Chief Executive - Cathy Turland
Cathy’s previous work has included project management for a Disabled People’s organisation in Essex; management of residential care homes for older people and people with learning difficulties and research and development of respite schemes for carers within Suffolk.
In 2001, she began developing training courses in response to user involvement in the field of Social Worker training. In 2009, she qualified as a disability equality trainer and completed a Post Graduate Certificate in disability equality practice. In 2011; working with Race on the Agenda, she qualified to develop training based on the Equality Act 2010.
Cathy was also a Director of a Community Gateway Housing Association and chaired their equality and diversity steering group as well as supporting the development of the company’s older people’s strategy.
Miranda Peers: Volunteer Coordinator
Having volunteered for 18 months after leaving University, Miranda recognises the value in volunteering as it enabled her to try out different roles, gain experience and it led to her first full-time job coordinating a family interpreting service. Miranda worked in the homelessness sector for over 14 years. During this time, she coordinated a supported volunteering programme, training homeless and former homeless people in preparation for their voluntary work. This involved supporting them through their volunteer placement and then on into further volunteering, training or employment. In 2009 she completed a PGCE in Adult and Community Education.
Prior to joining Healthwatch Redbridge Miranda worked in further education as a pastoral tutor for two years, supporting students with welfare issues and their studies.
As Volunteer Coordinator Miranda is responsible for creating volunteer roles, recruitment, induction and training, supervision and retention. Miranda is the lead on signposting queries made through our website our email address and manages the Healthwatch Community Network. In this role, Miranda also supports with outreach and engagement efforts and provides support with project development and report writing.
Rafat Kiani - Research and Engagement Officer
Dawn Hobson – Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate
Dawn is a nurse by training and also a researcher, enjoying combining both skills to represent the views of users of health services so that they are clearly heard and understood. She recently helped to evaluate the impact of a leadership training programme for care home managers in North West London, aimed at promoting quality of life and delivering positive change for older people in care homes.
She has also been involved in a community engagement project which sought to promote links between care homes and their local communities. She has a PhD in Nursing, studying ethical decision-making at the end of life, and is keen to be involved in ensuring the voices of local communities are presented faithfully to service leaders and commissioners.
In her current role, Dawn works as a Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate. Developed by the NHS as part of a pilot programme this role was created to ensure the voices of women and families are listened to, heard, and acted upon by their maternity and neonatal care providers when they have experienced an adverse outcome during their maternity and/or neonatal care.
Donna Young - Project Support Worker/MNISA Project Support Worker
Donna assists ongoing project delivery, through outreach, engagement, support and signposting. Donna also supports the administration of the MNISA project, assisting Dawn Hobson by being the first point of contact with women and families interested in using the service, organising advocate visits and completing required confidential data collection.
Ellis Pearce - Media and Communications Officer
Ellis manages the HWR print and digital communications, material and content to raise the profile of HWR and connect with different communities across the borough.
