Sheena Cumiskey, Chief Executive
“I am passionate about working with, and supporting, people to be the best they can be. I am proud of our organisation and the staff that work so hard to provide safe, effective and person-centered care.”
Sheena was born and raised in Chester before moving to study Human Geography at the University of Liverpool. From an early age, and influenced by her father, she knew that connecting with people and helping bring out the best in them would be her future professional path. Being a General Management Training Scheme graduate and learning from others, has led her to a career spanning over 30 years in the NHS, with 20 years at Chief Executive level.
A former Chief Executive of both commissioning and provider organisations, Sheena has worked at strategic and operational levels within the NHS. Currently, she is Chair of the North West Leadership Academy Board and a member of the NHS Employers Policy Board. Sheena was named CEO of the Year at the 2015 Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards and currently holds a position within the HSJ’s Top 50 CEOs.
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Avril Devaney, Director of Nursing, Therapies and Patient Partnership
“I am very aware of the discrimination people face because they are regarded negatively for being different; in doing that we miss out on so much richness from people’s uniqueness. Our role is to help support and to promote inclusiveness and person-centredness. It is about connecting with people and helping them live full lives, in the way that matters to them.”
Avril was born and raised in Lancashire and became a registered mental health nurse in 1983. Inspired by a family member who has learning disabilities, Avril has always wanted to help people live full lives. She worked in Lancashire in a range of clinical settings prior to joining Cheshire and Wirral Partnership in 2001 and became a Director in 2003.
Avril has a keen interest in nurse leadership and organisational change, a subject she specialised in as part of her MSc in Health and Social Care. She has a strong sense of social justice and is committed to reducing health and social inequalities. She received the Queen’s Nursing Institute Award for Innovation in 1999, after establishing a mental health nursing service in local police custody suites. Avril has been a lead for the Trust’s Challenging Stigma campaign since 2004, and the lead for CWP’s link with Kisiizi Hospital in Uganda since 2010. Avril received an MBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours List in 2010 for services to mental health nursing.
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Dr Anushta Sivananthan, Medical Director, Compliance, Quality and Assurance
“I’ve worked with some really inspiring people who have taught me all the things I know, to allow me to do my job to the best of my abilities. I have the best job in the world. I have the pleasure of being able to do clinical work but also to help as a medical director to improve quality and standards of care.”
Originally from Doncaster, Anushta completed her medical training in Liverpool before qualifying as a psychiatrist in 1996. She gained a Diploma in Geriatric Medicine in 1997 and has over 15 years experience as a consultant, with a speciality in old age psychiatry. Anushta took the position of medical director in 2010, having previously held posts as both the Trustwide clinical director for Adult Services and clinical director for Older People’s Services. She has also held the Programme Director role for Old Age Psychiatrists at Mersey Deanery.
Today she balances her role as a medical director with her clinical duties at CWP’s Bowmere Hospital, Chester. In 2013 Nush was presented with a North West Leadership Award for Quality and Innovation and currently leads the Zero Harm agenda within the Trust. She is also the Trust’s executive lead on work in Western Cheshire to explore options for accountable care systems, aiming to influence the development of an environment of continuous improvement
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Andy Styring, Director of Operations
“All achievements by CWP are due to competent, committed teams and have been feasible due to the partnerships adopted within and across services and agencies. I am proud to work within CWP and feel passionate about enabling others to be the best they can be.”
Raised in Lancashire, Andy went to Blackpool Grammer School, before attending the University of Lancaster in 1974. He started his career as a charge nurse in 1979. Over the last 35 years, Andy has taken on a number of roles within the NHS; as a nurse, teacher and senior manager in services for children and adults with learning disabilities. He has held several senior clinical posts, taking the role as Director of Operations, at CWP, in 2009.
Andy’s life has been dedicated to people with learning disabilities having lived with and alongside those individuals affected. Andy is a former Healthcare Commission Associate and is a former member of the local Safeguarding Children Boards, Learning Disability Partnership Boards, and is a member of the Executive Commissioning Group for mental health and learning disability services across Cheshire and Wirral. Andy recently became Governor of Ancora School and is Chair of the Nevexia Board. He is also on the Board of Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership.
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Tim Welch, Director of Finance
“I am an accountant by training, but what motivates me is how I can help everyone do the best they can in caring for the people who need our services. The vision and values of the organisation are fantastic and I believe in the work around patient-centered care - genuinely wanting to put patients at the heart of what we do to and working collaboratively to get the best answer for them.”
Lancashire born, Tim went to boarding school before attending the University of Liverpool to study bio-chemistry. He eventually took a route into accounting, starting his career as a graduate within financial management in Norwich Health Authority. He eventually found his way back to Lancashire as Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, before joining CWP in 2013.
Tim has worked within the NHS for more than 20 years, with over 12 years experience as a Director. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, Tim also deputises for Sheena working collaboratively with partner organisations to get the best answers for the patients CWP cares for. Tim is also the Chair for CWP’s Business Development and Innovation Sub Committee, Nevexia Board and Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership Board. He also holds a director position on the Villicare Board.
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Dr Faouzi Alam, Medical Director, Effectiveness, Medical Education and Medical Workforce / Caldicott Guardian
“I come from a big family and was brought up during the war; you therefore appreciate everything so much more and work hard. I feel inspired by my family to do the best I can and to help people both clinically and strategically. When you see a patient it is rewarding to see the outcome of what you are doing there and then, but strategically you are helping a bigger number of people.”
Born in Lebanon, Faouzi moved to Latvia and graduated as a medical doctor in 1996. He moved to Russia and lived there for five years to complete his post-graduate course in renal medicine. He moved to the UK in 2001. Faouzi was inspired by his research into psychosis in patients receiving haemodialysis and decided to change direction. He trained to become a psychiatrist, before taking a job within CWP. He is now the consultant in the early intervention team in psychosis.
With over 20 years’ experience as a doctor, Faouzi was appointed as joint medical director in October 2013. He is the Responsible Officer and the Trust’s Caldicott Guardian.
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David Harris, Director of People & Organisational Development
“I feel so attached to CWP and the incredibly important work we do. It is the best place I have ever worked. No, we are not perfect and there is much we can do better. I see my role as helping to create a workplace where everyone feels supported, valued and able to give their best every day.”
David’s early years were spent in Lancaster before he embarked on a degree in Classics at Peterhouse College, Cambridge. His time there took an unexpected turn and he experienced a period of ill-health. He had always wanted to work in the public sector and started his career in the Prison Service. His has since worked in a variety of settings and throughout that time has frequently found himself drawing on his own experience to support individuals dealing with mental health challenges.
A former member of the Civil Service Fast Stream Scheme, David has over 22 years experience working in public sector organisations with a particular focus in the development, implementation and management of organisational change. Previous to his role at CWP, David worked at Aintree University Hospital as Deputy Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development. He is an AQuA Fellow in Improvement Science, has an advanced diploma in executive coach mentoring and is a Chartered Fellow of the Charted Institute of Personnel and Development.
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