Our staff
Jess Slater - CEO
Jess has 19 years of dedicated experience in the voluntary sector with Northamptonshire Older Persons. She has led on delivering a diverse range of services to the public and played a pivotal role in a collaborative effort within the voluntary sector, effecting substantial transformations in governance and culture within the North Northamptonshire Integrated Care System (ICS). Working in partnership with local authorities and health services, her leadership within the ICS has integrated voluntary sector leaders into innovative operational frameworks.
Business Development team
Sarah Beckett - Project Manager
Sarah is managing our Lottery-funded project to improve the health and care of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. She previously worked at a local secure setting, supporting the care and education of young girls with mental health and behavioural issues. She has a health and social care degree and has been a foster carer for many years.
Karen Igho - Project Manager
Karen has significant project management experience working in the environmental sector working for PECT. In her role at Healthwatch she has coordinated focus groups and led on our Community Researcher project about Digital Inclusion. Karen has also played a pivotal role in supporting and developing the work of local Patient Participation Groups and Integrated Neighbourhoods.
Janine Newby-Robson - Project Manager
Janine works on intelligence-led community engagement projects. She has previously worked in the health service as a personal health trainer, helping patients to make lifestyle changes to improve health.
Communities Team
Caroline Tyrrell-Jones - Head of Operations
Caroline has a background in education and training. She’s worked within local disability organisations and has experience of working with people affected by both physical and learning disabilities, long term health conditions, including mental health issues, and also families caring for disabled children. She has managed contracts in both advocacy and information, advice and guidance.
Sue Allan – Head of Engagement
Sue makes sure that we hear from people in local communities across our area, developing partnerships with voluntary groups and other organisations. She also works to capture views from seldom heard groups. She has many years of experience supporting and counselling young people about sexual health and substance misuse. Sue is a former CEO at charity Link to Change for children and young people who are at risk or are victims of sexual and criminal exploitation. She formerly worked at Everyone Health managing health trainers.
Rebwar Hussein - Senior Engagement Officer
Rebwar spends most of his time out in the community, listening to the health and care experiences of people who are less likely to share their stories. He moved to the UK in 2002, working with fellow members of the Kurdish community in Peterborough, helping them to access local support and services. He has been a community organiser and sexual health outreach worker and has also undertaken research projects for Citizens’ Advice Peterborough and sexual health charity EAST.
Graham Lewis - Partnership Development Manager
Graham supports the work of the Adult Social Care Partnership Boards across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. These bring together statutory, voluntary and community sector organisations with people of lived experience of disability, older people and carers to help feedback on and improve adult social care services. He has worked in a variety of settings such as homeless hostels, youth work and supporting victims of crime.
Miranda Knell - Administration Officer
Miranda helps to run the Adult Social Care Partnership Boards, the Wheelchair Users Forum and the four Health and Care Forums. This work helps us to hear experiences of health and social care from people all over Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. She has more than 20 years’ experience working in the voluntary sector delivering community projects and has been a family carer for 17 years.
Heather Lord - Volunteer Manager
Heather looks after our volunteers and make sure they have the training and support they need to volunteer with us. She is passionate about equality, and making sure that Healthwatch can harness the skills and interests of people from across the communities of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. She has over 30 years’ experience of working to enable and empower people.
Information Team
Anne Aldred - Senior Information & Signposting Officer
Anne helps run our Information and Signposting service, answering people’s questions about local health and care services and listening to their experiences. Her background is in the NHS as a learning disability nurse specialising in care and services for children, and she is a former special needs school nurse.
Melissa Mills – Information & Signposting Officer
Melissa also supports our information and signposting service, alongside Anne. Previously, she’s worked in customer services and sales support in a variety of different businesses. She loves helping people and hearing what they have to say. She’s also a family carer.
Office Team
Carole Rose - Head of Administration and Finance
Carole makes sure our offices run smoothly and safely, and that the incoming and outgoing expenses are accurate. She comes from a background of working with the Royal Navy, Police, fraud investigations, insurance and aero metals supply bringing a wide range of experience to our team.
Sharon Gunn - Administration Officer
Sharon helps run our offices and supports the Board and staff team in their activities. She has extensive experience in project management, business administration and customer services. She has also worked as an Assistant Teacher in the education sector.
