Don Derrett
Position: Co founder and Managing Director
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Don Derrett, BSc (Open), DipHSW (Open), DipMgmt (Open), CertMgmt (Open)
Don was one of the four co founders of self direct and is the Managing Director.
Don worked for Mencap for 15 years in various roles. In the last 3 years with Mencap, Don was Mencap's National Officer for Self-Directed Support, heading up a group of senior managers to oversee a number of pilot projects across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to introduce Self-Directed Support into the work of Mencap and to make Self-Directed Support targets an integral part of Mencap's corporate plans.
During this time Don also part of the in Control core team working with the directors as in Control's Business Manager.
As Mencap's National Officer for Self-Directed Support, Don was one of the founding members of in Control Cymru in Wales and continues to work with the steering group, now called the Wales Alliance for Citizen Directed Support, as an independent adviser.
Before these 2 roles, Don worked together with Mencap's Corporate Planning Manager, reporting to the Chief Executive, to develop a corporate planning stragegy for Mencap to take forward the 5 year Change Programme, A Vision for Change.
Also whilst at Mencap, Don was asked to lead a cross organisational project team to develop and successfully launch a National information website, Ask Mencap (now incorporated into Mencap's national website).
Don also worked in the community working with and for Third Sector organisations, individuals and their families as Mencap's District Officer for North Yorkshire and York.
Don started his career with Mencap in residential services, supporting adults with a learning disability and complex and high support needs and managed 2 residential homes during this time as a registered manager.
Over the years, Don's other occupations have included 25 years teaching brass instruments and retail management.
Don has recently become a voluntary member of York Older People's Assembly and is keen on a personal level to improve support and life choices for Older People.