/?php the_post_thumbnail('making-an-impact-header'); ?> The work of Ambient Support is governed and overseen by the Board of Trustees. Trustees are recruited from communities in which Ambient Support operates and they bring with them specialist knowledge of running businesses, charities. Some have direct experience and understanding Health & Social Care having previously worked in the sector. Trustees govern the charity by setting the strategic direction and business plan; they meet regularly as a Board and through various sub committees. To find out more about our Board of Trustees expand on the names below. DAVID BRINDLE – Chair of Ambient Support Chair of Remuneration Committee Joined the Board of Ambient Support as Chair in August 2020. Senior social policy journalist with management skills and high-level governance experience. Public Services Editor for The Guardian since 2004, overseeing multi-media organisation’s interface with public services in both editorial and commercial contexts. Previously Editor of Society Guardian, responsible for weekly supplement and editorial team. Prior to that, Social Affairs Correspondent/Editor for The Guardian, responsible for day-to-day coverage of issues including NHS policy and finance. Held several non-executive positions including Recovery Focus group of mental health and addiction charities founded by Richmond Fellowship; NDTi (National Development Team for Inclusion); 2Care; Mental Health Media and Housing 21. Holds a BA in Economic History from Exeter University and a Diploma in Journalism from City University. MARGARET LALLY – Deputy Chair of Ambient Support Member of Quality Improvement & Safety Committee Member of Organisational Development & Resources Committee Member of Remuneration Committee Joined the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in October 2013 and appointed Deputy Chair in July 2017. Also appointed as a Trustee in October 2013 until December 2016. Margaret currently chairs a NICE/SCIE working group which is developing guidance on care and support for older people with learning disabilities. Previously Director of UK Service Development at the British Red Cross where she oversaw transfer of four care homes to Ambient Support and played a lead role in developing the Society’s health and social care offer as well as the organisation’s policy and advocacy strategy. Prior to that was Deputy Chief Executive of the Refugee Council. Worked in the NHS for a number of years managing and developing services for people with learning disabilities, older people and community health services. Strong experience in the voluntary sector including as Chair of Camden MIND. Currently Chair of Governors of a primary school and trustee of Phase Worldwide, an international charity. SCOTT HALDANE – Treasurer of Ambient Support Chair of Business Improvement & Financial Performance Committee Joined the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in August 2015 and appointed Treasurer in March 2017. Currently Director of Finance at Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, leading the Finance, IM&T, Informatics, Estates, Programme Management and Transformation functions across the Trust. Extensive experience at Board and Director level in the NHS and within the private sector. Non-Executive Director at Edinburgh Leisure and Lay Member of Court at Stirling University. Chartered Accountant (ICAS), past President and Fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (FHFMA). ALAN BATES – Board Member of Ambient Support Member of Business Improvement & Financial Performance Committee Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in December 2018. Barrister with over 15 years’ experience specialising in competition law, public/administrative law, public procurement law, EU law and sectoral regulation. Particular experience of advising and representing charities and third sector organisations, and in helping public bodies develop new models of service provision (e.g. mutuals). Member of the Attorney General’s ‘A’ Panel of Counsel to the Crown, the highest tier of barristers providing advice and representation to central government departments. Holds Practitioner’s Certificate in Data Protection. VAL BENNETT – Board Member of Ambient Support Member of Quality Improvement & Safety Committee Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in June 2019. Co-founding Managing Director of 1st Choice Properties Ltd, a lettings and property management business, started in 1994 and sold in 2019. Currently a voluntary Nursing Assistant at St Clare Hospice, Harlow and a Carer Trainer for Carers in Hertfordshire, assisting with interviewing candidates for the BSc & MSc Nursing and Social Care degree courses at the University of Hertfordshire. A registered Financial Advisor with responsibility for arranging mortgages, pensions and life assurance policies. Holds a Certificate in Financial Services obtained from The Chartered Insurance Institute. CHERYL CROOKS – Board Member of Ambient Support Member of Quality Improvement & Safety Committee Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in June 2019. Currently Head of Quality and Governance and Data Protection Officer at The Private Clinic Harley Street Limited. Also Lead Governance Consultant for London Central and West Unscheduled Care Collaboratives. Lead Specialist Clinical and Professional Advisor to the Care Quality Commission. Previously Quality and Mental Health Care Advisory Consultant at Care-Port Advisory Services and held other lead roles within various NHS Trusts and Commissioning units. Established Certa Care Services providing advice and support to health care organisations to ensure their compliance with the Care Quality Commission and other regulators. Holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Coaching and Mentoring from the Chartered Management Institute, Certified Manager of Quality/Organisational Excellence (American Society of Quality). Also holds Master of Business Administration, Certificate in Quality Management and BSc in Sociology/Psychology (HONs) from University of West Indies as well as a Certificate in Mental Health Nursing from St Ann’s Hospital, Trinidad and Tobago. BELINDA COKER – Board Member of Ambient Support Member of Business Improvement & Financial Performance Committee Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in June 2019. Experienced Medical Director and General Practitioner with substantial leadership, strategic