Damien

Organisational Development Lead

Hello, I’m Damien and I work as Organisational Development Lead for and with The Fircroft Trust. This means that I work with Kay, the Trustees, and the whole leadership and operations team, around development of the services, both in terms of business development, quality, strategy, and training/Positive Behaviour Support development, so that we can support people to live the lives they choose, supported by team members to a very high standard of support.

My background is focussed around leading operations at a regional level, and I specialise in specialist services, in regards to supporting complex behaviour needs. I also work 3 days a week for a local authority as a Head of Service/Assistant Director for Disabled Children’s services, and am a Duty Director/GOLD for them. I have extensive experience in both public and private sector organisations. The majority of my experience, however, has been in adult social care, and I am really focussed on ensuring that services are strengths-based. This means that we focus on the likes, aspirations and skills people have, and ensure we support people to improve their quality of life, rather than focussing on any disabilities or problems people may face. This change in frame enables a culture where people are more involved in their own support, and also in co-producing how services they access are run and evolve. I am a huge advocate of PBS, and by supporting people to live a better quality of life, and in learning new skills through Active Support (through a constructional PBS approach), we can sustainably support people towards independence where possible, which not only helps people live the lives they choose, but also decreases spend for commissioning partners that we work with.

Outside of work, I love spending time with my daughters. I run a mountain group, and regularly climb in the UK and beyond. In October 2022, I was part of a team that went to Kilimanjaro, which we climbed in three and a half days, and raised money for The Fircroft Trust, and another charity.

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