Meet your Governors

Avril Clarke

Why do you want to be a Governor?

I would like to be a governor as I’m keen extend my involvement in GMMH to ensure a great service. Presently I’m a service user and volunteer at the recovery academy and soon to be volunteering onwards within the trust. Due to this involvement I can bring knowledge of what affects service users to the forefront of any discussion and challenge facing the governing body. I want to represent all service users, carers, staff and general public emphasizing on the service user’s needs.

What experience and skills do you feel you could bring to the role?

My experiences allow a unique perspective having been both a Nurse and a service user, 2 sides of the same coin. I understand both the strains and stresses on the staff and can empathise how this affects the service user. I have been involved in writing and presenting courses for the recovery academy for 4 years and have sat on recruiting panels as a service user representative. I recently presented to the First Responders conference at Liverpool university including answering audience questions. I explained how it feels to be in a distressed state due to mental health issues. I was involved in the recent CQC inspection making both written and verbal contribution. I now work as an artist and value the use of creativity in all areas. Thinking and working creatively allows a different option for resolving and developing issues and ideas.

Term of office ends: 31 March 2023.

Dan Stears
(Second Term)

Why do I want to be a Governor?

I’ve struggled with anxiety for over 18 years and engaged with the Trust for the last 9 (3 as a Service User & Carer Governor). Although I’m on the road to recovery, I recognise there are days I still struggle. It’s important to me to use my experience for the benefit of other service users and staff delivering services. Because of this, I’m passionate and actively involved in the following:

• I currently chair the Governors working group that looks at how Governors engage with their constituencies.
• I became the First Service User to become an NHS England approved independent Inspector.
• Communication Skills: Ability to articulate from the Trust board to constituents & service users.
• Community: I chair the Salford Mental Health forum as well as hold Trustee status at MINDinSalford & Salford Pride.
• I represent Mental Health & LGBT on the both the Salford and Forcewide divisions of GMP’s Independent Advisory Boards.

What experience and skills do you feel you could bring to the role?

• I’ve embraced Greater Manchester Mental Health’s ethos of being an Expert by Experience.
• I’ve used the experiences I have to improve the services both locally in Salford and across the Trust.
• I am the first Service User that has led Inspections of Trust secure units.
• I am one of the Lived Experienced Tutors at the Recovery Academy. and have been involved in the recruitment of 6 of the Trust Directors.

Term of office ends: 31 March 2023.

Nathan Anthony Prescott

Why do I want to be a Governor?

I want to be able to help shape a service that is user friendly, that respects the dignity of each INDIVIDUAL patient as well as their families/friends and carers. One that learns quickly from its' mistakes and ensures NO ONE slips through the net. I will reach out to other service users to find out what they need from the service, then lobby for any adjustments needed.I will fight for a system that offers transparency and choice to its service users. I'll strive to bring mental health care in line with the rest of our NHS so service users have a choice of who they see and can ask for second opinion. I want to be a governor so I can work with the trust to secure additional funding to bring waiting times down, review Care Quality Commission inspection results and push to ensure changes are made to become OUTSTANDING in all areas and make GMMH foundation trust the best it can be.

What experience and skills do you feel you could bring to the role?

As a mental health service user, I've experienced the service doing well but also when things go badly wrong; giving me insight and perspective. As director of a management company, I have the skills to identify poor performance and ability to problem solve to provide the best on a given budget. As a qualified pharmacist, I have great medical knowledge as well as compassion, respect and empathy.

Term of office ends: 31 July 2025

Patrick McKelvey

Why do you want to be a Governor?

I have been a carer for my daughter for the last 8 years who suffered from Anorexia and is now in recovery. During this very difficult time my family and I have experienced many difficult situations and learnt a great deal on how to support a loved one suffering from an eating disorder. During this difficult time, there was limited support for carers, and I took a positive step by involving myself in the various groups mentioned to instil positive change. I am passionate about assisting the development of the support for carers and their loved ones dealing with an eating disorder and would greatly value this opportunity to work with professionals to support the implementation of changes to improve the services GMMH offers to adults/children with eating disorders and other mental health issues.

