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.

cathy@healthwatchredbridge.co.uk

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.

Miranda is the Healthwatch Redbridge Volunteer Coordinator. If you would like to find out about volunteering...

miranda@healthwatchredbridge.co.uk

Rafat Kiani - Project Officer

Rafat's career showcases years of experience of managing a BAME organisation within the third sector, working with people from diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and values.  Accessing hard-to-reach communities and retaining these users, later developing a trusted relationship to support these users into volunteering opportunities, education and career development as well as signposting them to statutory services. 
 
Rafat values placing beneficiaries at the forefront in decision-making conversations and public consultations, developing user forums, and providing a safe space and privacy for beneficiaries to speak openly. Prior to working with Healthwatch Redbridge, Rafat, worked extensively as a fundraiser and developed outreach programmes, projects and referral procedures for better accessibility to develop support services based upon community and individual needs
 
In her current role, Rafat, leads on our Women's Health Project. This ongoing project looks to understand the barriers that women from different communities face in accessing services and ensure that local women's voices are heard by decision-makers. 
 

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. 

 Dawn@healthwatchredbridge.co.uk