Team members

Diane has extensive experience of stakeholder consultation, in the areas of education, regeneration, financial and social exclusion, arts, health and corporate reputation. She has a keen interest in developing effective techniques for consulting hard-to-reach audiences, in particular women and young people.
Diane joined OPM from Opinion Leader Research, where she was a senior research executive. While at OLR, she managed qualitative and quantitative research projects for local authorities, charities and other clients, conducting 'bespoke' research programmes across a range of subject areas.

Recent relevant experience includes:

• a review of the UK Youth Parliament, on behalf of the DfES. Included discussion groups with young people, interviews with youth workers, charitable and voluntary organisations, MPs and civil servants, workshops and a conference with Members of the Youth Parliament
• consultation on behalf of OPSR, looking at the management of childhood asthma in schools. Workshops were held with children at KS2 and young people at KS3; education and health professionals were also involved
• a consultation on behalf of the NSPCC looking at perceptions of child abuse amongst the public, children and young people and ways in which people might be encouraged to act when they are concerned about children in their neighbourhood. This involved workshops and discussion groups with children and young people from age 6 to 18, parents and non-parents and professionals working with children.
• a consultation on behalf of the London Borough of Lambeth, engaging young people from the BME community in ways of involving them with mainstream council services

Stefan combines a whole-system perspective with leading-edge thinking and practical 'know how' about improving organisational and leadership performance in a challenging public sector environment.

In his work he brings a passion about re-discovering the power of conversation to build motivation and co-create better services with those who use them. His skills in hosting World Café, Open Space and Circle Conversations have most recently helped clients build new clinical and leadership strategies, fully engage stakeholders in a county-wide consultation process and created a new network of leaders.

Stefan's recent children's services experience includes:

• Using Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and other inquiry methodologies to support the development of integrated leadership in childrens services
• Involvement of leadership and organisation development experts in the children's agenda through the use of Open Space processes
• Co-creating performance management frameworks for the implementation of the lead professional role
• Coaching key leaders to help establish critical leadership actions required to deliver the lead professional agenda
• Using a whole–system change model to establish key interventions needed to accelerate the implementation process of the lead professional role
• Strengthening stakeholder engagement in the children's agenda through the design of World Café events
• Tutor on the BEST/YOT DfES-sponsored Shaping the Future leadership development programme

Stefan has been an NHS Chief Executive and held a number of senior posts in health and social care. Most recently he was Programme Director - Workforce Development in the Brighton and Hove Health and Social Care System. Stefan is executive chair of a small national charity.

Since joining OPM in 2003 Phil has worked with a wide variety of clients from across the public and voluntary sectors, but has particular experience in the areas of children's services; education and skills; scenario planning; and regeneration. Phil has extensive knowledge of the full range of quantitative and qualitative research methods having completed an ESRC-accredited research training MA at the University of Warwick. Prior to studying at Warwick Phil gained a First in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Oxford.

Recent relevant experience includes:

• conducting interviews with senior managers and contributing to writing the final report for the Bradford Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership in support of the development of a children's trust
• working on a project for the Royal Society to identify good practice in schemes that seek to promote positive role models to young people in science, engineering and technology.
• researching different models of local authority youth and play services, for Newcastle City Council.

Sharon specialises in managing change, strategy and policy development, providing advice and support in commissioning, project management, and community and stakeholder engagement. She is also an experienced research and development consultant, having worked with local authorities and the voluntary sector. Sharon has a background and particular interest in management roles in local government and youth and children's services – supporting transitions within the change for children agenda.

Before joining OPM Sharon worked in a strategic and operational management role, supporting the prevention of homelessness, regeneration and crime reduction. Earlier in her career Sharon worked for the National Union of Students as a regional officer and as an elected sabbatical officer at local level. 

