Welsh Referrals

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Meet The Team

Senior Management Team

John Farragher

Executive Chairman

John is the founder, owner and Chairman of Potens.

John is a Learning Disability Nurse.

He said: “Born near Birkenhead docks a long while ago – I’ll admit to being in my fifties!

Concert Pianist, Astrophysicist, Raconteur and Olympic Athlete are just a few of the things I’m not known for.

Trained as an Learning Disability Nurse in early 80’s which started the incredible journey leading to the privileged position I am at today.”

 

Nicki Stadames

Chief Operating Officer

Registered Nurse (RNMH)

Nicki is Potens Chief Operating Officer, with 20 years’ operational experience in the Health and Social Care Sector. Whilst Nicki has previously worked in both Local Authority and Charitable organisations, the vast majority of her experience is in the Private sector. Nicki joined the company as the Registered Manager of the one and only Registered Home and has grown alongside the Organisation in partnership with those who live and work within.

Nicki has been with Potens since 1996

Tom Arnold

Finance Director

ACA & BA (Hons) Economics

Tom is the Director of Finance for Potens. He is a chartered accountant with over 20 years finance experience working in the health and social care sector. He has previously worked as a Finance Director of a GP out of hours service and a company providing healthcare in secure environments.

Tom has been with Potens since 2004

Noreen Mitchell

Regional Director North & West

BA (hons) Community Management & PG Dip in Management.

Noreen is one of Potens Regional Directors with responsibility for North Wales and North & West England.

Noreen has over 20 years operational management experience within the health and social care sector within a range of organisations including; housing associations, local government and the charitable, voluntary and private sector.

Noreen has been with Potens since 2007.

Bettina Jeppesen

Regional Director South

BA (hons) in Sociology and Social Policy. Advanced Diploma in Dual Diagnosis (Mental Health & Substance Misuse)

Bettina has over 25 years’ experience in the social care sector, 10 of these years as a senior manager. Bettina has worked across third sector and private companies predominantly supporting people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions or a range of additional complex needs, including; registered, supported living, floating support and community activity based services.

Bettina joined Potens in the summer of 2017

Guy Page

Development Director

BSc Human Psychology

Guy is the Business Development Director and has over 19 years experience within Health and Social Care in both the public and private sectors. With a background in Psychology I have worked in both relationship management and development roles as well as a contracts and commissioning role so can understand both sides of the sector. I have a passion for developing services that meet the needs of people we support and can evolve with them.

Guy joined Potens in December 2022

Rob Anscomb-Gates

BA (hons) Social & Professional Studies: Learning Disabilities and Masters in Autism.

Rob is one of Potens Regional Directors with responsibility for East Midlands, Greater Manchester  and the North East

Rob has over 30 years operational management experience within the health and social care sector within a range of organisations including Choice Care Group and The Royal Mencap Society

Rob has been with Potens since late 2022

Area Managers

Danny Coyne – Wirral

Area Manager

QCF Level 3 & 5 Leadership & Management in Social Care.

With 17 years’ experience in Health & Social Care settings including LD, MH, Dual Diagnosis, Nursing and Residential settings inc. EMI.
Working in depth with challenging behaviours, complex and palliative care along with transforming care and transitions.

Experienced multi-site Regional Manager, with an interest in setting up new services and TUPE.

Danny is the Area Manager for Wirral supported living and residential services and joined Potens in January 2023

Robert Eveleigh

Area Manager - South Central

BA (Hons) Social Policy and Administration and Certificate and Diploma in Leadership and Management.

Robert has significant experience in the health and social work sector, including working in a street access night shelter, a drug and alcohol centre plus placements in Mental Health, Residential, advice centres. He has significant experience working with children with autism including being an adviser to the NAS, and a member of the Dorset Parent Carer Forum.

He has a Certificate and Diploma in Leadership and Management.

Robert is the Area Manager for South Central and joined Potens in October 2022

Dave Ridley

Area Manager -Midlands

Area Manager, East Midlands

Dave is the Area Manager for the East Midlands with over 30 years’ experience working in the health and social care sector.

A Registered Nurse he has significant experience working with adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs.

