Supporters
Rod Clarke OBE
Now a consultant to the voluntary sector, Rod built an internationally acclaimed charity, SENSE, The National Deafblind and Rubella Association, from its inception. He retired from SENSE, in 2001.
The Charity currently generates approximately £80 million and employs almost 3000 people. Rod is also actively involved in a number of African projects.
Helen Bowden MB ChB FRCGP Diploma in Palliative Medicine
Helen has over 10 years experience in palliative care. As GP Principal at Faith House Surgery, Hull for 6 years until recently, she took an overall lead for QOF with specific responsibility for epilepsy, thyroid, cancer and palliative care within the practice.
Dr Bowden has been actively involved in enhancing practice standards and promoting the value of first palliative care.
Tom Tanner and Linda King
Tanner King is a PR, media relations and marketing business combining the experience and skills of Tom Tanner and Linda King. Tom has developed a wide range of skills through working as a reporter for local and national newspapers and as a television documentary producer.
Linda recently left the BBC after 18 years. For most of that time she worked as an editor in the radio newsroom defining the news agenda. Before joining the BBC Linda was editor of a local newspaper and worked as a reporter for local and national news organisations. Tom and Linda both have a fundamental understanding of how to communicate a message in all media, nationally and locally and maintain excellent contacts across all news outlets.
Tanner King’s focus for Gold Standards Framework in Care Homes is communicating their message throughout the care sector as well as to the general public in all media forms. Combined with our work with three other care related clients, this has enabled us to develop a broad knowledge of the sector and form many good working contacts.
Maggie Stobbart-Rowlands
Maggie is Programme Manager for the National Gold Standards Framework Centre. Her work focuses mainly on the Care Homes Training Programme, which works with care homes to help develop practice that enables a ‘Gold Standard’ of care for all residents nearing the end of their life. As an RMN/RGN, she has had a long and varied career in nursing. Prior to joining the GSF team she was manager of a nursing home in Cornwall, specialising in end of life care. During this period, she implemented the Gold Standards Framework in Care homes over two years, and was also proactive in raising the profile of end of life care and GSF throughout the county - raising the awareness of other care home staff and commissioners to the needs of residents in care homes.
Nikki Sawkins
Nikki trained as a Registered Nurse at University College Hospital and as a midwife at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. In 1981 she secured a post of District Nurse/Midwife in rural Suffolk and has worked for Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT for 27 years as District Nurse/Midwife, then Specialist Practitioner District Nurse in Halesworth and also the Primary Care Cancer and Palliative Care Lead. As Project Manager for the Norfolk and Waveney Cancer Network she led on the implementation of the investment plan for the Network.
She joined the GSF team as GSF Lead Nurse for the Care Homes Programme in June 2005 on secondment. She has just joined the National team for 4 days a week at the GSF Centre in Walsall, travelling from the East Coast of England. Supported by her husband, Nikki has 3 children and one granddaughter.
Sue Harris
Sue trained at the The London Hospital, Whitechapel and worked at Myton Hamlet Hospice Warwick for 4 years, setting up the Solihull Macmillan Service in 1986. She worked closely with The Gold Standards Framework team both in general Practice and in Nursing Homes and latterly became a part time GSF facilitator for Nursing Homes in Solihull. When Sue retired in 2008 she became an Accreditation Visitor for the GSF Nursing Homes Project.
Sue lives in rural Warwickshire, has 2 grown up twin sons and 5 grandchildren. She enjoys cycling especially tandem with her partner Pete and is a keen fisher woman and animal lover.
Rosaleen Bawn
Rosaleen trained as a Registered Nurse in Huddersfield and following a short time as sister on CCU worked as a district nurse team leader for many years. She then moved to help set up the first Macmillan Nursing Service in Huddersfield. It was in this post that she first met Prof Keri Thomas who was piloting GSF – Rosaleen has remained involved with GSF since. Her current post as Macmillan Nurse Specialist for Care Homes includes facilitating nursing homes within the PCT to complete the GSF programme. Rosaleen also works as an Accredited Visitor as well as supporting the National GSF Team as a Clinical Associate. Passionate about palliative care education Rosaleen has set up different initiatives within her area where they are currently piloting the GSF Co-ordinator’s Course with Leeds Metropolitan University. She lives in Holmfirth with her husband Mel, they have two children and three grandchildren. In her spare time Rosaleen practices Yoga and her hobbies include travel.
Omega Outreach Personnel
Lesley Urquhart
Lesley moved to Shropshire from the West Midlands in 2003. She enjoys walking in the countryside and along the riverside
Lesley studied Human Psychology at Aston University which led to having a career in Education. She has been a Teacher for many years and has been in her current role as a Learning Facilitator in Further Education for the past 5 years.
Lesley has many hobbies and for relaxation enjoys reading. She has made it a personal challenge this year to fundraise for Cancer Research UK by taking part in the 'Race for Life' as well as captaining a team in the 24 hour 'Relay for Life' event.
Lindsey Stirton
Lindsey was born and grew up in Shrewsbury and enjoys living in the county town. After leaving school she worked at Rolls Royce Motors and then Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council. Returning to education to gain a B.ed after the birth of her children enabled Lindsey to work for the charity ‘Headway Shropshire’ running their day centre before prior to her present post as a learning facilitator with Shrewsbury College.
Lindsey enjoys walking and cycling. She has recently taken part in fundraising activities for Cancer Research and is always looking to update skills and take part in rewarding or challenging activities.