Ewan has worked at OPM as a social researcher and policy analyst since 1998. He has experience of conducting both qualitative and quantitative research, but specialises in in-depth interviews, focus groups, case studies and interactive workshops. Over the last two years Ewan has specialised in evaluation research, managing a number of large-scale, multi-method evaluations for central government departments, non-departmental public bodies and local authorities. Ewan works with clients from across central government and public services, but his particular interests include children’s services, health and social care, and local government. Ewan has management responsibilities for a team of 20 social researchers. Prior to joining OPM, Ewan was a researcher for Tessa Jowell MP, currently Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Recent relevent experience includes:

• conducting a literature review for the DfES looking at the role of Lead Professionals in children’s services
• work with Surrey County Council, London Borough of Southwark and the London Borough of Haringey helping them to develop Children and Young People’s Plans
• assisting Surrey County Council in developing its single Children and Young People’s Plan
• conducting interviews and desk research for the DfES which considered the implications of the Interim Report of the Tomlinson 14 to 19 Working Group on learning
• working with Shelter - the national charity for the homeless - to help it develop a new children’s service.
• organising several national conferences looking at the role of extended schools, the most recent of which were run jointly with Lincolnshire County Council, with support from the DfES. Also organised conferences in Scotland looking at New Community Schools
• membership of the team conducting a long-term review of education support services in the London Borough of Southwark
• working with CYPU to develop scenarios for a simulation addressing the effects of a new national planning framework for services for children and young people.

Hywel carries out a wide range of work across all of the OPM service areas - organisational development, leadership and management development and stakeholder engagement. He has particular interests and experience in the funding, organisation and reform of public service delivery and the policy process.

Hywel's previous experience includes working as project manager for the Learning and Skills Council, where he was responsible for developing LSC policy, systems and practice for the implementation of a new funding regime across the LSC network. He has also held senior management posts with a range of bodies, including the London TEC Council, London East TEC and a disability IT and employability training provider. A significant amount of this work has involved developing and managing EU-funded programmes and projects to deliver training, employment and regeneration. Other experience includes advising private providers on promoting and developing e-solutions for public sector agencies. Hywel is a member and previous chair of the board of governors of Ravenstone Primary School, Balham.

Recent work includes:

• reviewing the organisation and structures of the Greater London Authority
• for DfES in preparation for the future white paper, determining options for the performance management of 14-19 delivery in light of present policy changes and the Tomlinson 14-19 Working Group proposals
• reviewing the funding, organisational and governance implications of the Tomlinson 14-19 Working Group Interim Report for DfES
  

Ann has been working with health, education and social care professionals for over two years on the conceptual and practical implications of integrating the services provided to children. She has worked on specific projects to review need and identify challenges and priorities; facilitated events for both large and discrete groups of staff; and co-authored a publication on making integration a reality. In addition to her work on children's services, Ann supports organisations' strategic development, user engagement and capacity building through reviews, practical support, board development and leadership programmes. She works extensively with clients in the NHS, central government and local authorities to design, project manage and deliver challenging learning interventions that empower managers to develop solutions appropriate to their skills and situation.

Clive has a background in cross sector management and in depth experience of service integration in children's services, health and social care and youth justice. He is involved in providing continuing strategic support to a range of local authorities and children and young people's partnerships. He is the co-author of a number of OPM publications including ’Children’s Trusts: developing locally appropriate ways forward’, 'Integrating children's services: issues and practice', 'Coproduction in children's services' and 'Integrating Health and Social Care and making it work'. Two examples of Clive's current projects are:

• Southwark - providing continuing consultancy to the director of children's services and through membership of the local Change for Children group. Activities include: the development of a new draft strategy; remodelling the children and young people's strategic partnership and its commissioning processes.
• Redcar and Cleveland - a programme of continuing consultancy support to the senior manager heading the local Change for Children programme and the children and young people's strategic partnership. Activities include: facilitating the partnership's development of a locality based approach to integrated commissioning; enabling the current joint, (with Middlesbrough) ACPC to examine options for a joint local children's safeguarding board.