What skills do you feel you could bring to the role?

As a Police officer, I dealt with people who were in crisis and at a Senior level dealing with NHS departments and trying to improve the care for people with Mental health issues. As a University Lecturer I saw the array of mental health issues within universities. I am involved in several eating disorder support groups working regularly with GMMH as a volunteer co facilitator in Parent and Carer group sessions and as an Echo Peer Coach for BEAT supporting carers dealing with eating disorders. I have the knowledge and experience to instil clear change.

Term of office ends: 30 September 2024

Dr Anna Fryer

Term of office ends: 31 July 2025

Lesley O'Neill
(Second Term)

Why do I want to be a Governor?

I have over 37 years experience in mental health nursing. I am passionate about making sure we are robust and skilled enough to give the best care possible. To do this, we need to support, protect and look after our nursing workforce. I believe I can be a big part of making sure this happens in the role of Governor ( nursing). I am fortunate to also hold a position of representative for the Trust on behalf of The Royal College of Nursing. This helps me make sure our nurses/nursing reflects what is happening within our UK and world nursing family. Being a Governor will enable me to project the voice of nurses and nursing in a senior level and make sure we are heard. I am also in a position where I can influence and bring issues to the Trust which supports and makes the working life better for nurses. This in turn, makes the delivery of patient care much better.

What experience and skills do you feel you could bring to the role?

I have worked as a nurse in most clinical areas of mental health nursing, this includes adult inpatient, adult CMHT's, Mental Health Liaison Services, Home Based Treatment Services, in patient services for older adults and latterly Older Adults CMHT. However, in my role as staff side representative, I have worked in almost every area and division within the Trust.

Term of office ends: 31 March 2023

Nnoluka Udeorji

Why do you want to be a Governor?

With over 10 years’ experience and having done bank shifts in almost 90% of the wards within the trust, I have gathered unique skills and learning, only acquired by experience. Which in turn enables me to get on well with both service users and staff. And able to provide as well as understand the type of services expected or required. And I say that with all humility. In a nutshell. I want to be a Governor, to help the Trust realise its main goal of actualising excellent service for service users and a working environment admirable for staff to work

What experience and skills do you feel you could bring to the role?

I have very good listening skill, patience and humour which gives me that connection firsthand with both service users and staff plus the empathy to go with it.

Rick Wright (Second Term)

Why do I want to be a Governor?

My top priorities as governor will be to: Give Social Care the profile it deserves in the Trust and continually highlight the immense and vital contribution of the social care and social work staff working within GMMH Trust. Support meaningful implementation of the Social Work Strategy including working to improve Social Care staff wellbeing. Provide a Social Care voice at all levels within the Trust.

What experience and skills do you feel you could bring to the role?

I have worked as a social worker and an Approved Mental Health Professional for over twenty years in Bolton. During this time I have been involved in many changes and developments as integrated services have taken shape. Partnership working and integration is key and I am dedicated to promoting and enhancing this where ever possible. I am especially proud of my contribution to the Social Work Strategy - one of the biggest challenges to us in social care currently is in implementing and embedding the aspirations identified within this. we must raise the profile of social care in GMMH trust, understand how social care staff wellbeing can be better promoted and explore the role they play delivering high-quality mental health services. GMMH has nearly 300 social care staff across its footprint who are often involved in the most complex and demanding work. The contribution to GMMH of social workers and social care staff is immense - their work deserves recognition and given due credit.

Term of office ends: 31 March 2023

Arif Patel

Why do I want to be a Governor?

I passionately believe that the National Health Service should put patient care and safety first before profit and deliver all the services, in the right locations, and within acceptable timescales. It would be a privilege to support GMMH as a governor and give something back; my time, expertise and experience. As a Governor I will strive to ensure that is not done at the cost of the service provided to the local community.

What experience and skills do you feel you could bring to the role?

