THE new head of Ealing Mencap has expressed concern about supporting people who may fall below the criteria for getting help.
Mum-of-three Lesley Dodd, who has just taken over from Julian Hillman as chief executive, said: "With the inevitable cut in money that is available within the social care field we will need to campaign for people who fall between the provision available; those that fall between two stools, who still need support, but don't meet the criteria for it. That is a huge concern and we will need to look at how best we can help them."
While she spoke about it "becoming harder and harder to bid for money," she felt positive about her main aim: to support people with learning disabilities in the community.
Lesley, 52, who's first experience in the mental health field was at a long-stay hospital in Caterham, Surrey in the 70s, said: "I am glad to say things have moved on from those days, but my experience of working in such an environment has shaped my thinking and my future career. Since those early days I've continued to advocate and actively support people with learning disabilities to live ordinary lives in their own community and not be seen as difficult."
Having first qualified as a dental nurse, Lesley has had a wealth of experience in the caring and mental health profession, including the Mencap Homes Foundation, helping to set up a care home in South Norwood, running in-house services, care homes and a respite unit for Bromley council and running supported living and a Joint Asperger's Syndrome Service for Kingston Council. She has also been responsible for budgeting and commissioning services.
She said: "All of this has helped me gain so many skills and because I also worked with people with health and learning disability issues I learned about occupational therapy as well as brain injury."
Lesley admits with Julian Hillman's departure she has "large boots to fill" but she wants to listen to users and carers before making any drastic changes. She said:"Over the next six months Ealing Mencap will look at what we do. We need to plan and set a strategy, but also be flexibile and work with users and carers to find the best way forward. There are lots of things that we are doing that is great, but I don't know if we can carry on with the way it is until we know more about our funding and social care grants."
She is delighted with the newly opened Enterprise Lodge, which offers a wide range of activities for people with learning disabilities, but stressed that another £85,000 was needed to fulfil its three wishes: a sports and healthy lives co-ordinator, a volunteer co-ordinator and specialist equipment for its garden.
She said: "We want this excellent building to work as a community hub for people with learning disabilities as well as the local community. We will actively continued our fund-raising for these three wishes."
The keen singer and grandmum of one is also is very positive about her work and feels a lot of the stigma of mental health has disappeared over the years. She said: "People don't see disability in the same way as they used to; something to hide away. People are much more accepting."
