Lee Smith Email & Phone Number

Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Currently working as a Senior Officer in both Health Policy and Quality & Standards Assessments

Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Led on several areas in the development of the latest TEF method including the provider and student submissions

Bristol, United Kingdom

Gloucester, United Kingdom

• Successfully managed teams of peer reviewers to carry out numerous in-depth quality assurance reviews of higher education providers, all within budget and completed on schedule. Published reports included judgements about provider’s performance and recommendations for improvement• Established effective working relationships with four failing providers to enable them to enhance their provision and overturn judgements during a 12-month period • Managed teams of trainee academic and student reviewers during various 3-day training sessions to assess their capability to carry out central company business of provider reviews• Managing a caseload of 17 subscribing institutions including regular face-to-face visits and email/phone communication • Operational responsibility for designing, evaluating and optimising key quality assurance review methods. This has resulted in streamlined methods to fit in with the requirements of the Agency and funding bodies • As Case Officer, spearheaded complex investigations of concerns raised by staff and students at higher education providers. This led to the development and monitoring of action plans to address the concerns.

Effectively marketed and delivered a range of services to both visually impaired students, and those providers associated with post-compulsory education across the South West. Successfully achieved key performance indicators and exceeded service income target in every year. Project managed contracts and successfully built up partnerships with key agencies including Universities and Colleges. Active member of major education and disability strategic groups across the region. Researched and written a range of publications including Good Practice Guidelines commissioned by Universities, Colleges and Connexions Service National Unit. Carried out six Disability Audits as well as writing proposals, negotiating contracts, and producing comprehensive reports with recommendations. Designed and delivered disability awareness training for staff at Colleges and Universities.

Successfully evaluated New Deal 25+, Bridging the Gap, and Pathways to Work welfare-to-work projects. Devised project schedules so that planning, organising and conducting more than 100 in-depth interviews with unemployed people, employers and providers was completed on time. Analysed qualitative data using N-Vivo in order to produce interim and final reports for each project. Dynamic change management whereby interim findings were used to develop next phase of each project. Project critically reviewed at regular intervals by both a Steering Group and a Joint Implementation Group. Effectively managed a £100k budget, which involved hiring additional research staff to carry out the study. Completed project on time and within budget, and met customer expectations.

Effectively managed UK-wide research project on needs and aspirations of visually impaired young people. Devised project schedules to ensure project was completed on time. Carried out risk analysis to ensure adequate response rate for statistical validity.Successfully engaged 30 Local Education Authorities (LEAs) and 140 Colleges and Universities. Organised and conducted eight focus groups with young people across the UK. Analysed qualitative data from focus groups to devise questionnaire for more than 200 young people. Visited key stakeholders within selected LEA regions in order to improve questionnaire response rate. Effectively managed specialist team of telephone interviewers to ensure interviews completed on time. Analysed quantitative data using a statistical package (SPSS) in order to produce interim and final reports. Made recommendations that fed into future RNIB policy and campaigning on issues including education, health care, careers advice, benefits, and transport. Provided regular updates to a Steering Group consisting of 20 eminent practitioners within the field. Managed an £80k budget and manpower resources to carry out the study. Completed project on time and within budget, and met customer expectations.

Bsc, Economics

Activities and Societies: Represented University at tennis and badmintonBSc Economics

Msc, Health Economics

Activities and Societies: Tennis, badminton and squash clubsMSc Health Economics