I am currently an ICT Technical Lead with over 18 years of experience in Information Technology within the NHS sector. I am passionate about my job, to drive, manage, provide expert advice to end-users and more. It is therefore my role to listen to them, treat them with respect and sensitivity and thereafter robustly represent them, in order to secure the best possible outcome. There is an inherent sense of justice and fairness in everything I do and the people I deal with in every aspect of my life. In my spare time I enjoy playing football, walking, gym, going to the cinema and socialising. I therefore believe that my experience and qualifications would make me a suitable and useful candidate for a governor.

Term of office ends: 31 March 2023

Samantha Airey

Term of office ends: 31 July 2025

Jane Lee
(re-elected)

Why do I want to be a Governor?

The expertise of allied health professionals transforms lives. In my career I have seen: How understanding nutrition has led to control over disabling mental- health conditions and return to employment. How adjusting communication as a result of speech and language assessment has led to stable accommodation and access to education. How through Occupational therapy and the exploration of personal values and beliefs, people have been able to build skills and access opportunities to develop positive life roles, manage homes access education and gain employment. Without the right intervention people often become isolated and mentally and physically unwell. Over the last period austerity has had devastating effects on our communities and services. Homelessness, poverty, cuts to services has increased pressure on mental-health services Mental-health teams have struggled valiantly to support people and communities but are massively under -resourced. As a governor I will continue to:

• Promote the skills and expertise of allied health professionals and access to therapy for our service-users in Greater Manchester
• Speak up for well resourced, evidence based mental health services and research
• Stand for community resources in social housing, employment, education and childcare
• Review and develop and effective communication neetwork for AHP staff

What experience and skills do you feel you could bring to the role?

BA Psychology, BSc Occupational Therapy, Post-Graduate Certificate in Education, MSc Vocational Rehabilitation 25 plus years’ experience in mentalhealth: community, rehabilitation, later-life service, acute care, dual-diagnosis Speaking out for services.

Term of office ends: 31 March 2023

Les Allen

Why do I want to be a Governor?

As a long standing Bolton resident, I want to create seamless links between myself, Trust members, in Bolton, service users and the wider public. I see myself as an independent point of contact for all members, feeding their views into service improvement projects and influencing decisions. I would work closely with my fellow Governors and the Board of Directors to build on the excellent services currently provided

What experience and skills do you feel you could bring to the role?

I am a CIPFA/FCCA qualified accountant with many years senior finance experience within Local NHS Trusts. I have contributed to successful service developments, both in my working life and as a Governor, including this Trust’s acquisition of Manchester Mental Health services and the continued development of Bolton’s acute care pathway. I was proud to serve as a Governor for four years until April 2019. During that time I attended Governor and Board of Director meetings. I observed the interaction between Board members, including how Non-Executive Directors hold the Board to account, for the Trust’s performance. As Lead Governor I chaired the Nominations Committee, overseeing the appointment of the Chair and Non-Executive Directors to ensure the Board remains fit for purpose. I also chaired the Governor’s Membership Engagement Strategy and supporting the development of my fellow Governor’s.

Term of office ends: 31 March 2023

Asif Naliya

Over the past 18 years, I have worked a variety of positions, including senior support worker, care coordinator and director leaving me well practised in the field of mental health.

I believe having provided my clients, many of whom I have served for several years, with the support they require has given me an insight into the necessities needed within this sector. This knowledge will be invaluable to the role, and I look forward to representing my Bolton community and suggesting ideas to improve the delivery of care the service users receive.

Networking with colleagues and other agencies I also greatly enjoy, so collaborating with the team in the NHS trust to bring a positive change is something I am passionate about.

Term of office ends: 31 July 2025

VACANT

VACANT

Iris Nickson
(re-elected)

Why do I want to be a Governor?

Although the mental health sector has improved immensely over the last 33 years, I see through my father-in-law’s experiences that there remain many opportunities for improvements in the delivery of care to service users and their relatives. I am passionate about seizing these opportunities and I feel my insights into the challenges faced by people dealing with mental health issues and my wider experiences of improving the lives of young people who suffered with mental health and behavioural issues has made me a very valuable addition to the governing body.