and operational background in both NHS healthcare service provision and NHS commissioning. Head of Clinical Governance for Lantum, an online healthcare recruitment platform. Also a sessional GP in south east London and provides advisory services in Clinical Governance, Quality and Digital Health. Previously Clinical Director (Business Development) for Tunstall Healthcare UK, Executive Medical Director at SELDOC, Deputy Medical Director for NHS England, North West London Region and held Clinical Lead positions for Bexley CCG and North Lambeth Practice Based Commissioning Collaborative. A member of the core team at One HealthTech, a volunteer-led community that champions diversity in health technology. NIGEL FLETCHER – Board Member of Ambient Support Chair of Organisational Development & Resources Committee Member of Remuneration Committee Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in June 2017. Currently Director of Human Resources for Tesco Stores, and has worked in management roles with Tesco since 2000 after joining as a Graduate Trainee in 1998. Leading an HR Transformation Programme, Risk & Compliance for HR and HR Operations and has experience within Operations, IT and Customer Service. RICHARD JONES – Board Member of Ambient Support Member of Business Improvement & Financial Performance Committee Member of Organisational Development & Resources Committee Appointed to the Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) Board in June 2018. Experienced CEO with strategic, commercial and operational track record in the healthcare industry, and currently runs own healthcare consultancy. Previously held CEO positions at St Vincent’s Healthcare Group and Viapath Group. Prior to this held senior Director roles at Spire Healthcare/ Bupa Hospitals and St Martin’s Healthcare (The London Bridge Hospital). Began early career in healthcare with the NHS General Management Training Scheme and spent four years in middle management roles at the NHS before joining Bupa. Holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Leicester, a Diploma in Health Economics from the University of Aberdeen and a Masters in Business Administration from the Cranfield School of Management. JEANETTE MITCHELL – Board Member of Ambient Support Member of Quality Improvement & Safety Committee Member of Business Improvement & Financial Performance Committee Appointed to the Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) Board from January 2017. Trustee of Ambient Support Creative Arts Project from 2004 to 2013. Qualified Nurse in Mental Health (RMN). Trained at St Augustine’s Hospital, Canterbury and worked as a staff nurse. Community Support Worker for the Burgess Autistic Trust. Retired March 2016. Previously worked for MIND as a Day Centre Manager at Stepping Stones and as a Sessional Worker at Hayes Grove Priory. IAIN O’NEIL – Board Member of Ambient Support Member of Business Improvement & Financial Performance Committee Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in December 2018. Currently Deputy Director of Digital and Technology Strategy for the UK Department of Health. Experience working in private industry in digital design, including developing online media for magazines as well as digitising systems for Nuffield Health’s consumer gyms and hospital ‘Self-Pay’ businesses. Worked as a Senior Reporter before developing a passion and understanding of the mechanics of online publishing and moving into digital industry. KAREN PROCTOR – Board Member of Ambient Support Chair of Quality Improvement & Safety Committee Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in June 2019. Currently Director of Quality and Assurance at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, having been Director of Nursing previously, with responsibility for professional nursing, midwifery and allied health professional practice. Responsibility for litigation, complaints and claims, risk and compliance, board assurance framework, patient safety and quality improvement, regulatory and statutory compliance e.g. CQC. Previous experiences as Chief Nurse, Director of Quality and Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Kent Community Health NHS Trust. Also previously held roles as Chief Operating Officer, various general management and Director positions, including, in nursing and midwifery practice, across acute and community sectors. Trustee for Keech Hospice since 2010 with focus on clinical care and strategy and quality & safety as well as volunteering at the hospice.] Holds an MA in Health Care Law, an MA in Management Studies, Post Graduate Diploma in Management, Advanced Diploma in Midwifery, Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife. LORI REYNOLDS – Board Member of Ambient Support Member of Quality Improvement & Safety Committee Member of Organisational Development & Resources Committee Joined the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in July 2011. Acting as co-optee to Amber Housing from January 2017. Appointed as a Trustee of Ambient Support in April 2013 and as a Director of Amber Housing from October 2014 to December 2016. Extensive experience in strategic communications, marketing, training and development. Has worked across the NHS, government, commerce and charities. Designed and delivered training and development at all levels. Formerly Regional Head of Communications with the Department of Health and Public Relations Manager at the London Borough of Bromley. Experience at Board level, senior management and of running her own business. Former Member and Chair of Governors of a local primary school. RICHARD SMALLWOOD – Board Member of Ambient Support Member of Business Improvement & Financial Performance Committee Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in June 2017. Acting as co-optee to Amber Housing from May 2018. Established his own business consultancy giving advice to local businesses and has assisted with partnership arrangements between not for profit and commercial businesses. Retired international business executive with extensive experience at Director and Senior Management level within Rolls-Royce and British Aerospace and other associated companies. Holds BSc (Hons) Production Engineering from Aston University and an MBA from Cranfield University. Has also been through the Columbia Senior Executive Program. To talk to us about what you need and how we can help, please get in touch. 020 8502 3933 hello@ambient.org.uk