We provide you and your community with high quality specialist health and social care services.

About us

Who we are

Our aim is to be there when you or your family or carer need us most and help you stay as independent as possible.

We look after adults and children at home and at school. Our thousands of staff work across Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.

We are very proud that our most recent Care Quality Commission rating for the care our staff provide is Outstanding. Read the latest report.

A not-for-profit social enterprise, we are funded by the NHS and local authorities. NHS care is free at the point of delivery. We are committed to serving our communities as a Community Interest Company, our activities provide benefit to all members of the population of the areas we cover.

Taking it Personally

Discover the values every member of our team hold dear and the foundations on which we provide care

our values

We are innovative in the way we deliver services to people and adopt the latest techniques in health and social care. This approach helps us to promote safe and high-quality services to meet the needs of people, their families and their carers.

Training, education and support for our staff is a crucial part of care innovation. We empower our staff to create their own ideas to make our services more responsive for the people who use them.

We work with individuals and partner organisations to make sure the care you receive is as joined-up as it can be and that everyone involved in your care knows what you need and when.

We also provide some services with partners, for example the Community Children’s Health Partnership in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.

We are involved in Healthier Together, the STP (Sustainability and Transformation Plan) in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Our Board is responsible for the day to day running and management of Sirona’s business. It is made up of our Senior Leadership Team of Executive Directors who are full time senior staff and an independent lay Chairman and Non-Executive Directors.

The Executive Directors bring to the Board clinical, operational and commercial experience and expertise while the Chair and Non-Executive Directors bring their skills and experience from a wide variety of roles in the community and in social and commercial enterprises.

The Board is accountable to the Members* of Sirona for its management of the organisation. The role of a Members is similar to that of a shareholder in a public limited company, except a Sirona Member does not hold any financial interest. Members perform this corporate governance role by receiving regular reports about our performance and participating in Members’ meetings and in general meetings.

We judge our success by listening to the views of those using our services. The real examples of the care and support given by our staff, with skill, compassion and respect, we know are a credit to us.

Our ongoing commitment to our service users is that we will provide services as we would wish to receive them ourselves, or for those we love.

Our ongoing commitment to our staff is that we will continue to value the huge contribution they make to Sirona’s success and we will always treat them fairly and with respect.

By us all working together, we will continue to strive for excellence in all we do.

You can meet our Senior Leadership Team, Board and Members below.

Board meeting dates, papers and how to ask a question

The Board is accountable to the Members of Sirona for its management of the Company.  The role of a Member is similar to that of a shareholder in a public limited company, save that a Member has no financial interest in the Company.  Members perform this corporate governance role by receiving regular reports on the Company’s performance and participating in Members’ meetings and in general meetings of the Company.

The overall responsibilities of members are derived from a combination of statute, common law, the Company’s Articles of Association and any additional rights agreed through a members’ agreement. These include, but are not restricted to:

  • Approving certain major transactions (e.g. property; loans)
  • Changes to the Company’s constitution;
  • Approving the appointment and re-appointment of the Company’s auditors;
  • Amending the Articles of Association
  • Ability to call a general meeting
  • Petition for a winding up order

The role of Members in governance is therefore an important one and members are appointed because they have an appropriate combination of expertise, experience and capacity to contribute to these key governance roles.

In addition to their governance responsibilities, Members also have wider responsibilities in contributing to the success of Sirona through:

  • Acting as an ambassador for the Company and championing its services
  • Being a sounding board for major strategic issues or decisions and responding to requests for comments or views
  • Being represented on the appointing panel of all Board Members
  • Monitoring and reviewing the performance of the Board especially in relation to ensuring that Sirona remains consistent to its community interest, vision, values and core offer
  • Being a ‘critical friend’ of the Company
  • Abiding by the standards of conduct

Now recruiting: become a Member of Sirona

Constitution of Members

Classes of membership
% vote
No. of Members
Staff
24%
7
Service users
24%
7
Strategic partners
21%
5
Independent partners
20%
5
Director
11%
2
100%
26

Senior Leadership

Janet Rowse

Chief Executive

Janet has been our Chief Executive since Sirona was founded and has led the organisation through huge changes including the award of the new contracts to deliver adult and children’s services in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Following a period of illness and bereavement in her family, Janet has agreed with the Board an unpaid sabbatical for up to 12 months which began on 1 April 2022.

