IPE - Key Persons
Helen has enjoyed working as an independent consultant for several years, joining IPE Associates in 2007. She has extensive experience as a social worker and care manager working with a range of customers living in community, supported living, care home and hospital settings. With a background in psychology and excellent interpersonal skills Helen has been an effective manager and supervisor in senior social work positions. Helen has developed a sound knowledge of working practice within local authority and health services as well as the voluntary and independent sector through her practice in these areas. Embracing change, Helen has been involved in both the restructuring of organisations including the integration of health and social services teams and the reorganisation of services for example the introduction of personal budgets. During this time she has also developed her role as an independent support broker to people using personal budgets.
Lauren qualified as a Social Worker in 1994 in South Africa and went on to complete her Masters in Clinical Social Sciences 2 years later. South African social work is not divided into child / adult / disability sectors but rather focuses on methods of working including, casework, groupwork and community work. Despite this, Lauren has always had a particular affinity for working with older adults.
In 2009 Lauren began locum work in the UK and settled here in 2012. Lauren has swiftly moved from Social Worker to Senior Practitioner and then into Senior Management and Consultancy.
Her experience spans operations & commissioning with a strong track record of delivery across both health and social care. Her personal motivation is ensuring best practice and enhanced performance, resulting in quality services for residents whilst also ensuring best value for money.
Lauren enjoys the challenges that are involved in implementing both strategic and operational change to improve service delivery and system resilience.
She has led on designing and implementing strategic programmes of service development and improvement, redesign and delivery of efficiencies whilst maintaining or improving quality outcomes for residents.
She is able to work in partnership to deliver key outcomes for residents with other Council Departments, NHS commissioners, providers and the 3 rd sector.
Lauren particularly enjoys working in areas that require scrutiny and improvement and thrives on being challenged to turn services around.
Lauren is a hands-on manager and motivator. She is passionate and honest. She comes in quietly at first, observes, analyses and then very effectively energises people towards positive change. She sets standards and ensures results are produced in a timely manner. She works from a strengths-based perspective. Lauren looks for sunshine where there is darkness.
Michael qualified as a social worker in 2000. Prior to this he worked with the Armed Forces and travelled extensively, including living in other countries. These experiences extended his understanding and outlook on life and gave him insight into other cultures.
Michael lived in Germany for over 9 years and was living in Berlin for the period of the downfall of the Berlin wall. He also lived in the Falkland Island at the time of the conflict with Argentina. Later he worked in Bosnia with the British Armed Forces. Michael considers that his travel and living within other countries and cultures helped prepare him for his training and practice as a social worker.
Since qualifying Michael has gained extensive experience of working with people with mental health difficulties and dementia, adults with learning difficulties and clients who are in a hospital and community setting. (His first social work training placement was within a community mental health team in Adelaide, South Australia)
Michael now works as a Best Interest Assesssor and as a social worker part time. He operates his own business providing housing and support to adults who have a learning difficulty. He owns houses based in the Kingswood areas of Bristol.
Michael has management experience both within local authority settings and operating his own supported living homes.