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Senior staff

Geoff Coleman - Chief Executive

I joined Options for Life at the beginning of January 2009 as Chief Executive and bring with me twenty years experience as an NHS Manager where I have been responsible for a range of front line clinical and support services. Prior to my time in the NHS I spent ten years working for the Ministry of Defence on various projects. My priority as Chief Executive is to further develop and expand the capacity and capabilities of the organisation in order to continue to meet the needs of the communities that we serve.

 

Terry Hutchinson - Accountant

I qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1970. I have worked as an auditor, mainly in the West Midlands, in companies as diverse as solicitors, foundries, bakeries and steel tube and train manufacturers. I have worked in presswork engineering, printing and rail engineering, in various roles including accountant, director and company secretary. I have also managed a late "gap year", working with my wife who managed a retirement complex in Stroud, before joining Options for Life in May 2005. My main work comprises control of the finances of the charity. This includes preparation of budgets and maintaining the accounting records, and from these preparing management and statutory accounts, together with ad-hoc project costing and monitoring.

 

Andy Davies - Day Options Manager

I joined Options for Life in January 2012.  I have been fortunate to enjoy 20 years working with disabled people across children’s, youth and adult services.  My career has included roles as diverse as volunteering through to more than ten years senior management experience within not for profit organisations.  I have worked with people with learning disabilities in Further Education, Youth, Play, Family Support, Early Years, Arts and Leisure services.

My main duties at Options for Life are to ensure we provide excellent Day Services in order for our participants to maximise their potential as productive members of our shared community. 

 

Heather Baseley - Support Options Manager

I have worked at Options for Life since July 2006. I have extensive experience of working with people with a learning disability, having worked in the care sector since 1984. Prior to joining Options for Life, I have held management roles since 1989, which included being a Registered Manager. This job role involved managing a registered care home in Birmingham. I have predominantly worked in the voluntary sector, where I obtained the Diploma in Management of Care Service and NVQ level 4. My main role at Options for life is managing Supporting People and the Parent Support Service.

 

Tracey Blunt - Administration Manager

I have worked at Options for Life since October 2000 in the role of Administration Manager, which involves co-ordinating the administration in order to meet the operational needs of the organisation. My career before I worked for Options for Life was mainly in medical administration, starting as a receptionist at a local accident & emergency department, then a medical secretary, and finally progressing on to the post of Assistant Practice Manager at a large and busy GP surgery. My main duties at Options for Life are: to oversee all administration for services provided for participants by Options for Life, EVS administration, EVS accommodation, administration and monitoring of Performance Indicators, implementing policies and procedures (Health & Safety, general and office policies and procedures), managing personnel issues, assist with recruitment, selection and induction, administration of staff probation and supervision, minibus fleet management, on-call rota and folder, completion of funding reports (including quarterly KPIs and QAF document).

 

Alice Bassett - Fundraising and Project Manager

I have worked at Options for Life since January 2008.  As Fundraising and Project Manager, it is my job to oversee fundraising within the organisation, including the research, application and monitoring of received funds.  I also manage any capital build projects or refurbishment projects within the organisation, and have some input into service development.  I am also involved with marketing within the organisation and the updating of our website.  Prior to joining Options for Life, I worked as the Carer Support and Training Service Co-ordinator for a charity supporting people with acquired brain injury.  I have had a number of years of experience working with people with various disabilities, including time spent as a Learning Support Assistant within a Supported Learning Department at a Further Education College, a cookery tutor for students with learning disabilities, a Support Worker for people with severe sensory impairments and a Community Outreach Worker for people with acquired brain injury.

 

Janet Leigh - PA to the Chief Executive

It is my role to provide support to the Chief Executive. This support comes in many forms, varying from administration to fundraising. Prior to joining Options for Life, I worked for many years in Higher Education in a wide variety of jobs.  The most recent of which was organising a training scheme for PhD students.