Julie Sharma, who has also been with Sirona since its inception, has been appointed by the Board as Acting Chief Executive for the full period of Janet’s sabbatical and will be ensuring Sirona continues to be at the forefront of transforming services for all ages within our communities.

Julie Sharma

Chief Executive (Acting)

Julie, who has been our Director of Transformation, is currently leading the organisation on behalf of Janet Rowse, who is on a sabbatical. Her role will be instrumental in ensuring Sirona continues to be at the forefront of transforming services for all ages within our communities.

Julie has been working in health and social care for over 40 years and is passionate about Sirona’s commitment to ensuring that we look after each of our staff and service users in a way that we would want to be looked after ourselves or for our families.

Jenny Theed

Director of Operations

Jenny, who has also been with Sirona since it was founded in 2011, describes her role as a privilege as she is able to get involved or oversee the delivery of a range of services and innovative developments.

Jenny brings a wealth of clinical experience having trained as a Nurse and as a Health Visitor.

From 31 August to 31 December 2021 - Jenny is seconded to the Clinical Commissioning Group. our Acting Director of Operations is Ceridwen Massey

Clive Bassett

Finance Director

Clive joined Sirona in December 2019 as Finance Director. Clive has been a Finance Director for 17 years - both in permanent and interim roles, in a variety of sectors. For the last nine years, Clive has been a Trustee at Prospect Hospice in Swindon, where he has also held the roles of Deputy Chair and Chair of the Finance and Income Generation Committee.

Clive is a Chartered Accountant, recently completing the ICAEW Non-Executive Director Certificate. In his spare time Clive likes get out and enjoy the Cotswolds - whether it be on foot, or on his vintage bike.

Mike Richards, Director of Therapies and Allied Health Professionals

Mike Richards

Director of Therapies and Allied Health Professionals

Mike joined Sirona in April 2020 from Weston Area Health NHS Trust where he was Associate Director of Professionals. With a clinical background as a Speech and Language Therapist, Mike has worked at Weston since 2011 and, since moving to Bristol in 2005, he has had experience working in and with a number of organisations across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Ceridwen Massey

Acting Director of Operations

Ceridwen joined Sirona in April 2020 as our Associate Director of Specialist Services from Bristol Community Health where she was a Director of Adult Services.

Ceridwen has over 20 years experience working in health and social care services across Bristol North Somerset and South Gloucestershire both in the acute setting, commissioning services and for the last 10 years in community services.

Sarah Margetts

HR Director

Sarah was appointed HR Director in the summer of 2018. She joined Sirona as Head of HR in 2015 having previously led HR teams in a number of different organisations including the charity and not-for-profit sector, as well as education and social care.

She has worked in HR for more than 20 years, and initially started her career as an apprentice working in a Local Authority, later becoming a full chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Mary Lewis, Director of Nursing

Mary Lewis

Director of Nursing

Mary joined Sirona in April 2020 as our Director of Nursing from North Somerset Community Partnership (NSCP) where she was Director of Nursing and Therapies.

Mary set up and holds the position of Trustee on the Lifetime Children’s Trust, worked as an Executive Nurse with the Bath and North East Somerset Primary Care Trust and held the Deputy Director of Nursing role at the Royal United Hospital in Bath before joining NSCP in 2016.

Linda Frankland

Deputy Director of Finance

Linda is a qualified accountant and is passionate about ensuring that finance is seen as a key enabler for the organisation to achieve high quality and effective service provision.

Linda manages Sirona's Finance and Payroll teams.

Our Medical Director role is currently out to recruitment.

