SPECTRUM - Key Persons


Andrew Banks

Job Titles:
  • Non Executive Director
Andrew brings a wealth of financial management expertise garnered over 30 years, complemented by his fellowship with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. With the majority of his career focused within the transport sector, Andrew's last 12 years have been dedicated to Network Rail, the esteemed public sector entity responsible for overseeing the UK's rail infrastructure. Currently serving as the Route Finance Director, Andrew has played a pivotal role in ensuring the financial health and operational efficiency of this vital national asset. Andrew's proficiency spans a broad spectrum of financial disciplines, including business planning and forecasting, financial compliance, governance, risk management, assurance, and business process enhancement. His extensive experience and acumen make him a valuable asset in driving strategic decision-making and fostering financial resilience.

Angela Star

Job Titles:
  • Interim Executive Director of Nursing and Quality
Angela joined Spectrum in October 2022 as Deputy Director of Nursing, and she's thrilled to step into the role of Interim Executive Director of Nursing and Quality. With over 35 years of experience as a nurse and midwife, Angela has navigated various sectors of healthcare, including Accident and Emergency, Maternity Services, General Practice, Sexual Health, Public Health, and Health and Justice Commissioning. Her dedication to patient care and addressing health disparities is unwavering, advocating for equitable access to healthcare for all individuals regardless of their circumstances. Angela is committed to amplifying the patient voice and ensuring that our staff's perspectives are equally valued and acknowledged. Recognising the diverse roles for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals within Spectrum, Angela remains steadfast in her efforts to drive development and career advancement opportunities. These initiatives align with our overarching goal of achieving excellence in care for all patients and service users.

Dr Linda Harris - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive
  • Member of the Board
  • Founding Chief Executive
Linda is the founding Chief Executive of Spectrum and also our Chief Medical Officer. She is a trustee of the charity Spectrum People and Executive Chair of SLD Training, both of which are part of the Spectrum family. Linda is a board member and workforce lead for Wakefield District Health & Care Partnership and plays an active role in the regional West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership. A former Wakefield GP, Linda has championed the needs of vulnerable people for over 15 years. She is a passionate advocate for patient centred, values based services, with an interest in health inclusion, system change, substance misuse recovery and workforce wellbeing. Linda was awarded an OBE in the 2021 New Year's Honours for services to the NHS.

Helen Richardson

Job Titles:
  • Director of Nursing & Quality
Helen has over 35 years of nursing experience and has held a number of senior roles across the NHS and within a regulatory body, including chief nurse roles in a large NHS Foundation Trust and at a Clinical Commission Group (CCG). She has also worked as Head of Inspection at the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Helen is Spectrums professional lead for nursing midwifery and allied health professionals. She is our Caldicott Guardian and also holds responsibility for Safeguarding, infection, prevention and control and our Death in Custody Review Services. As Director of Nursing and Quality, Helen's role is pivotal in ensuring the quality of our services meet the standards required by the Health and Social Care Act and that this is embedded in all day to day service delivery. Helen is passionate about supporting staff to provide the best possible care and embedding an open, just and learning culture, ensuring the patient voice is heard, addressing inequalities and the value of lived experience. She leads on Spectrum's organisational commitment to co-producing our services.

Jackie Park

Job Titles:
  • Non Executive Director
  • Healthcare Leader
With over 43 years of service in the NHS, Jackie is an experienced healthcare leader with a steadfast commitment to enhancing patient health, refining the healthcare system, and fostering development. Throughout her tenure in the NHS, Jackie has held various clinical and senior leadership positions in nursing and midwifery practice, spanning acute and community care provision, as well as commissioning and system support. As the Operations Director for North of England Care System Support (NECS) for over a decade, Jackie spearheaded a diverse array of services. Collaborating with executive colleagues, she played a pivotal role in shaping organisational vision, strategic direction, and fostering a culture geared towards enhancing outcomes for patients and communities. Jackie remained dedicated to upholding NHS values while drawing upon insights and best practices from the commercial sector. Recently retired from her directorial role at NECS, Jackie continues to serve as a Trustee for an education multi-academy trust, a charity aiding Refugee and Asylum Seekers, and a Dementia support organisation in her hometown of Darlington. In her leisure time, she remains active by participating in social group runs and enjoying leisurely walks with her dog.

