a Trustee and Director of Headway South Beds from Jan 1999 – August 2001.

 

I took part in Operation Raleigh in 1985 and spent 3 months working in Belize.

 

I was leader of Bushey and Watford PHAB (Physically Handicapped & Able Bodied) club for disabled and non disabled people and a member of Watford Borough Council’s Advisory Committee on Disability for two years.

 

I was the Secretary (one year) for the Positive Help line in Watford which was an AIDS and HIV support group so I have an understanding of these issues and counselling training.

 

I was chair of the Watford International Year of the Disabled (IYDP) People Employment Committee in 1981 and a member of the organising committee for the IYDP.