Interim arrangements

Our Medical Director role is currently out to recruitment.
Dr Alison Wint and Dr Carol Naughton are our Interim Medical Advisors and Dr Roy Sharma, who was our previous Medical Director, is our Responsible Officer.
Our Interim Caldicott Guardian is Mary Lewis, our Director of Nursing and Quality

Non-Executive Directors

Amanda Cheesley

Chair

Amanda Cheesley joined Sirona at the end of 2017. She is a qualified nurse who is the UK professional lead for End of Life Care and Long Term Conditions at the Royal College of Nursing.

She has worked at Guy's Hospital in London, as a member of the Mountain Rescue Team in the Lake District and as the Matron for the Eskdale Centre.

Amanda has also worked in Bristol and South Gloucestershire in various roles including being a district nurse and Service Manager of Intermediate Care in South Gloucestershire.

In 2015 she took part in the Clipper Round the World Sailing Race raising money for Breast Cancer describing it as an experience that fluctuated between complete terror, exhaustion and exhilaration!

She was drawn to the role at Sirona as she shares the values and ambitions of involving people including staff in developing and improving care but also because she wanted to give something back to her community.

Paul May

Non-Executive Director

Paul joined Sirona in August 2015 as he believed the opportunity for front line staff to work together for the benefit of our community was so crucial to more joined up care that he wanted to be part of making that happen. Paul is also a councillor with Bath & North East Somerset Council serving Publow and Whitchurch ward.

He has around 50 years of public sector experience including non-executive directorships with health organisations and believes the staff are our most valuable asset.

Dr Barbara Brown

Non- Executive Director

Barbara joined Sirona in April of 2021.

Prior to joining Sirona Barbara has held senior leadership roles in the charity, public and private Sector working locally, nationally and internationally. Barbara is a Criminal and Family Civil Justice Magistrate and Consultant and has held Trustee and Non-Executive Directorship roles specifically supporting the systemic dismantling of structures of inequality. She is passionate about using data led conversations to bring about lasting organisational change.

Barbara lives locally in South Gloucestershire and is the proud mother of two sons.

Simon MacSorley, Non-Executive Director

Simon MacSorley

Non-Executive Director and Vice-Chair

Simon joined Sirona in April 2020. His professional background is in Estates Management and he has worked at executive level in the healthcare, education and charity sectors as well as holding other non-executive Director roles.

He is also Chair of a charity which provides investment funding to improve the quality of care services for older people and he is Vice-Chair of a multi-academy trust managing seven schools in South Gloucestershire.

He wanted to join Sirona as he is committed to improving healthcare services - particularly in his own community area. He is married with two children and lives in Downend, Bristol.

Lorna Harrison Non Executive Director

Lorna Harrison

Non-Executive Director

Lorna joined Sirona in October 2020 and is Chair of the Audit and Assurance Committee.

Prior to joining Sirona Lorna held a similar role within North Somerset Community Partnership and was a Non Executive on a housing association.

During her career Lorna held Director positions with Wrigley / Mars Confectionary company and worked in the UK , Germany and USA, where she held Finance, logistic and Procurement roles.

Lorna now lives in North Somerset and is passionate about working within the local community to support a healthier and fairer environment.
Lorna is married and has two grown up children.

Service User Members

Ron Hardie

Service User Member

Please tell us a little about yourself

I am a retired Aerospace senior manager, during my career I worked abroad a lot as a quality management systems lead assessor, I have worked in Russia, China, S Korea and the USA and Europe and many others in between! I have held a number of voluntary roles – as a Parish councillor and chair for 15 years, I am vice chair of community engagement group and chair of the trustees of Cadbury Heath Hall. In addition I was a school governor for 12 years.

Why did you want to become a Member of Sirona?

Having had a bit of a medical emergency a few years ago I was really impressed with the way Sirona integrated into my care and the opportunity to influence, in some small way, toward their development was too good to miss!

What do you hope to achieve as a Member?

I hope to be able to bring some of my experience from a different view point into play and contribute in whatever way I can.

What do you think the future holds for Sirona?

I think the future is bright and Sirona can be a large part of that by continuing to provide care in a proactive and meaningful way, never forgetting the patients of course.

What message do you have for staff?

Firstly a massive ‘Thanks’ for all you have done in the last few challenging months ,keep doing it and make this organisation the best and the benchmark.