Julie Hall

Job Titles:
  • Director of HR
Julie has worked in HR for over 20 years, in roles in local authorities before joining the NHS in 2015. Her professional background has always been in the public sector, and she's passionate about healthcare and the services we support. In addition to our HR and OD teams, Julie is also responsible for marketing and communications. Julie has over 20 years experience, with a professional background in public sector organisations, both NHS and local government. As Spectrum's Director of HR, with responsibility for marketing and communications, Julie leads on our Employer of Choice Strategy. She recognises our people are pivotal to delivering outstanding patient care, driving forward the success of our company and delivering our future ambitions.

Kevin Robinson

Job Titles:
  • Leader
  • Member of the Board
  • Non Executive Director
Kevin is an experienced leader and board member. He was the CEO of Lancashire Probation Trust. and is also currently a Non Executive Director with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS. During his 30 year probation career, Kevin operated at every level, from an assistant in a probation hostel (Approved Premises) to Chief Executive. He managed a multitude of challenging behaviours and situations, as well as leading on local implementation of national structural reforms. Kevin also supports local communities as an avid charity fund raiser and coach of an U16 rugby team.

Melvyn Ingleson

Job Titles:
  • Non Executive Director
Melvyn has enjoyed many years running his own advisory firm, serving as an interface between private companies in many different sectors who need to build relationships or sell services to government or the public sector. He has a strong professional interest in organisational transformation, enabled by digital technologies. In recent years he has supported Microsoft's public sector business growth.

Sharon Hardcastle - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Accountant
  • Director of Finance
Sharon is a qualified accountant under the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. She is responsible for all aspects of Spectrum's finance, IM&T, performance, estates, corporate services and business administration. She is also the Company Secretary and SIRO for the organisation. Before joining Spectrum, she was Chief Financial Officer for WDCHS. Along with managing the budget for the community services of Wakefield, she also led the due diligence process under the transforming community services agenda. Prior to this, Sharon had 13 years NHS finance experience, ranging from provider services finance to commissioning finance, including Primary Medical Services contracts for the Wakefield GPs.

Steve Wragg - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of the Board
  • Non Executive Director
  • Member of Spectrum 's Board of Directors
Steve Wragg is the newest member of Spectrum's Board of Directors, taking up his role as Chairman of the Board in April 2023. He has extensive experience as a Chair and Director and currently holds a number of Non-Executive positions in the business, leisure, entertainment and charity industries as well as in healthcare. Before joining Spectrum, Steve was Chairman of Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for ten years. He is currently a Non-Executive Director of Primary Care Sheffield, as well as a Trustee of Weston Park Cancer Charity. In the earlier part of his career, Steve worked in ICT across many public and private sector roles for over 40 years and later became a strategic management consultant. He is particularly passionate about reducing health inequalities in local communities and putting the needs of patients, carers and their families at the heart of healthcare services.

Sue White

Job Titles:
  • Non Executive Director
Sue has a broad range of experience in the healthcare sector, including policy making at the Department of Health and Social Care, and board level responsibility in Leeds and York NHS Partnership Foundation Trust. She also worked in the Third Sector as Chief Executive of Voluntary Action Sheffield. Sue is passionate about improving opportunities for disadvantaged people and tackling health inequalities.

Susie Maguire - COO

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Director of Operations
  • Nurse
Susie is an experienced nurse and director of over 30 years, covering private sector, social enterprise, NHS and Third Sector. She has successfully worked as Director of Operations for quality & safety, and Deputy CEO in another health & social care charity, delivering substance misuse, mental health, learning disability and homeless services, leading significant transformational changes. Susie is responsible for our North East, North West and Yorkshire prisons, Manchester Short Term Holding Centre, Sexual Health Services, Primary Care, our Liaison & Diversion services and Community Substance Misuse. She is also Spectrum's emergency planning lead.

Tim Straughan

Job Titles:
  • Non Executive Director
  • Director at NHS England
Tim has a distinguished background in healthcare. As a qualified dentist he worked in general practice and community services before training to become a Chartered Accountant. Tim has also worked in a number of senior NHS roles, including leading NHS Estates and as Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the Health and Social Care Information Centre. Tim is currently a director at NHS England, leading on a wide range of community based programmes designed to support people to start, live and age well, including staying independent at home for as long as possible.