What experience and skills do you feel you could bring to the role?

I have twenty years’ experience working in education. Seven years were in the special school (BESD) sector. The children displayed a diverse range of learning and mental health problems so working collaboratively with multi-agency teams was imperative. I am empathetic and can listen constructively, work collaboratively and be adaptable. During my three-year tenure as governor, I attended the, festival of learning event, CQC monitoring meetings (2017 – 2019), many Governor training events and I became a member of the, -apprenticeship programme, nomination committee, engagement working group and COG membership strategy working group. I have gained many useful insights, particularly into the challenges mental health can present to carers and the wider community, which have helped me identify ways of improving lives across GMMH at the strategic level.

Term of office ends: 31 March 2023

VACANT

Terry Corbett

Why do you want to be a Governor?

I want to be a Governor to continue my work on improving services I've done passionately in my recovery, using my essential lived experience. I have always offered a strong, assertive and rationale voice when feeding back people's experiences to Trust professionals right up to board level. Our city has developed beyond recognition in the last decade or so, and is moving at such a pace that its residents, especially the most vulnerable/isolated are becoming more and more detached and many such people are losing their voices. In the last 3 years, GMMH acquired Manchester's Mental Health Services, somewhat mirroring the speed of change's in our city. Yes, a lot of great work is being done, but there are people getting lost/confused in the new systems, their valuable experience going too. So as a Governor I want to become a strong channel for them to voice their experiences/concerns through me.

What experience and skills do you feel you could bring to the role?

20 years experience in both mental health/substance misuse services, 11 as a service user, 9 in recovery. In those 9 years, I've delivered many community projects designed towards giving people a voice. I've always been an avid spokesman in clinical work, was the service user representative for 2 years on the clinical transformation steering group overseeing the acquisition of Manchester's services. Last 12 months worked as Service and Carer Engagement Co-Ordinator producing films of people's experiences to feedback to the Trust.

Term of office ends: 31 March 2023.

 Fred Leatherbarrow

I am 75 years old and have lived in Manchester most of my life, left school in 1963 and served an apprenticeship in miter mechanic followed by the fumigation industry. I then became a licensee and ran several public houses. Later becoming an operational manager for a leisure company and I am a qualified stock auditor.

Since retiring I am part of Wythenshawe Age Friendly and produce a monthly newsletter.

I have also been part of Manchester well-being fund and south Manchester neighbourhood group.

Term of Office ends: 31 July 2025

Adele Taylor

I am now retired. I have been a teacher in Further Education teaching Film Theory, I have been a Youth Worker running a project for 16 - 25 year olds who were homeless and unemployed and I have worked in prisons. I have worked as a volunteer in various charities and have been a volunteer at Manchester Museum since 2001. I am from Manchester but lived in the South of England for 20 years. I have two children and a cat.

Term of Office ends: 31 July 2025

Pam Gilligan

I represent the people's voice - having worked at the heart of our community for almost two decades - designing services for our most vulnerable residents, including those experiencing mental health distress.

Working with my amazing team of staff and volunteers I have evolved our Charity from a humble coffee morning in Lowton into a Queen's award-winning Charity. As CEO I have experience participating in strategic discussions and most importantly lived experience of supporting hundreds of people, our most vulnerable in our Borough and proud to be part of their journey from the depths of despair to becoming a valued member of the community. 

Over these past 20 years, supporting people first hand who live with anxiety, depression and other illnesses has taught me how quickly they can fall into despair. Therefore, I care passionately about improving mental health services, so they restore hope and purpose to those experiencing distress – giving people a renewed sense of belonging to their community. 

Term of Office ends: 31 July 2025

Term of Office ends: 31 July 2025

Angela Beadsworth

Why do I want to be a Governor?

