My primary role is partnership development and management; bringing senior leaders, practitioners and members of the local community together to help prevent adult abuse. Strategic business planning and horizon scanning are important, but the biggest skill is building effective and genuine relationships.I also deliver training across the sector to help improve awareness and knowledge, which is designed to help prevent abuse and neglect.

Project development and support of the work programme of the partnership Board, that has the statutory responsibility for overseeing the development of adult safeguarding work across Tees.This involves helping to develop complex policies and other pieces of guidance for operational practitioners, as well supporting senior strategic leaders from Local Authority, Health, Criminal Justice and other partner agencies.

Senior Manager in a region-wide voluntary sector organisation, that also operated as part of a national consortium in delivering services within the Criminal Justice Sector, all focused on the wider aim of reducing re-offending. I had experience of managing commercial projects, including multiple Cafe style outlets across the North East, winning new contracts, and launching a start up community interest transport business. I was also the safeguarding lead for the organisation, working with children and families, many of whom had experience of abuse and neglect.

Progressed through the grade structure from Prison Officer to 3rd in charge of one of the largest prisons in Europe. My last position was Head of Operations and Public Protection at HMP Highpoint in Suffolk, where I was part of the management team to successfully merge two prisons into one larger organisation. I was responsible for the overall security of the site, and all public protection related decisions for 1300 offenders, including Release on Temporary Licence, Home Detention Curfew and re-categorisation/transfer to open conditions. I also had experience working extensively across the North East of England, and as an operational tutor at the national training College, Newbold Revel.Throughout my HMPS career a key thread of my work was working towards the elimination of abuse, neglect and discrimination. This included being the Safer Custody Team Leader (senior manager) at HMP Highpoint, and Race Relations Liaison Officer at HMP Acklington.

Deployed operationally to Iraq, Falkland Islands, Cyprus and Germany.