Fran

Senior employment-services and operational leader with more than 20 years of experience across public services, the NHS, third-sector and commissioned provision. Substantial expertise in Individual Placement and Support (IPS), mental-health employment services, contract delivery, geographically dispersed teams, stakeholder management and service improvement.

Current Senior Employment

Adviser leading the Employment Service Team within NHS Oldham Talking Therapies; previous IPS Team Leader with MAXIMUS, Service Manager across Cumbria and NHS Transformation Project Manager. Experienced in using performance information, quality assurance and partnership working to improve delivery, maintain contract standards and achieve employment outcomes.

Senior Employment Adviser (SEA) at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust - Oldham Talking Therapies (2023-11 – Present)

Lead and coordinate the Employment Service Team within NHS Oldham Talking Therapies, supporting employment retention and pathways to sustainable work for people receiving psychological therapy.

• Provide leadership and management to a community-based team of Employment Advisers, supporting consistent and effective service delivery.
• Coordinate employment support for clients experiencing mental-health barriers, including retention, return-to-work and sustainable employment pathways.
• Work with local employers and partner organisations to strengthen understanding of health, wellbeing and employment support.
• Report service delivery information to NHS, DWP, Local Authority and other stakeholders, maintaining clear accountability across the partnership.
• Maintain a caseload where required while balancing team leadership and operational priorities.

Transformation Project Manager - Fixed Term at NHS (2023-01 – 2023-11)

Led transformational initiatives with clinical and medical teams, translating service priorities into structured projects and improvement activity.

• Developed and delivered project plans, objectives, milestones and timelines across multiple concurrent projects.
• Worked with business-information teams on data systems and used reporting to support service improvement and decision-making.
• Allocated resources, tracked project budgets and financials, and monitored delivery against milestones.
• Managed project risks and issues, coordinated cross-functional teams and facilitated effective stakeholder communication.
• Led change-management activity, project evaluation and process optimisation while ensuring compliance with organisational policies.

IPS Team Leader - Greater Manchester at MAXIMUS (2020-08 – 2023-01)

Led IPS Employment Specialists across Greater Manchester, providing training, mentoring, supervision and modelling of the evidence-based IPS approach.

• Led, developed and supervised Employment Specialists to deliver good IPS fidelity while working within budget, referral, engagement and employment-outcome targets.
• Used field mentoring and observations to drive continuous improvement in employer engagement, customer service and employment practice.
• Maintained quality and contract compliance through shadowing, auditing, case reviews, in-work support plans and review of clinical records.
• Managed information-governance requirements and supported the integrity of participant information and contract processes.
• Worked with NHS Foundation Trust / secondary mental-health teams, JCP leaders, partnership managers and the Operations Manager to integrate services and resolve delivery issues.
• Coordinated Employment Specialists across several regions and trained both employment and clinical staff in the IPS approach.

Service Manager - Cumbria at Imagine Independence (2018-05 – 2020-06)

Managed a portfolio of commissioned services across Cumbria, supporting independence, employment and transformation of care.

• Managed operational delivery across the region in collaboration with Local Authority, NHS primary and secondary mental-health services, DWP and third-sector partners.
• Led and coordinated staff supporting pathways to competitive and sustainable employment, apprenticeships, wellbeing and wider independence outcomes.
• Supervised teams working from satellite offices across Cumbria and maintained oversight of regional service delivery and staff support.
• Reported outcomes, issues and service information to commissioners and stakeholders, escalating risks and delivery concerns as required.
• Partnered in delivery of Building Better Opportunities (ESF / BLF funded) and coordinated reasonable adjustments through DWP Access to Work.

Employment Co-ordinator - Cumbria County Council Contract at Imagine Independence (2017-09 – 2018-05)

• Coordinated the Cumbria County Council Employment Service contract and IPS-model employment support across the county.
• Managed and coordinated teams based in satellite offices and reported delivery to commissioners, NHS, DWP, Local Authority and other stakeholders.

Senior IPS Employment Adviser - Primary Care / IAPT Pilot at Blackpool Council (2016-09 – 2017-09)

• Supported set-up, leadership and management of an IPS employment team fully integrated with an IAPT clinical service.
• Supported professional development, caseload management, customer pathways and implementation of effective IPS working practices.
• Built effective working relationships between Local Authority and NHS teams and worked to local targets and national KPIs.

Specialised Employment Adviser - Secondary Care at Newcastle City Council (2016-01 – 2016-09)

• Delivered specialist IPS employment support within Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust Early Intervention Psychosis services.
• Supported people with severe and complex mental-health conditions with employment retention, return to work and sustainable employment.

Employment Support Adviser - Primary Care at Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust (2014-01 – 2015-12)

• Managed a high-volume caseload, employment / training action plans, employer liaison and progress against local and national commissioning targets.
• Maintained knowledge of labour-market information, legislation and professional developments, including employer and training-provider engagement.

Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner at Sunderland Counselling Service (2011-01 – 2014-02)

• Delivered low-intensity CBT-based assessments and interventions, identified risk and coordinated support with wider agencies including employment, housing, debt and social-care services.

Civil Servant - Employment / Customer Liaison Roles at Department for Work and Pensions (1998-12 – 2007-04)

• Delivered employment-focused support including New Deal Lone Parent work, employer / agency engagement, outreach and customer liaison.

Licensee at Self-employed (1992-11 – 2000-05)

• Managed staff, training, stock, budgets, accounts, payroll and customer service in a commercial operating environment.

BSc (Hons) in Counselling Studies - First Class (2007)

NVQ Level 3 in Advice and Guidance (2002)

NEBSM Certificate (1991)