self direct people
People that are taking forward the work of self direct have many years of experience of the social and health care sector; including personal experience and management expertise at operational, senior and board room level in the public, private and voluntary sectors
The founders of self direct are passionate about people being in control of their own lives and fully support putting the ethical principles of Self-Directed Support into practice
Other members of the self direct team include our Independent living expert, Family carer expert, Finance Manager, Marketing Officer and Administrator
self direct Associates work with us to promote changes in the 'social and health market-place'
Full profiles of all self direct people can be found under Author Profiles
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Jackie Lawley
"I am passionate about people buying, directing and monitoring their own support and for people to be supported to make decisions about their own lives"
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Mandy Spray
"Supporting people to have real choice and control over their lives just makes sense. Developing, supporting and maintaining a proactive and person centred workforce is key to making it all happen. Knowing when to step in and when to step back has formed a crucial part of the workshops that I have been running over the last few years. I am delighted to be working with selfdirect. Their practical and supportive approach to managing change within organisations instils confidence and enthusiasm"
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Michaela Etherington
I have many years’ experience working within various marketing and administrational roles, for both large and small organisations. This varied background has given me the skills and knowledge to support self direct to develop.
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Don Derrett
"After 15 years experience in various roles with a leading UK charity, I have spent the last 4 years working closely with people involved in the changes underway to introduce Self-Directed Support across the UK. I have seen first hand how Self-Directed Support transforms lives and am passionate about making this a reality for all."
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Keith Wyatt
"I am an experienced manager with a wealth of experience in both the commercial, voluntary and not-for-profit sector. I am a firm believer in everyone having equal opportunities and self direct is giving me the opportunity to support people to take more control of their lives"
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Katie Thorpe
“I run HRActive Ltd and am a professional HR Consultant with expertise across a range of public and private sector organisations, including elder care, learning disability, housing and the NHS. As well as running HRActive Ltd, I also employ 7 people who provide support to my disabled sister who lives independently in the community, so understand well the pressures on families”
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Vivienne Gilman
My name is Vivienne, I am 38 years old and am registered as Deaf/Blind with Hartlepool Borough Council Social Services. I am very interested in people who have disabilities, their rights and equal opportunities. I am currently involved with a working group via Social Services, and also involved in a working group within my work in the Department of Work and Pensions. I would like to be more involved with other working groups outside of my work remit, as I feel I have a lot of experience gained through my working for the Department of Work and Pensions and know what it is like to be sighted and non sighted, and the barriers that people with disabilities are faced with. (see My Support Plan in the resources section)
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Sarah Wood
I am Sarah Wood, I live in York and grew up there. I am a Mum and a Grandma. My experience as a parent carer has led to me becoming a Person centred planning facilitator, a Partner in policy making, a Citizen leader and employed as a Family carer expert with self direct. I have a son with Autism/ learning difficulties who is in receipt of an Individualised Budget. We like to discover new, imaginative ways to use his money on realising his dreams and contributing to life in his community. I am happy to support self direct in the quest to personalise services and bring providers up to speed.
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Claire Hutchinson
"I have 20 years finance experience, a Chartered Management Accountant, I am also passionate about all people having equal opportunities and human rights and am really happy to be involved with self direct."
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Lucy Derrett
“I've recently graduated from Northumbria University in Newcastle with a BA(Hons) in Graphic Design. I've had a huge passion for Art and Design since a young age and I love what I do! Since finishing University I've been working as self direct's Marketing Officer. I've also been doing a lot of the design work for self direct, including the logo and business cards.”
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Simon Duffy
Simon Duffy, founder of the innovative service provider Inclusion Glasgow, leading thinker and writer on Self-Directed Support and leader of the social innovation network in Control from 2003 to 2009. Simon joins self direct as an associate to work with us on special projects. (see the author profiles link above for more information about Simon)
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Andrea Broadway-Parkinson
“I am delighted to be working with Self Direct as an associate. As a disabled person, (following a spinal cord injury in 1986 aged 16 while living in Zambia), I have had much experience of using all manner of services over time. I value my independence highly and want to stay 'in control' for as long as possible. Anything that can assist others to achieve a quality of life that they want for themselves is always central to my agenda! I am convinced that self direct and its extended network of stakeholders/partners/associates will be able to make a meaningful contribution in the health and social care market and am committed to being part of the awareness raising and education process so as to truly "make a difference"”
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Maggie Kelly
Hi, my name is Maggie and I’m the mum of a young autistic adult who has an individualised budget and we have been “living the dream” for about 15 months now. I’ve worked with Don and Keith on a couple of Self Direct events and have been impressed with their commitment to people with learning difficulties having control of their lives. Their practical, sensible and achievable advice to Providers shows them how to make changes to the way they work, giving personalised services and real choices, music to my ears!
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Di Lofthouse
“For many years I have spoken up for people with a learning disability across the UK and internationally. I am a member of the Harrogate and District Learning Disability Partnership Board and am very keen to make sure that people with high and complex support and health needs are not left behind as more people take control of their support and lives”
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Andy Pollin
“My name is Andy Pollin. I live independently and l have done for 5 and a half years. I am a Trustee at York People First. It’s a big responsibility and being our own Trustees helps us to be independent and feel powerful. I do a lot of training work with people first and that helps me to feel confident. We raised the money to start a theatre company at York Theatre Royal and l really enjoy being part of that. I enjoy working with self direct”
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Shaun Lavery
“My name is Shaun Lavery and I've lived in my own flat for 5 years, I've had my ups and downs but I wouldn’t change how life is now for anything. I am a Trustee at York People First and am on the training team. I am part of Once seen.... theatre company and my dream is to work on local radio. I enjoy working at self direct”
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Dr Rosemary Tozer
Rosemary Tozer and her husband have brought up three children, including 2 sons with high support needs and she helps support her parents who are in their 90s long distance. She began her career as a social worker in probation and family placement before moving to York 20 yrs ago. Completing an MA in Services for people with a learning disability in the early 90's took her into social policy research where she has worked on projects to do with older people and user involvement, carers and employment and a project about the experiences and support needs of families with two or more severely disabled children which led to a DPhil
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Virginia Webster
“I am really proud to be associated with self direct. I like what you are doing. You are very skilled in getting the message across in an unthreatening way, but there is no compromise in the principals and ethics behind the Personalisation of services and Self-Directed Support"