Meet the team responsible for delivering Healthwatch Staffordshire.
This group provides advice on:
- Healthwatch priorities
- The Enter and View programme to monitor the quality of care
- Identifying key public concerns
- Community engagement activity
They act as the voice of the people and make sure that Healthwatch Staffordshire adheres to the core principles of confidentiality, respect, feedback, transparency and influence.
Anna Mather | Manager
Email: anna.mather@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk
Anna is passionate about people, advocating for others including everyone having the right to be a part of an inclusive community including having their health, social and wellbeing needs met. Anna has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the VCSE
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Anna is responsible for the strategic focus and delivery of Healthwatch Staffordshire. Anna started her journey with Healthwatch as part of the committee and has a degree in Psychology and Child development as well as various other training in safeguarding, leadership & management.
Anna has spent over 10 years working and operationally managing teams within frontline services, focusing on seldom heard groups inclusive of individuals who have been impacted by poor mental health, addiction, homelessness, criminal activity, prison and hospital discharges, care leavers, young people, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, asylum seekers, learning disabilities and older people.
Anna has her own lived experience of being impacted by poor mental health, receiving a diagnosis, being involved in services and the stigma that is attached. Anna strives to use her experiences to connect with others and open communication around mental health.
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Dave Bassett | Southeast Engagement Officer
Email: david.bassett@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk
Dave has been involved with Health and Social Care since 1972, working for Cumbria, Derbyshire and Staffordshire Social Services. He has also held senior management roles in the NHS in Leicestershire and North Staffordshire both as a provider and a
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Previously Dave was Vice Chair of Staffordshire LINK, representing them as a non-voting member of Staffordshire County Council Health Scrutiny Committee and in meetings relating to changes to Stafford Hospital A&E. He has chaired his GP patient group and was an initial member of East Staffordshire CCG Patient Board. He is a Director of Burton and district Mind and a member of University of Derby and Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. His interests are in community health and care services for vulnerable adults and their interface with hospital services as well as patient and public involvement. He is also a season ticket holder at Leicester City.
Dave is our Community Outreach Lead for East Staffordshire.
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Emma Ford | North Engagement Officer
Email: emma.ford@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk
Emma has a law degree, legal practice certificate, and 15 years’ experience of working in the voluntary sector, including as a Volunteer Generalist Advisor at Stoke Citizen’s Advice Bureau (latterly specialising in Debt Work), and as the Media Bureau Co-ordinator
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Emma wants to use her skills, knowledge, and experience (both personal and professional) to work with the people of Newcastle and Staffordshire Moorlands to improve the health services they receive.
In her spare time, Emma likes running, having completed several half marathons and the London Marathon, and has recently started taking part in triathlons.
Emma is our Community Outreach Lead for Newcastle and the Staffordshire Moorlands.
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Claire Hill | Project Officer/Data Analyst
Email: claire.hill@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk
Claire completed degrees in Maths and Control Systems before starting her career working in Research with British Gas. She later moved to Lucas Aerospace to work in the I.T. Department supporting users in the business with software packages and
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During this time, she also volunteered for school and community organisations. This included 18 months as a Digital Champion with ESCVS, training those with little experience in basic computer use and helping with I.T. Skills at local Work Clubs. More recently she trained and volunteered as a Peer Supporter for Together for Mental Wellbeing in East Staffordshire and has completed various courses with the MPFT Wellbeing and Recovery College. She enjoys knitting, sewing and craft.
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Christine Sherwood | Social Care Engagement Officer
Email: christine.sherwood@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk
I have 30 years’ experience of working in both Adult social care & Housing.
I have worked in both the Private and Public sectors & worked for the Local council for over 15 years. Several roles involved working with
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I have worked in both the Private and Public sectors & worked for the Local council for over 15 years. Several roles involved working with People with care/support needs & Independent Living.
My passion is in supporting people with complex needs, mental health & Learning difficulties have their voices and opinions heard.
I have gained numerous qualifications along my journey including an ICQ Level 5 diploma in Leadership for Health & Social care, OCR NVQ Level 4 in Management, a couple of Level 3 certifications in Care and CIH Housing Practitioner to name a few.
Healthwatch is going to enable me to support the local community to be heard and to shape Social Care & Health with the data we collect.
I have raised money for local charity by completing a Sky Dive at the start of 2020 prior to the Covid pandemic starting.
I’d love to do some missionary work to support communities.
I enjoy travelling, being with my family & pets, attempting to keep fit & challenging myself to try something new each year.
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Jackie Owen | Southwest Staffordshire Engagement Officer
Email: jackie.owen@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk
Jackie began her career in Social Work in 1974 in Jersey, Channel Islands and spent the next 30 years working in various Local Authorities, including Hereford and Worcester as a Specialist Social Worker in Dementia care and then in 1993
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In her spare time Jackie undertakes various voluntary roles in her local area of Lichfield including telephone befriending, and as a lay school appeals panel member. She has always had a passion for fitness and has completed several marathons, triathlons and long distance bike rides for charity over the years but nowadays enjoys walking and keeping fit with weights.
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Kelly Moss | Engagement Officer
Email: kelly.moss@healthwatchstaffordshire.co.uk
I bring a mix of professional and personal experience to my role, with a background in small business ownership and a strong passion for helping others. I've spent many years volunteering with charities and supporting elderly care.
