We are delighted to confirm that Kathryn Whitfield has been appointed to the crucial role of Programme Manager for the North Wales LD project. Kathryn brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge from over 20 years’ experience in LD services.
Please find below an introductory note from Kathryn regarding her appointment to the role:
I would like to introduce myself as Learning Disability Transformation Programme Manager. As background, I have worked with people with Learning Disabilities throughout the whole of my career, starting with training as a Job coach with people with Learning Disabilities in 1991. I still find myself backward chaining new tasks to this day! I qualified as a Social Worker in 1995 and joined Clwyd County Council as a Social Work/Care Manager in the Learning Disabilities Team. I was part of the Bryn Y Neuadd resettlement project from 2000 to 2006, resettling 13 individuals back to the Denbighshire area, became Senior Practitioner in the Denbighshire LD team in 2006 and Team Manager in 2011 when the team expanded to also work with individuals with High Functioning Autism and Acquired Brain Injury. I also spent 20 years working as an AMHP and am a Best Interest Assessor under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
The opportunities this project presents are transformational for Citizens, families and services across North Wales. My role -alongside a team of 8 planning officers, a business support assistant and an accountancy technician, and those already involved in the venture- will be to manage the successful implementation of the “Transforming LD services programme” to ensure its successful implementation across the region. The transformation will create a single integrated approach, structure and process to provide seamless services to people with Learning Disabilities across North Wales. The aim of the project is to develop a new service model which will be sustainable after the Transformation is completed. No pressure then!!
Partnership working will be key to this role so I very much look forward to meeting those who have a part to play in this process. We are lucky to have a vision in place already in the shape of the Draft North Wales Learning Disability Strategy. Sarah Bartlett has worked tirelessly on this strategy and tells me it is currently going through the process of formal agreement by all partners. I should be taking up this post within the next few weeks, but in the meantime would welcome contact from individuals or teams who would like to discuss the project and potentially be part of developing (or even piloting) some of the key actions contained in the Draft Strategy. My e-mail address is Kathryn.whitfield@denbighshire.gov.uk if you would like to get in touch.