I’ve worked in public service for 36 years and am currently working in the Manchester and Trafford health & social care arena as Head of Workforce to improve access to a range of services through system & service redesign. In that time I’ve accessed a range of mental health services for close family relatives and so have my own personal narrative for wanting to become a Governor at GMMH. I also feel I can contribute to governance responsibilities as I’m solution focussed, analytical and can understand and navigate outcomes for complex issues.

What experience and skills do you feel you could bring to the role?

I’ve worked in public service at Senior level for over 20 years and I’m a chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel & Development. I can bring my experience & working knowledge of the current GM health & social care system so aware of it’s challenges & opportunities as I’m currently delivering the HRService to Trafford CCG and leading the Commissioning integration work stream. I have written & presented governing body, Remcom & council of Member reports. I have a coaching style and can facilitate discussions and ensure I actively listen to people’s views ensuring all have a voice. I care passionately about improving public service and being accountable is one of my key personal values. If I was selected I will do my utmost to assist Governing Body to hold the Trust to account & improve outcomes.

Term of office ends: 31 July 2025

Sharon Mason

Why do I want to be a Governor?

Working in clinical practice and engaging collaboratively with CQC and other bodies have seen an increase in child and adolescent mental illness and admissions to A&E of children that attempted to take their own life, with significant disability outcomes in some cases and with some young people transferred to the south from the north although facilities in Greater Manchester were nearer. I’d like to get involved more in improvements to overall mental health for children and young people and adults and to integrated service delivery overall.

What experience and skills do you feel you could bring to the role?

I developed a non-biased feedback service to Trusts in support of quality improvements following CQC inspections that are transferrable to other services and has been Influential in cultural change to one of learning from situations from a culture of blame when things do not go so well. Experiences shared for example, online prescribing and medicine administration having an impact on patient safety led to additional resources and improvements in service delivery and support of staff. Good practices shared for example in the delivery of care for children and young people that had self-harmed requiring 1:1 specialing on a busy children’s inpatient wards in acute hospitals, raised awareness of staffing and led to changes in practices. I work collaboratively with the NHS, NHSI, CQC, National Guardian Office, RCN and other agencies and deliver peer support to healthcare practitioners suffering from work related mental illness.

Term of office ends: 31 March 2023.

Mat Ainsworth

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

Mat Ainsworth is the Assistant Director for Employment (Strategy, Policy & Delivery) at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Mat is responsible for the delivery of the employment elements of GM’s groundbreaking devolution agreement and the Greater Manchester Strategy priority around good jobs for people to progress & develop. The key elements of this include the development of a whole population Working Well system to ensure people have the support and opportunities to secure and progress in work; developing a world-class jobs and progression service, working with Jobcentre Plus; and developing a GM approach to managing welfare reform that delivers job progression and addresses low pay.   The role includes significant joint working with partners across GM, especially those working in health, skills and economic development, as well as with central government departments, academics and Think Tanks.

Mat has previously worked for Salford City Council, Nottingham City Council, Jobcentre Plus and as a teacher and freelance translator in Slovenia.

Term of office ends: September 2021

DCI Jane Curran

Greater Manchester Police  

Jane Curran is a Detective Chief Inspector with Greater Manchester Police and has been a serving police officer for 28 years. Her role is GMP's Strategic Lead for Mental Health.  Jane has held leadership roles at GMP in Public Protection, Organised Crime Co-Ordination response, Prevent and Professional Standards Branch.  In 2012, Jane completed a PGC in Adult Safeguarding at the University of Salford alongside other public sector partners and worked with them to improve the adult safeguarding responses across Manchester and specifically at Trafford.  Her current role includes significant joint working with partners across GM to unify service delivery in respect of mental health need, ensuring that GM systems are integrated, effective, localised and focused on service user need.   

Term of office ends: 30 September 2024.

Rachel Tanner

Greater Manchester Adult Social Care

Term of Office ends: 31 January 2023

Dr Naomi Sharples

University of Salford

Emma Simpson

Greater Manchester VCSE

Appointed Governor Vacancy