I have
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I have lived experience of mental health challenges, neurodivergence, raising children with SEND, long-term health conditions and palliative care, as well as supporting & advocating for others facing similar challenges. These experiences have shaped my deep commitment to inclusion, equality and supporting people through complex journeys.
I have expertise in research, problem solving and analysis. I am passionate about lifelong learning and enjoy continuing to expand my knowledge. I’ve studied Level 4 IT & Computing and I’m currently studying Level 3 ‘Understanding Autism’. I’ve also completed a range of CPD courses within Information Science and Health and Social Care sectors.
Outside of work I’m an artist and an animal lover,- I share my life with a variety of birds, dogs, fish, axolotl and a tortoise.. they definitely keep things interesting!
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Ian North | Chair of Healthwatch Advisory Committee
Ian has extensive knowledge and experience of the private, voluntary and statutory sectors and has been the CEO of East Staffordshire Family Support Service – Harvey Girls – Dads4Dads
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With a wide range of experience of strategic, operation and financial management and a clear understanding of housing and public policy issues, Ian is action and results orientated and demonstrates an ability to develop relationships, networks and systems to achieve change. He is passionate about making a difference to the lives of individuals, families and communities.
Ian also sits on the Board of a number of smaller charities and believes good governance should be at the heart of every well-run charity. He has held the Chair position at the following organisations:
West London YMCA , Homes for Northumberland; Three Valleys Housing in Derbyshire, and Trent and Dove Housing, based in Burton.
Ian was elected to the National Council of YMCAs’ Board of Trustees in 2016 - 2019 and in 2009 was Awarded the Housing Heroes Inspirational Board Member of the Year.
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Derek Hoey | Healthwatch Advisory Committee Member
Derek has been a volunteer with Healthwatch Staffordshire since 2014 and has fulfilled a number of roles including Enter and View; he was invited to join the Advisory Board in
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Nikki Archer | Healthwatch Advisory Committee Member
I am delighted to be a trustee of Support Staffordshire and a board member of Healthwatch Staffordshire and hope that my experiences of working in the NHS, voluntary organisations and
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Addressing inequality, challenging the status quo in the systems within which we live and work and exploring the art of what is possible for the better of our community, neighbours and the people who live in them are my drives. I am proud of my strong Staffordshire roots having been born and brought up in Tamworth and although I left for a few years, I returned ‘home’ over 25 years ago.
I am a qualified nurse and trained counsellor. I am passionate about partnership and relationship working. Having a professional background in HIV, end of life and bereavement care I worked at St Giles Hospice for over 20 years where I had responsibility for overseeing the organisations community development, and non ‘clinical’ partnership agenda. This work gave me the opportunity to forge strong links with colleagues across the local and national voluntary and community sectors. I now run my own consultancy business NAC working within the voluntary and healthcare sectors supporting organisations on several issues, including supporting those affected by death, dying and bereavement. I have also transferred my knowledge and experience into the commercial sector working as a business partner in a healthcare recruitment company.
I am also currently a student at Keele University, completing my Doctorate in Health Science, researching Bereavement Help Points as a community development and volunteer facilitated model of bereavement support within hospices.
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John Townsley | Healthwatch Advisory Committee Member
John has extensive knowledge and over 30 years’ experience of both commercial and statutory sectors and for 12 years prior to his retirement in 2005, was Business Information Officer in
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With a wide range of experience of commercial operation and financial management John is action and results orientated and demonstrates an ability to develop relationships, networks and systems to achieve change.
His focus in Healthwatch is the interests of the older community; many older people either have no access to or struggle with modern online methods of communication which are becoming more and more commonplace in accessing healthcare.
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Sanjida Rahim | Healthwatch Advisory Committee Member
I’m Sanjida Rahim, I have vested interest in health and wellbeing. I describe myself as an expert by experience in mental health and trauma both. Currently I’m researching
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Having lived in Burton on Trent for nearly 44 years, I am still lobbying and fighting for better services for deprived communities in East Staff area. I have carried out research into the lives of deprived Burton communities in the past and reported the results back to the Staffs Health Authority back in 1990’s but in my experience things have taken the toll for worst instead of improving.
After my arrival back home from work and travel for many years abroad, I seeked to work once again with a voluntary organisation such as Support Staffs. Traditionally I’ve been working as an volunteer at board level of many organisations but to name but few are: Burton Community Development Project, Racial Equality Council, Staffs and Derbyshire Police, Education Departments and Social Services and a Parent and County Council governor.
During Civid, I supported many young people, adults and elderly remotely and I am still interested in researching in this area. One of things struck me was, the lack of coping mechanisms or lack of education and understanding on how to act upon advice from the professionals. Very simple things which we all take for granted were not understood by many community members and they didn’t receive timely support they needed such as a family of three/four children only had one mobile between them and this caused a lot of stress/mental health illness to the children and parents both.
At Support Staffordshire, I have met like minded professionals such as Garry Jones, the CEO who are trying to change this and when we were successful in funding for the Health Watch Programme, I put myself forward because amongst other things, the health of the people in my community is very close to my heart. I look forward to making a difference by working with Baz, the manager of Health Watch Project.
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Daniela Ballantine | Healthwatch Advisory Committee Member