Please can you tell us something about yourself that not many people might know?

So many things so just a couple ,I am a licensed radio amateur and work extensively with emergency comms ,I am deputy controller for Bristol and Somerset ,I am also a fanatical fly fisherman and help to run a club with over 200 members.

Nalin Parmar

Service User Member

Please tell us a little about yourself

I worked ‘man and boy’ in the UK rail infrastructure business. Prior to retiring in 2010, I was as the Business Adviser to the Finance Director of Network Rail reviewing and advising on major investments and change management. I have extensive experience of business issues and corporate governance.
I have considerable experience in managing volunteer groups and I am currently Treasurer for the Bristol and Gloucester Gliding Club.
I studied Aeronautics and qualified as a Chartered Civil Engineer and Chartered Certified Accountant.

Why did you want to become a Member of Sirona?

In the mid-nineties I was diagnosed with an auto immune condition. Since then I have used the health service extensively, from GPs to specialists and recently Sirona. I have received good care from Sirona and (the NHS) and believe that I can make a contribution to that good care continuing in the future. I bring not only professionalism to this role but also insight gained as a result of long and extensive experience as a patient.

What do you hope to achieve as a Member?

My multiple skills and experience are well suited to critically reviewing financial and operational performance and more generally a range of business issues and I am suitably qualified to monitor safety performance.
As a Service User Member I believe I can aid Management with sensitivity in assuring good Governance.

What do you think the future holds for Sirona?

Health care has to move from transactional to whole person, whole life, as demographics and expectations change. Care in Community organisations are well placed to benefit from this. Sirona with careful planning and selective changes can realise its potential from these changes.

What message do you have for staff?

The future is good.

Please can you tell us something about yourself that not many people might know?

I was bitten by a scorpion when a toddler in India. I survived.
Some years later I was bitten by a venomous snake, again in India. There was no hospital nearby nor were we sure of the type of snake and four fang tips were recovered from my toe. Many decades later I am still here to tell the tale of how I survived!

Picture of Lloyd Williams

Lloyd Williams

Service User Member

My career began in engineering but time off sick due to a knee injury enabled me to review what I wanted to do and I then spent 7 happy years working for the Brandon Trust, a charity supporting people with learning disabilities to function in the community.

I moved to AWP and spent the last 10 years as an HCA in a medium secure environment. I really enjoyed supporting people to get better and slowly return to needing less intensive support.

Last August on my way into work I was knocked off my motor bike sustaining a spinal cord injury and am now paralysed from the chest down. I’ve spent the last year adjusting and working out the best ways in which to manage for the future – something that is still ongoing.

Why did you want to become a Member of Sirona?

As someone who has experienced care from Sirona (in-patient rehab, D2A and community nursing) I’ve been impressed by the quality of care I’ve received.

As someone who has worked “on the coalface” of health and someone who will continue to be a user of services for many years to come I’m keen to be able to influence.

I also have a background in health and safety and can see issues from many angles and look to find solutions.

What do you hope to achieve as a Member?

Supporting service improvements, from both the staff and service user perspective.

What do you think the future holds for Sirona?

Challenges in recruiting and retaining staff. Changes to the way in which community services are delivered. The ongoing challenge of trying to do more and yet maintain quality.

What message do you have for staff?

I see how hard you work. I know community services don’t often hit the limelight like emergency services do but please be very aware that your patients value you more than you will ever know.

Staff Members

Neil Gokani

Specialist Community Children’s Physiotherapist

Please tell us a little bit about yourself

I am a Specialist Community Children’s Physiotherapist and have worked in the NHS for 19 years. I live in Bristol and serve the local community in the heart of Bristol.

Why did you want to become a member of Sirona?

I believe that Members are vital to steering and shaping Sirona and I strive to have some influence on how Sirona develops and grows within our community.

What do you hope to achieve as a Member?

I endeavour to contribute positively to decision making and ensuring a balanced decision is reached for the organisation and ensuring Sirona can deliver on its social value commitments to our local communities.

What do you think the future holds for Sirona?

