In order to ensure that each of our beneficiary groups are provided with equal opportunities in all our enterprises; our key personnel  advocate for their allocated disadvantaged groups.
Vicky Wadsworth represents the  “Learning Disability and Multiple Sclerosis” Group.

Jan Cook  represents the  “Autism, Blind and other Physical Disabilities” Group.

Rachel Eastham represents the “Mental Illness and Downs Syndrome” Group.

For the purposes of receiving access to the W & C lodge this allows  referrals and bookings to be made and received proportionately.

 

Vicky wadsworth - Managing Director

Vicky is a fully qualified solicitor and one of the directors of W & C Associates. She also has many years experience of the Mental Health Services as she assists and advocates for people who are subject to compulsory detention. She is a member of the Law Society’s Mental Health Review Tribunal and often represents clients at Mental Health Review Tribunals.

Vicky also represents clients who lack capacity in the eye of the law and who often have no relative who would normally assist on any complicated decision making issues. Vicky will often assist at these times and has worked in partership with but independant from local authorities. This is done as an independent advocate for in circumstances where families and professionals cannot agree.

As well as this Vicky has a teenage son who suffers from Autism. She is aware of the difficulties face by people with a learning disability when others often shape their future. Vicky set up W & C associates to assist in the promotion of Person centred planning along with the “Valuing People White Paper” which was published in 2001 by the Department of Health.

She strongly feels the need to advocate on behalf of children with disabilities, especially those reaching transition. It is crucial to the development of a happy person in later life. She welcomes the new proposals by the Government and hopes the Local Authorities have the resources to assist in the manner that Government suggests.

Jan Cook - Manager

Jan has many years experience as a manager and is the second director of Wadsworth and Cook. Working in manufacturing for a great deal of her career she then turned her passion to help by working as a carer in the community. Returning to college to study counselling and psychology and working part time at a local hospice. 

Jan most recently managed a specialist centre for children with disabilities, specialising in Autism. Knowing that there was more that she needed to do to get in touch with these children who have been regarded as unreachable and having an insight into their world, Jan trained under the watchful eye of the renowned Phoebe Caldwell in the use of Intensive Interaction. Having many successes with this technique Jan also holds communication workshops for parents and professionals in the use of Intensive Interaction.

Jan also uses her knowledge, understanding and experience to advocate on behalf of children with disabilities or their parents and carers. Using her voice to bring about an understanding of how differently their reality is of this world she wants to help to bring about long lasting change.

Jan with her insight into Autistic children, their hypersensitivities and their environment has also helped professionals improve the situation for these families.

Jan is also trained as a screener for The Irlen Lens Institute. Further information about the institue may be found on http://irlen.com/

 

Joanne Forrest - Administrator

Joanne worked for the well known high street retailer and dispenser Boots the chemist. During her 13 years service she worked in all areas of the store including the cash office and the pharmacy where she reached the position of supervisor over 20 staff and her responsibilities included organizing weekly rota’s, updating customer records, and communicating with local nursing homes. During her service she achieved a customer service award.

Joanne left Boots to help her mother care for her disabled father who had muscular dystrophy and had just suffered a stroke, she then returned to work part-time for a local business.

Three years ago Joanne lost her mother to cancer. Since then she has made it a priority to make sure her father, now in a wheelchair, receives the best care and attention and was instrumental in getting him transferred to a local nursing home. Joanne advocates on behalf of her father with the nursing home on many issues including day to day care and with having power of attorney she continues to work on any other issues away from the nursing home.

Joanne has a 9 year old son called Liam who suffers from Autism giving her an awareness of representing and speaking for someone with special needs. With making sure that Liam receives the best support possible, Joanne communicates with many professionals on a day to day basis either by phone or letter and her commitment has ensured that Liam receives the best schooling as he now attends Peterhouse, a special school for Autism in Southport.
 
Ian Yates -  I.T Consultant 

In 2002 Ian gave up full time work so he could pursue a career in computers by enrolling on a full time computer course at Blackburn College of Further Education. After three years of study he left with a Degree of Technology in Computing with Commendation certified by Lancaster University.

Within the course was a period of work experience which involved working for Lancashire Education Business Partnership in Blackburn. Ian worked in the I.T department and was involved in maintaining the network including software installation and computer problems. During his time there Ian designed and created a login database for staff to record time spent on certain school projects.

Since leaving college Ian has worked from home and was commissioned by Lancashire Education Business Partnership to create a schools database where information from separate departments could be collated to enable reports to be produced for local authority and sponsors.

Ian’s partner has a nine year old boy with Autism and Ian has helped look after Liam since he was four years old. Ian has tried to gain a deeper understanding of Autism to enable his relationship with Liam to grow and to understand his needs.

Our Advocates

We currently provide advocacy to a number of Independent Private Hospitals. We offer the provision of advocacy services to their clients - some if not all are subject to compulsory detention under the Mental Health Act 1983. These advocates are professional advocates and as such are paid. We do however have a number of unpaid advocates as well as “advocates in training”. These advocates include previous service users as well as volunteers.

All our advocates will be encouraged and supported to achieve the “National Qualification for Advocacy” once this is made available.