SECOND STEP - Key Persons
Aileen's first experience of work was as a volunteer helping homeless people in Bristol. Trained in counselling and with a degree in psychology, Aileen has always been interested in the psychological side to providing housing and support to people with mental health needs.
Aileen joined Second Step in 1993 taking up the role of Chief Executive in 1995. She continues to lead service delivery development, with a focus on recovery, peer support and development of resilience. All with an emphasis on the benefits of strong partnership working.
Aileen is a trustee on the Association of Mental Health Providers.
Job Titles:
- Director of Quality and Performance and Deputy Chief Executive
Andy leads Second Step's Operational Management and is Director of Quality and Performance. Andy also deputises for our Chief Executive, Aileen Edwards.
Andy's career has been spent in the 3rd Sector with the vast majority of this time with Mental Health Charities.
He is passionate about building on Second Step's reputation and successes and sharing our positive values and vision.
Job Titles:
- Senior Operations Manager - Mental Health
Chris is responsible for a number of CCG commissioned services, including the Bristol Community Rehabilitation Service, the Recovery Bristol Partnership and the Bristol Wellbeing College and the Wellbeing Service in North Somerset.
Chris is also the Recovery Lead and Caldicott Guardian for Second Step.
Job Titles:
- Board Member and Chair Business Development, Finance and Audit Committee
Chris is a qualified accountant. He was until recently a Governor of an NHS Mental Health and Community Trust, three of which were as Lead Governor.
He decided he wanted to try and use his experience as carer, his financial background and the years as a Governor to good use and applied for a Board role at Second Step.
David is the Commissioning Manager for Adult Mental Health and Dementia Services in Somerset. He has previously worked as a Senior Procurement Officer, an NHS data analyst and an Operational Support Manager.
He enjoys leading teams creatively through different challenges. He is the creator/producer of the twice HSJ Award-shortlisted Somerset Emotional Wellbeing podcast and is also an award-winning screenwriter.
Job Titles:
- Interim Senior Operations Manager - Community & Wellbeing
- Service Delivery Manager, Changing Futures
Emmie is responsible for our of Community and Wellbeing Services. She is also the Safeguarding Lead for Second Step.
0117 909 6630
emmie.davies@second-step.co.uk
Job Titles:
- PR & Communications Manager
Jane has more than 15 years' communications experience with national charities. A campaign planner, branding expert and award-winning copywriter, she leads a small team who find compelling ways of sharing the wonderful work Second Step does.
Job Titles:
- Programme Director, Changing Futures
Kath oversees delivery of the Changing Futures programme in Bristol. This includes ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion, a trauma-informed approach, and lived experience are integral to everything they do. She brings partners together to understand and engage with the programme and sees this as a resource for the whole city to work more effectively to support people facing multiple disadvantage
Job Titles:
- Programme Director
- Board Member and Chair of Service Quality Committee
Katie Norton is Programme Director at NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB.
Previously Katie was CEO of Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust; public sector consultant at Deloitte LLP; plus senior roles in primary, community and mental health.
Kelvin is a Bristol native who, since retiring from BT in 2018, has been involved in several community groups, focusing on community activism. Since joining Second Step's Board five years ago, he's been involved in expanding our services beyond Bristol into Somerset.
Kelvin says, "A close family member was a heroin addict and lived a chaotic life, so I understand the trauma and have a passion to create better options for those who are often the invisible people in our communities.
I'm ambitious for Second Step and as Chair I will focus on improving the client voice, maintaining quality despite challenges, and championing staff wellbeing and development. With my real-life experience and business background, I believe I can help take Second Step forward."
Job Titles:
- Senior Operations Manager
Mark oversees our services in Somerset, Step Together and Open Mental Health. He is also the safeguarding lead for Second Step.
Before returning to his home county of Somerset, Mark worked for a youth homelessness charity and a national homelessness charity in Croydon, South London.
Neelu Agarwal is currently the Diversity and Inclusion lead for the Prudential Regulation Authority. She is from India and started her career as a Corporate rating analyst, she moved to London about five years ago.
Neelu has worked across multiple high profile projects including at the Bank of England. She has experience of being the Chair for the network for the progression of women in the Bank and is very passionate about wellbeing and mental health issues.
Ola supports the management of Second Step, ensuring that the organisation is equipped to meet its values and objectives.
She leads the Human Resources and Learning and Development team to deliver client focused people management strategies, to respond to challenges and changing requirements with a constant focus on fairness, equality and diversity.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Board Member of the National Care Forum
- Chief Executive of Brunelcare
Oona is Chief Executive of Brunelcare, a housing association providing homes and care. She was previously the CEO of United Communities housing association. also in Bristol and is a proud Bristolian.
Oona is a Board member of the National Care Forum, Care and Support West and co-Chair of the Bristol Homes Board. She has also recently been appointed to the Bristol South Integrated Care Partnership (ICP).
Richard is responsible for Finance and IT, and also the Senior Information Risk Owner for the organisation.
Richard comes from a charity background, having worked as Finance Director at Together for Short Lives and Tree Aid and in various roles at the National Autistic Society.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Director of Scientific Strategy and Development at the UK Health Security Agency
Richard Gleave is currently Director of Scientific Strategy and Development at the UK Health Security Agency.
He has a background as a NHS leader, civil servant and an academic working in Bristol, the South West and in nation-wide roles. He joined the Second Step Board in October 2017.
Job Titles:
- Senior Operations Manager Homelessness & Complex Needs
Job Titles:
- Senior Operations Manager Homelessness & Complex Needs
Sophie is responsible for a number of Homelessness and Complex Needs Services, including our housing services and Step Together. She has worked in homelessness and housing services since the start of her career.
Sophie has a true passion for working with and managing services for vulnerable people with complex needs.
Tharsha is a GP Partner at Downend Health Group. He is also the Chair of the South Gloucestershire Locality Partnership tasked with supporting the delivery of improved integration of health and care services.
Tharsha has a keen interest in supporting better integration of voluntary sector mental health services into the wider local healthcare system. He is an Associate of the University of Bristol where he provides mentoring to medical students.