I am very positive about the future of Sirona and I envisage that Sirona continues to work in partnership with our local community to continue to build on the strengths of our services and transform the way we deliver services to meet the needs of our community.

What message do you have for staff?

I want to serve our staff and I strive to act as an ambassador for Sirona as well as championing Sirona’s services I also want to highlight the importance of staff wellbeing.

Please can you tell us something about yourself that not many people might know?

I’m an avid travel photographer in my spare time and have won awards as well as having had my work displayed in a national museum.

Andrew Hunt

Andrew Hunt

Head of IT

Please tell us a little bit about yourself

Happily married with 3 children (two adults now doing their own thing and one starting 6th form in September). Currently IT Lead for Sirona, having started my NHS career a long time ago in 1996.

Why did you want to become a member of Sirona?

I’ve always been interested in how a large healthcare organisation operates and thought that I could use the experience I have had from being a trustee to Sirona especially around governance and strategy.

What do you hope to achieve as a Member?

As a previous member for the last two years I want to help bring our new members on board and ensure that the membership represents the new Sirona bringing all organisations together.

What do you think the future holds for Sirona?

Sirona has a very good future ahead of it – having a long contract awarded means we have the time to put some very real changes in place that will impact the delivery of healthcare across BNSSG for both our staff and the communities that we support.

What message do you have for staff?

Sirona is a great organisation to join – I’ve never wanted to work anywhere else. We’ve been through the lows and the highs over the last few years, but I think we’ve never lost the Taking it Personally mentality which is a genuine part of Sirona and not just another tagline. As a staff member, we represent all of you in the organisation, something which I and I’, sure my fellow members take very seriously.

Please can you tell us something about yourself that not many people might know?

I spent 16 years as a volunteer police officer (Special Constable) in Avon and Somerset then Wiltshire Police – held rank of sergeant when I left three years ago and after that became a trustee for Wiltshire School of Gymnastics where I am now the charities chair.

Sean Hegarty

SPA Case Manager

Please tell us a little bit about yourself

I am a paramedic by background and have lived in the Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset areas all of my life. I am married and have two children who like to keep me on my toes. I am also a student with the open university with an interest in healthcare leadership and management. Within Sirona I can be found in the Bristol Single Point of Access (SPA) where I am a case manager.

Why did you want to become a member of Sirona?

I am passionate about the delivery of high quality, patient centred healthcare to patients. With a comprehensive background across the NHS, private, and voluntary sectors, I felt that I have a lot of knowledge and experience to offer to the role.

What do you hope to achieve as a Member?

My main hope is that I will be able to be a voice at the top level of the organisation, one that can be used to help guide future strategy and ensure governance is maintained across all areas of the business.

What do you think the future holds for Sirona?

I believe that as the new enlarged organisation becomes more aligned and services able to cross traditional boundaries that Sirona has the opportunity to lead by example and to reach an outstanding rating with the CQC.

What message do you have for staff?

I believe that it is the staff that can make or break any organisation, and at Sirona it is no different. We need to support the entire workforce so that coming to work is a pleasure rather than a chore, with their hard work duly recognised and rewarded.

Please can you tell us something about yourself that not many people might know?

When I left school I studied with what was then Brunel College (now City of Bristol College) where I qualified as a Nursery Nurse.

Picture of Carole Pugh

Carole Pugh

I originally come from Shropshire, and have lived in Bristol for over 18 years. I initially trained as an Enrolled Nurse, and later converted to first level registration. I have worked in a variety of healthcare settings - orthopaedics, nursing & residential homes, care of the older person, acute stroke and rehabilitation, districting nursing and at present I work in SPA as a Triage Clinician. I am married, with one daughter, who is currently studying for her ‘A’ levels, and finally there is Radar, who is a two year old German Shepherd crossed with Akita/Husky.

Why did you want to become a Member of Sirona?

I want to make a difference to patients, families and staff. Currently Sirona is going through many changes, and I hope that my experiences can bring something to the table.

What do you hope to achieve as a Member?

I hope to make a difference, and have an impact with the future of Sirona.

What do you think the future holds for Sirona?