Dave joined Potens in 2015

Tara Hedges

Area Manager – South West

Bsc (Hons) Psychology, QCF level 5 in Leadership and Management in Adult social care.

Tara has over 10 years experience working within the adult learning disability sector. After graduating university Tara began her career as a support worker, and has since progressed into several management and senior management roles – specialising in homes that support people with complex needs and behaviours that challenge.

Tara joined Potens in September 2021

Jayne Dakic

Area Manager – South Central

RMA, A1 assessor, NVQ 5, Portage HV award.

Over the past 38 years Jayne has work across most care sectors including babies, children and family services , adults with mental health, learning disabilities, addiction, duel diagnosis, challenging behaviours, autism PMLD , specialised complex physical and health needs and people with life limiting diagnosis, in the NHS, local authority, and the private sector.

For the past 15 years alongside her senior management and operational roles she has been working in service crisis management, safeguarding and part of the WSCC emergency response team.

Jayne started at Potens in February 2021.

Mike Barton

Area Manager

Dip HE Management; Level 5 Disabilities Studies; Certificate in Counselling.

Mike has over 30 years’ operational experience working in the Health & Social Care sector both in the UK and Ireland, within a variety of roles and settings including; housing associations, charitable, voluntary and private sector companies.

Mike oversees Potens’ services in Northern Ireland, Liverpool and St Helens.

Mike Joined Potens in 2011 as a Registered Manager.

Wais Zamani

Area Manager - Tyne & Tees

Post Grad level 7 Diploma in Business Administration. Diploma Level 5 In Management Development (DMD), Level 4 Leadership & Management Awards, NVQ Level 2,3,4 In Health and Social Care. BSc (Hons) In Internet Computing.

Wais has over 13 years operational experience in health and social care within a range of Private and Charitable organisations; managing adult and children services.

This includes: Supported Living, Dom Care, Complex and Palliative Care, Domestic Services, Homelessness, Substance misuse services, Mental Health, Registered Residential Services, Older people services, Complex Autism, Dementia Care services, Complex Challenging Behaviour, Respite and Day Opportunity services.

Wais is also an experienced Training Facilitator, he developed and delivered specialist courses on behalf of LA, PCT throughout England and Scotland

 

Michelle McColl

Area Manager (Lancashire)

Leadership and Management Level 5

Michelle has worked in Social Care since 1988, with a focus on working with adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs.

Michelle joined Potens as a Registered Manager in 2009, was promoted to Locality Manager in 2018 and is now Potens’ Area Manager for Lancashire.

Passionate about promoting good mental health and the recovery model within our services, Michelle led Potens’ CQC outstanding (across all 5 domains) service Mansard House.

Glenn Barnett

Area Manager (North Wales)

Registered Nurse (RNMH), Registered Managers Award (RMA), ILM Level 5 Management and IOSH.

Glenn has responsibility for residential services and day opportunities in North Wales, and is also the Responsible Individual working closely with CSSIW to maintain compliance. Glenn has 24 years clinical experience in both Learning Disability and Mental Health and has worked in a variety of settings and locations throughout the England & Wales.

Glenn joined Potens in 2006 as a registered manager and progressed to General Manager for Queens Court before being promoted to Area Manager for North Wales.

Business Development Team

Janie Holmes

Business Development Manager (West)

Janie has been employed within the health and social care sector for almost 30 years, she has experience supporting both children and adults with complex needs. Within that time, she has held both operational and development roles wherein she has developed knowledge and gained understanding as to the changing needs of those we support.

Janie believes that the experience she has gained has enabled her to have insight and understanding as to the ongoing operational and developmental challenges which providers must address daily.

She has extensive partnership working with stakeholders and with those we support ensuring that the needs of the individuals are met through quality services.

Janie covers our West Region and joined Potens in January 2021

Services Development Team

Lorraine Hollis

Service Development Manager (East)

Lorraine has worked in Health and Social Care for 30 years.

She has worked across all levels from Practitioner to Senior Manager. Lorraine has developed and managed a number of multi-disciplinary teams including Residential Services, Day Services, Community Treatment Teams for both Adults and Young People.

Before joining Potens in October 2019 Lorraine worked for a National Charitable Organisation within the People Directorate as the lead for Management Development.

