Our Staff

The Directors of Innovations have over 100 years experience in the field of learning disabilities.

Mrs Joan Thompson - Director of Human Resources
Mr Stuart Howe - Director of Finance
Mr Paul Thompson - Director of Estates
Mrs Jennifer Howe - Director of Activities
Mrs Victoria Aitken - Director of Quality Assurance
Mr John Thompson- Consultancy work

All have a considerable amount of expertise within health and social care settings and specialise in working with people with learning disabilities. Our training and qualifications include:

Community Nursing, social work, challenging behaviour, forensic work, management training, counselling, supervision, person centred planning & drug and alcohol.

The Managers at Innovations all oversee the daily running of the bases and are all experienced staff who have management qualifications to at least NVQ level 4.

All staff receive a comprehensive induction and ongoing training appropriate to the post they occupy.

All staff are qualified to at least NVQ level 2 and must be able to demonstrate knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the post they occupy. We aim for 75% of staff to also be qualified to NVQ 3 in social care and health.

Innovations operate a staff support system to ensure they have the opportunity to receive their manager’s advice, support and encouragement in the role they occupy.

All staff have to provide a satisfactory enhanced CRB check as part of the recruitment process.

Staff are encouraged to develop their potential and draw on their own strengths, skills and interests.

Our Managers

Bernadette Scurfield
Unit Manager - South Hetton

Cath Tweedy
Unit Manager - Spennymoor

Denise Magee
Unit Manager - Kepier Hall

Gillian Stoker
Joint Manager - Ferryhill Outreach

Janice Smythe
Unit Manager- Bishop Auckland

Joanne Fahey
Joint Manager of Ferryhill Outreach

Lynn Cunningham
Unit Manager - Shildon

Trisha Leonard
Office Manager