Sirona is going through transformation at present, and I hope that this will provide the best care for patients, and support for all staff.

What message do you have for staff?

Communication is key. We are all cogs in a wheel, but if you take one cog out this wheel becomes a little bumpy. So the emphasis is on us working together as a team.

Lauren Deadman

Lauren Deadman

Clinical Systems Facilitator

Please tell us a little bit about yourself

Originally from Essex, I moved to the South West nine years ago with my partner Joe. Following a decision to change career from working in the retail sector, I joined the Systems Team working on the Post Deployment of SystmOne. For the last six years I have worked as part of a team to successfully deploy EMIS Web to thirty two services, supporting the business analysis and configuration of EMIS as a Clinical Systems Facilitator. I am also Sirona’s representative on the national EMIS Enhancement Requests Board.

Why did you want to become a member of Sirona?

In my time with Sirona, I have been given lots of fantastic opportunities to learn so much about health care. I wanted to become a member so I could challenge myself to learn more to further support and promote Sirona.

What do you hope to achieve as a Member?

I want to be part of a group, working together that helps to support and guide Sirona’s very exciting future. I want to bring my personality and enthusiasm to the role by sharing my skills, which I have gained from working in IT.

What do you think the future holds for Sirona?

The future of Sirona is one I am very proud to be a part of. The coming together of our three areas is a very exciting time. I see lots more collaborative working through our wealth of knowledge, IT systems and great passion for the care & health of the community we serve! We can only grow stronger together as we navigate the ‘new normal’!

What message do you have for staff?

Sirona has come together in an amazing way in the recent months, which shows how we remain committed to providing the community with the highest quality health and care services. I am very grateful and excited about this new opportunity. I am looking forward to working closely with the other Members of Sirona, and learning more about how I can play a part in continuing to support the organisation.

Please can you tell us something about yourself that not many people might know?

I am a qualified hairdresser. I trained when I was 17, and although I loved the creativity of the role I decided to take a different path. I do the odd haircut from time to time which has come in handy lately.

Rosalind Green

Senior Urgent Care Practitioner

Please tell us a little bit about yourself

I currently work as a Snr Urgent Care Practitioner at the Urgent Treatment Centre; previously worked as a paramedic and clinical team leader for South East Coast Ambulance in Kent, before moving back to Bristol in 2015. I have 17yrs clinical experience. I live with my partner and my 3yr old son in Bristol.

Why did you want to become a member of Sirona?

I am very keen to become involved in the future development of Sirona and excited by the individual development opportunities this gives me. I feel privileged to be able to represent the staff group.

What do you hope to achieve as a Member?

To be part of the team that continues to help drive Sirona as a successful organisation.

What do you think the future holds for Sirona?

To continue to develop as a successful brand offering clinical care for pts across BNSSG in many different specialities.

What message do you have for staff?

We have all done an amazing job during the covid-19 pandemic, but we always do an amazing job, so why would this have been any different?

Please can you tell us something about yourself that not many people might know?

I have a huge shoe collection, that is still growing, albeit more slowly since my son came along and unfortunately nowadays I am mainly a trainers girl. However I have never, and will never, own a pair of Crocs. Sorry if that offends anyone!

Strategic Members

Picture of Hayley Verrico

Hayley Verrico

I am a qualified social work practitioner and have a Post Graduate Degree in Management Studies. I have worked in adult social care for 30 years in a variety of roles spanning health and social care and therefore have a wide knowledge base. I have also contributed to the growth in caring for people in the community and have a passion and skill in identifying change that will make a difference to the residents that both health and community care serve.

I am currently the Director of Adult Social Care and a member of the Corporate Leadership Team at North Somerset Council and as part of the team lead on developing and designing the organisation’s corporate aims and priorities. I am also responsible for reporting to Elected Members, the Care Quality Commission and to the Department for Health & Social Care.

I am married and have 2 lovely grandchildren who I adore spending time with.

Why did you want to become a Member of Sirona?