Judith Hacking

Service Development Manager (West)

Registered Nurse (RNMH), Executive Diploma in Management Studies, Registered Managers Award & various other management qualifications.

Judith has over thirty years experience within the  Health and Social Care Sector.  Having worked in a range of settings within the NHS, charitable and private sectors Judith’s previous roles  have included; Service Improvement Manager Regional, Operations Manager Lancashire and Culture Champion.

Judith joined Potens in 2018

Chris Browne

Operational Support Manager

MA Community Care Management

Chris has over 25 years’ experience in social care primarily working with people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health issues as well as experience in housing and working with people with physical disability.

Chris is also experienced in national governance issues having sat on national boards, holding a national brief for the support of children with disabilities and been the organisational lead on child protection.

Chris joined Potens in March 2018

Positive Support Team

Dave Walton

Positive Behaviour Facilitator (West)

Degree in Psychology, Advanced Professional Diploma in PBS

Dave has worked in the social care sector since 2002, starting off in child care, supporting people with Autism as a care officer before moving on in to team leader and manager roles. During this time Dave became an Advanced Practioner in Intensive Interaction, was PECS trained and Makaton trained. Dave also worked as a Behaviour Management Trainer delivering 3 day BILD accredited courses and worked as a behaviour support co-ordinator.

Dave joined Potens in 2018

Georgina Tiller

PBS Facilitator (South)

RNLD, BSC Hons Health & Social Care, Certificate in Education (PTLLS).

Georgia is a Positive Behaviour Support Facilitator for Potens based in the South. She is a registered Learning Disability Nurse and has been in this field for almost 30 years.  She has worked in a vast number of settings private, voluntary and public sectors including with children, young people, adults and elder care.  Georgia has experience in mental health.  Georgia has previously worked in management and has been teaching Health and Social Care courses for 18 years.

Georgia joined the Potens Team in January 2017.

Support Functions

Sue Jackson

HR and Payroll Manager

Sue has over 30 years’ experience within Payroll and HR, working in a variety of industries ranging from biscuits to fertiliser! Sue is very passionate about the health and social care sector as each one of us can make a difference to the lives of our colleagues and to the people we support.

As the HR and Payroll Manager, Sue provides HR support to all staff plus heads up the Payroll team.

Sue lives on the Wirral and is married with two grown-up children and in her spare time works as a Sports Massage Therapist.

Sue joined Potens in December 2020.

 

Graeme James

Commercial Accountant

Graeme is Potens’ Commercial Accountant. He has over 15 years finance experience in public and private sector organisations.

He gained a real passion and expertise for the health & social care sector while working for a leading national care provider.

Graeme has spent the last 6 years working in Senior Operational Finance roles, partnering with leadership teams to improve their overall commercial and strategic performance.

Graeme joined Potens in August 2018

Nikki Carpenter

Finance Manager

ACCA (certificate Level) & AAT

Nikki is the Finance Manager for Potens supervising the accounts team and providing support to operations, she works closely with the Finance Director.

She has over 20 years accounting experience within a range of organisations including; charitable, voluntary and private sector with considerable expertise working within the health and social care sector and understanding the needs of the business.

Nikki has been with Potens since 2010

Matt Gardiner

Facilities Director

Matt is Potens’ Facilities Director.

Matt has over 20 years experience within the construction and property industry, with three years Health and Care sector focus, is a member of the IWFM and holds a Prince 2 Project management qualifications.

Matt joined Potens in 2019.

Pauline Davies

Office Manager

Pauline has over 10 years’ experience in a variety of roles covering Human Resources, Quality Assurance and Administration Management.

Based at Potens Head Office in Birkenhead, Pauline’s role manages and supports the administration function across all Potens services and areas.

She has significant experience working within the health and social care sector, understanding the needs of the business.

Pauline started with Potens in 2015

Frank Walsh

Workforce Development Manager

Assoc CIPD, BSc (Hons) Degree Technology Management, L5 Dip Business Advisor & NEBOSH Certificate

Frank has responsibility for planning, reviewing and evaluating the company Learning & Development, HR and Health & Safety strategies.

He has over 20 years’ experience working with organisations from a variety of sectors in helping them to develop their workforce development practices.

Frank Joined Potens in 2011

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