Our Chair, Edwina Morris
Edwina Morris | Board Chair I joined Healthwatch Croydon as a volunteer in 2018 following my retirement from a social work career during which I worked mainly in adult social care management posts. As a long term Croydon resident I wanted to help to ensure that local people have opportunities to tell health and social care leaders about their experience of using local services - what is working well and what needs to be improved. In 2019 I applied to join the Healthwatch Croydon Local Leadership Board (LLB), which is comprised of six local volunteer members and the Help & Care Director of Partnerships, and supported by the Healthwatch Croydon Manager, and I became the LLB Chair. In this role I am able both to work with my LLB colleagues to set the strategic direction of the organisation and agree which areas of health and social care we should prioritise, and to speak at various health and social care meetings about the feedback that we hear from local residents. This feedback is also included in the reports that we publish, which include our key findings and recommendations, and are shared with the relevant service leaders to improve services. I am also on the trustee boards or management committees of Sutton Mencap, Woodcraft Folk’s Cudham Environmental Activities Centre, and the Shirley Medical Centre’s Patient Participation Group, and I am the independent chair of the Local Voluntary Partnerships Board, which oversees implementation of the Healthy Communities Together programme.
Our Board
Martin Faiers - Board Member
Martin Faiers | Board My membership of the Croydon Local Leadership Board reflects my interests in promoting the voice of service users and carers in health and social care within the Borough of Croydon. I have a career background in adult mental health services and have been self-employed since 1992 as a training and management consultant and executive coach working principally in the statutory and charity sectors. I have also worked as a volunteering best practice adviser in a London borough. I find this breadth of experience invaluable in contributing to the work of Healthwatch Croydon.
Pat Knight - Board Member
Pat Knight | Board Member My professional background is in further education where I taught modern history and later in my career organised additional support. Since retiring, I have engaged in voluntary work mostly health and care related. In addition to volunteering at Healthwatch Croydon, I joined the One Croydon Alliance over 65s service user group, participating in the development of the Personal Independent Co-ordinator service and the LIFEct discharge to assessment project. I sit on the Croydon Carers Partnership and am a member of my PPG as well as a trustee of Citizens Advice Croydon. My specific interests include patient experience and services in dementia and mental health. The Croydon Health and Care Plan offers Healthwatch Croydon new opportunities to influence and monitor. I very much look forward to working with the board, staff and volunteers on this and other engagement work.
Olusina Adeniyi | Board Member
I am a Medical Radiographer with over 23 years of experience in imaging modalities, including MRI, CT, Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasonography. My working experience includes Nigeria, the NHS, private hospitals, and Mobile Imaging services. I am currently a Lead MRI radiographer with Medical Imaging Partnership and an External ( Peer) Assessor for UKAS the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. I joined the Healthwatch Croydon Board because of my passion for community development and to support the improvement of the health and social care of the great people of Croydon. Healthwatch plays a strategic role in ensuring the people get the adequate services required.
Bev Grant | Board Member
As a new member of the Croydon Local Leadership Board, I am very excited about taking up this position. I am keen to familiarise myself with the health matters that concerns the users of Croydon and their experiences (on a daily basis) of Croydon’s health and social care. That is, gain an understanding from the residents what is working well and what needs to be improved on. Supporting the improvement of health and social care of the residents in Croydon is at the core of what we do. From a learning and development perspective, I have a passion for exploring health, from all aspects, and how it can have an impact on our lives in terms of our well-being. Drawing on my skills and experience of working in the Civil Service for many years, covering a wide range of positions, including policy adviser, leading projects and teams, engaging and working with the public, employers, practitioners, key stakeholders and, from a personal perspective conducted research work, will enable me to contribute effectively to the work of Healthwatch Croydon.
Sandra Dodgson | Board Member
As a long term resident of Croydon, I joined the Local Leadership Board to support people in Croydon to have opportunities to share their experiences of accessing and using health and care services, and be heard. I’m looking forward to working with the team and agreeing the focus for Healthwatch Croydon. I am passionate about supporting access to the difference that we can achieve in our lives when supported by authentic integrated health and care.
Elle Sheppard | Board Member
In a diverse career, I have facilitated sustainable change led by charities, the NHS, local councils, central government and national professional bodies. One of the ways I take care of my own health is through learning the Latin dances and delivering classes that combine dance and exercise as a volunteer at my gym. I am also a published author on values based governance and enhancing healthcare practice. Ellie has 7+ years’ experience in programme management and policy development in the civil society and public sector. Ellie currently works for the Greater London Authority, delivering a large sport and physical activity funding programme, which aims to improve health, wellbeing and social outcomes for children and young Londoners. Ellie worked at Comic Relief for 5 years, delivering social integration and sport for change funding programmes and worked with a range of civil society and community groups across London. Ellie started her career in fundraising for youth organisations. Ellie has lived in Croydon for 7 years.