The Mental Health Network is led by chief executive Stephen Dalton who is supported by:
Rebecca Cotton - acting deputy director
Dawn Fleming - contract manager
Claire Mallett - policy manager
Alexander Rushton - senior communications officer
Georgie Agass - senior media relations officer
Stephen Dalton - chief executive
Stephen joined the Mental Health Network as chief executive in January 2013.
A nurse by background, Stephen has been an NHS provider chief executive for 17 years in Merseyside, Cheshire and latterly Cumbria, where for 5 years he was CEO of Cumbria Partnership Foundation Trust, consistently one of the highest performing foundation trusts in the country.
Stephen can be contacted via his PA vicky.dmochowski@nhsconfed.org.
Rebecca Cotton - acting deputy director
Rebecca joined the Mental Health Network in 2009. She has authored a wide range of publications, both for the NHS Confederation and in conjunction with organisations such as the Royal College of Psychiatrists and London School of Economics and Political Science. In 2011, Rebecca co-authored a review, commissioned by the Department of Health, into improving the measurement of outcomes in mental health services.
Her work currently focuses on the implications of NHS reform for mental health services, and on working with the Department of Health to develop an implementation framework in support of the government’s mental health strategy, No Health Without Mental Health. Prior to her current role Rebecca worked in public affairs and communications. She has an Undergraduate Degree in Politics from the University of Bristol and a Research Masters in Government, Policy and Politics from Birkbeck College, University of London.
Contact: rebecca.cotton@nhsconfed.org / 020 7799 8681
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Dawn Fleming - contracts manager
Dawn joined the MHN in 2010 and focuses on overseeing the contract delivery of a large work programme we have been commissioned to deliver by key partners including Department of Health and SHA Mental Health Leads. This role incorporates managing the tendering process and commissioning subcontractors to deliver specific work strands, performance reporting progress to both the commissioners and internally within the Confederation governance structures.
Dawn also manages the MHN budget and the contract budgets as well as linking with the NHS Confederation corporate office to ensure we adhere to the necessary governance and financial service requirements.
In addition Dawn spends half her week Project Managing the Implementing Recovery through Organisational Change (ImROC) project which is co-delivered with the Centre for Mental Health.
As a qualified Prince2 Practitioner Dawn came to the team with experience of working on a number of mental health service improvement and policy implementation projects, especially in the London region when she worked for the London Development Centre (previously NIMHE). Dawn previously worked at national level on the Review of the Care Programme Approach and National Mental Health Risk Management Programme (DH 2006-2008) and supporting the NIMHE Experts by Experience Programme.
She has also worked for the London Offender Health Programme (Department of Health) as their Business Manager and graduated from Sussex University with a BA Hons in Psychology.
Contact: dawn.fleming@nhsconfed.org / 0791 251 6450
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Alexander Rushton - senior communications officer
Alexander joined the MHN in August 2011 and leads on communications for the Network managing the content of our website, social media and newsletter. Alexander works on the Implementing Recovery through Organisational Change project (ImROC) managing project communications and the Learning Set Network conferences. Alexander also provides communications support to the National Liaison and Diversion Development Network and a range of other MHN activities.
Prior to his role with the Mental Health Network, Alexander worked on change management projects at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and in an outsourced capacity with the Local Government Group. Alexander studied at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and holds a BA (Hons) in Human Geography.
Contact: alexander.rushton@nhsconfed.org / 020 7799 8602
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Georgie Agass - senior media relations officer
Georgie is the first point of contact for media queries relating to the Mental Health Network and provides advice and support to the MHN team on handling media relations. She is also responsible for identifying proactive opportunities to promote the Network in national and trade press.
Georgie is a journalist by background, but has worked in the health service since 2001, with a three-year stint in the Department of Health’s Media Centre, and four years as Assistant Director for Communications and Engagement at NHS Wiltshire. A long-term user of mental health services herself, she is strong advocate of challenging the taboos and stigmas which often surround mental health issues.
Contact: georgie.agass@nhsconfed.org / 020 7799 8637 / 07767 770309
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