Rachel joined OPM from Opinion Leader Research, where she was involved in all stages of research and consultation projects. Her clients included a range of public sector and voluntary organisations engaged in issues relevant to children and young people, e.g. NSPCC, Department for Education and Skills, National Union of Teachers and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

Rachel has in-depth experience of adapting qualitative research methodologies to effectively engage with children and young people. Recent relevant experience includes:

• designing and facilitating an interactive session with young people on behalf of the HFEA at the British Association for the Advancement of Science Festival
• co-designing and moderating a series of workshops with 7 - 18 year olds to explore public engagement with child protection (NSPCC)
• evaluating a student-led pilot scheme for promoting diversity within in an inner-city secondary school (NUT)
• conducting focus groups with secondary school pupils and students to discuss options for funding higher education (DfES).

Judith is one of our most experienced Change for Children consultants. She is currently engaged in work for the DfES, London Borough of Westminster, Peterborough and Haringey. Recent clients include Leeds, Somerset, Southwark and Kirklees; she has also been running local workshops across the country.

Judith has worked as a consultant in children's services since 1995, involved in:  

• Portsmouth pathfinder children's trust — where she pioneered outcome-driven reform and several delivery plans for the children's fund, developed through widespread stakeholder engagement.
• Design and delivery of pupil support and services for the new Local Education Authority for Portsmouth — on transfer from Hampshire County Council
• Facilitation of national RIBA/school works conference about improving the quality of schools through Building Schools for the Future — bringing together building, financial and educational teams to work more effectively together in the interest of children and young people
• Deputy Chair of school governing body leading on school recovery planning following failing school OFSTED report
• Partnerships for outcomes work using the Results Action Guide for Children and Regeneration
• Developing integrated services for children at risk, including detailed operational policies for integrated CAMHS teams and using Children's Fund support to involve children in decision-making to improve outcomes
• Facilitation of stakeholder involvement workshops for children, young people and family services in Southwark, Peterborough, Somerset and Northamptonshire
• Helping clients to develop successful extended schools and children's centres.

Judith also works with neighbourhood renewal, local strategic partnerships and leadership programmes. In the past Judith has been Chair of a successful Health Authority. She studied contracting and procurement in the USA and, before becoming a consultant, was Director for a large housing association and a town planner. All her work is clearly focused on social results and intended to help clients to improve the quality and efficiency of public services.

Catherine joined OPM from the Audit Commission, where she was head of user focus, in charge of delivering a major change programme to focus the ACs work on the needs and views of users of public services. She trained AC auditors and inspectors to be more aware of user-related aspects of service delivery and worked directly with service providers to help them improve the way they engage with their users, carers and communities.

Catherine was a key contributor to the development of CPA 2005 and has practical experience as a CPA Inspection Team Leader. In 2003, Catherine took on the additional role of Deputy Head of Policy for the Audit Commission, leading on policy development in such diverse areas as sustainability, regionalism and civil renewal. Catherine has also worked for the Legal Aid Board (now the Legal Services Commission), Bradford Community Health NHS Trust and Humberside MIND, and was vice chair of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust from 2001 to 2004. She has:

• led the development of a multi-agency approach to the care and management of mentally disordered offenders in the criminal justice system, which became the national model for service development in England and Wales
• developed the Community Legal Service in the East Midlands, in partnership with the Lord Chancellor's Department, local authorities and legal service providers
• As Director of Humberside MIND, involved users in the management of the organisation and attained Investor in People status.

Hilary’s areas of practice include: conducting organisational reviews and developing new models for children’s services, local government and partner organisations; supporting top teams in national quangos, local government and universities; supporting the development and implementation of programmes for central government; working with elected members; carrying out evaluations; and delivering leadership and management development programmes.

Examples of recent assignments are:

• supporting the development of Championing Children (published by DfES) – the first shared set of skills, behaviours and knowledge for leaders and managers of integrated children’s services
• a number of projects on developing local children’s trust arrangements, including governance arrangements for children’s services
• helping local children and young people’s partnerships with strategy and planning, including developing priorities for the children and young people’s plan.

Before her appointment to OPM in 1998, Hilary was acting Deputy Director of Education and Assistant Director, Resources, at Hampshire County Council. She has also worked as a senior consultant with the public sector group of one of the big four consultancy firms and, earlier in her career, as a civil servant working in policy and planning.