References

"I have been working with Steve for about a year (07/08) on building strategic scenarios for NHS North West. This has essentially involved building a new methodology, dealing with complex and often conflicting opinion and facilitating some very large daunting pieces of group work. Most of the time the deadlines have been ridiculously tight! Completion of this work would not have been possible without Steve’s intellectual input and his enormous skill in dealing sensitively and productively with groups and individuals to draw out the best in them. A lot of people say they like dealing with complexity but shy away from the raw issues– here is a person who possesses rare skills in embracing and making sense of the difficult world we work in". Dr Joe Rafferty, Director of Commissioning and Strategy, NHS Northwest

"It’s been really refreshing to work with Steve. Even though we are dealing with a potentially overwhelming context (as 3 PCTs come together), and a complex area of work (commissioning), Steve was able to make the connections for people and find the practical focus that is helping the organisations to make tangible progress. I have no doubt that the quality of conversations and so our resulting plans would not have been achieved without Steve’s incredible ability to enable others to see the links for themselves. I so enjoyed learning alongside him!" Sue Jones, Deputy Chief Executive, South Manchester PCT

"Steve is highly skilled at quickly gaining an understanding of the issues facing an organisation, simplifying complexity, gaining and maintaining focus on core objectives and skilfully devising strategies and interventions that are easy for people to engage with. Steve brings great integrity to the process and has particular strengths in relating to, communicating with and steering a very wide range of people with differing skills and backgrounds from eminent professionals to lay people. He also is undaunted by enormous challenges – here’s looking forward to the next one!" Taroub Zahran, Chief Executive, Glasgow Housing Association

"What strikes me most is the sensitivity Steve has to the organization’s culture, his ability to identify the key issues and his ability to get the members of the group to find the way forward rather than tell them. There are very significant parts of this Trust’s work which are founded on discussions which Steve has facilitated. His contribution has enabled us to reach negotiated conclusions to “wicked issues” behind which there continues to be a consensus of support".Alan Yates, Chief Executive, Mersey Care NHS Trust

"Thanks for your help in facilitating our strategy event. As ever, a stimulating and thought provoking structure to the day. Your facilitation not only meant we flagged and addressed the key challenges but, most importantly, meant that we got to the end with consensus on a way forward. I hope we can do business again soon!" Simon Gilby, Chief Executive, Sheffield West PCT

"Many thanks Steve for helping me think through new ideas for content and presentation of the business plan for Adult Services. You were able to bring together the new agendas in health and social care and present them in a way that both Commisioners and staff will be able to understand. You were also able to ensure that the objectives for the service were indeed SMART. I look forward to working with you again in the future". Cathy Williams, Development Manager for Adult Services, City and Hackney Teaching PCT

“As always, you bring a thoughtful and considered approach to our work together, demonstrating a real grasp of complex issues. Within the STLaR project you have worked, at a number of levels, with some of the most senior clinical and medical academics in the UK, responding and adapting to their needs and views as the project has progressed". Liz Brown, OD Lead, Trent SHA & STLaR national project team member.

References also can be obtained from:

Mike Pyrah, Chief Executive, Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT

Dr Neil Goodwin, Visiting Professor Of Leadership Studies, Manchester Business School

Dr Joan Durose, Senior Fellow, Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham

John Harries, Director, BT Global Health Practice, BT Global Services