Sirona Care & Health are the community health provider in North Somerset and in my role as the Director for Adult Social Services, I work closely with the Sirona senior management team to manage the demand for care and health services, design news ways of working, share intelligence and build integrated models of health and social care. By being a member, I would like to be assured that the ambitions for Sirona meet the future needs of our population.

What do you hope to achieve as a Member?

I hope to bring a critical and reflective view of performance and how this translates into improved outcomes for people. I will also offer a professional view on Sirona’s business plans and ensure that they are realistic, achievable and measurable and deliver good quality outcomes for residents. Given that I am responsible for setting the strategic direction for adult social care, I hope to bring ideas and concepts to the board that will better join up the health and social care strategies and agendas

What do you think the future holds for Sirona?

Sirona have very ethical values and are passionate about delivering good quality care to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. I see Sirona growing their service and engaging well with the Integrated Care Partnerships which are the key delivery platforms for meeting and improving population health.

What message do you have for staff?

I am delighted to be joining Sirona’s members group and will dedicate the time and energy needed to ensure that I can fully contribute to the future development of Sirona.

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Jo Watson

After moving to the West of England in 2005 I’ve spent the last 16 years focused on improving the skills system to meet the needs of employers and learners in the West of England in further and higher education. I joined the Ofsted Outstanding Weston College in 2014 and I am the Deputy Principal – Business Growth, Apprenticeships and Higher Education. I have led teams and partners to secure large skills contracts and grants attracting significant investment to the College and wider region.

I’ve played an active role in working with a wide range of national and regional employers, including across the health sector, to create highly innovative and engaging skills programmes and partnerships to meet business needs and prepare learners for successful careers, culminating most recently in the creation of the West of England Institute of Technology. This is an innovative collaboration led by Weston College bringing colleges, universities and employers together to support the development of industry-specific technical education across the region, designed to engage more people from diverse backgrounds into technical careers, including the health sector.

Why did you want to become a Member of Sirona?

The ethos and values of Sirona resonate with my own and I am keen to try to support Sirona in achieving its objectives for the benefits of our local communities in the region.

What do you hope to achieve as a Member?

To bring my experience of leadership in a skills and education background to support Sirona in attracting, developing and retaining a highly professional and skilled workforce to deliver Sirona’s strategic plans now and into the future.

What do you think the future holds for Sirona?

Challenges and opportunities in equal measure, but Sirona is well placed to respond to the challenges and maximise the opportunities.

What message do you have for staff?

Be proud of all that has been achieved and be part of shaping the future.

Illustration of head and shoulders to indicate vacant post

Robert Griffin

Independent Members

No picture available

Steve Strong

I have recently retired after a career in NHS and Social Care jobs, mostly within Learning Disabilities. I have lived in Bristol for over 30 years and am actively involved with a number local voluntary organisations.

Why did you want to become a Member of Sirona?

I have a strong interest in personalisation and health inequalities. Sirona are committed to doing a great job on these issues and I want to support these efforts.

What do you hope to achieve as a Member?

Evidence of clear and measurable progress on key priorities, such as reducing health inequalities.

What do you think the future holds for Sirona?

Challenging times, with a changing local infrastructure and funding pressures.

What message do you have for staff?

That your work can have a major effect on peoples quality of life.

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Rosie Fortune

I am a project worker working in the Bristol Care Leavers team at Barnardos. Alongside this role I am a policy and research assistant looking into the experiences of care experienced by parents. I am looking forward to returning to Bristol University in a couple of weeks to go into my 3rd year studying Social Policy. I have 2 children aged 3 and 6 and they keep me very busy!

Why did you want to become a Member of Sirona?

I wanted to become a member of Sirona because I am interested in the organisation as a partner of Barnardos and work with young people who have lived experience of using the services.

What do you hope to achieve as a Member?

I hope to achieve having the voice of service users within the board and bringing a different perspective to the group. I would like to expand my knowledge about the various services and learn more about the ‘behind the scenes’ of the organisation!

What do you think the future holds for Sirona?

I am excited to see how Sirona will grow after the recent contract change.

What message do you have for staff?

Thank you for all of the hard work throughout the pandemic and that you continue to do!