HEALTHWATCH DARLINGTON - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Community and Volunteer Officer
I am a married mum of three children and have one stepson. My role is to go out in the community meeting new people and allowing their voices to be heard and make a difference within the health and social care sector. I thrive off helping people and will always go that extra mile to help someone in need. My hobbies include going to the gym, watching my two son's play football and socialising with my family and friends.
Diane's role is to provide operational support to the CEO and Board members this includes the management of the budgets and supervision of office staff. She has a vast knowledge of local networks and is passionate about bringing local groups together to build a ‘Network of Networks'.
Her passion outside of work is horse riding, owning her own horse and competing in one day events, this along with keeping up with her 9 grandchildren ensures she never has a dull moment.
I'm originally from Northern Ireland and moved to Darlington in 2017. My many hobbies lie in sports - I'm a massive Liverpool FC fan as well as watching basketball and wrestling on TV regularly. Academically I have 2 computing degrees and so, I've had an interest in this field from a very young age.
I've been a volunteer with Healthwatch Darlington (initially in social media) for 5 years now and this has enabled me to further develop my IT skills as well as become a more active part of the community.
I enjoy getting out into community settings and events with Healthwatch to understand the needs and opinions of the public regarding their vital health and social care services and this helps me feel like I can make a worthwhile difference to the lives of people like me, in my community.
Liz' background is in Primary Education with a particular interest in Special Educational Needs. She was a head teacher from 1993 to 2002 after which she ran her own Education Management Consultancy until 2012, undertaking Consultant and Interim Headships in Co. Durham, Leeds and Leicester.
She sits on Education Appeals Panels for a neighbouring Local Authority and is a Governor of a local Primary School. She was Chair of Governors from 2002 to 2012 when she relinquished that post. She held the position of Chair of the Interim Executive Board of a Leicester Primary School for 2 years.
She has been a volunteer with Darlington and District Samaritans since 2000.
Robert is a retired GP and worked in what was to become the Whinfield Medical Practice for just over thirty years. Robert moved to Darlington at the same time as joining the practice having trained in London and the South East hailing originally from the South Coast. Nowadays Robert lives near the centre of town but he does often visit Florida, which is where Roberts wife originates from.
I am a retired Nurse, having had a long and varied career in the NHS.
Having been involved with Health, Social Services and Local Government for many years I was interested in volunteering for Healthwatch, to assist in their programme of identification and highlighting areas of discrimination and the inequalities in our Society, in an effort to include, enable and empower the most vulnerable people in our population.
Despite being retired from work, I do not have a great deal of time for volunteering, so Healthwatch's very flexible approach suits me well.