Meet the Short Breaks project team

Hi, I’m Mark Mirfin and I’m the Short Breaks Project Lead and Chair of the Short Breaks Project Board.

I’m passionate about improving outcomes for children, young people and their families. I’m excited to lead this project and Chair the Project Board, so that collectively, with children, young people, parents, carers and partners, the experience of short breaks in Devon can be the very best.

Hi, I’m Julia Foster and I’m a Senior SEND Manager at Devon County Council

I am the SEND Senior Manager, responsible for the children and young people in Devon who have Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) or are being assessed for EHCPs. This includes securing school places and the specialist support they need in those schools. Sometimes this can be a difficult part of the job as the number of specialist places and support can be limited.

The Short Breaks project affects a lot of children and young people who have EHCPs and how they are supported when not in school. I want us to work better together to make sure support looks at the young person across all their needs together both in and out of school.

Hi, I’m Jennie Waldron and I’m the Area Manager for the Disabled Children’s Service at Devon County Council.

I qualified as a Social Worker in 1987 and have worked in Devon Children’s Services ever since! I’ve worked in a number of different roles with adults, children, and children with disabilities over the years and joined the Disabled Children Service in my current role in 2017.

I have a real passion for working with disabled children and families and am dedicated to developing and supporting our qualified social work and social care staff within the service to develop the best services and support for families.

I’m very pleased to be leading the ‘Operations and Practise’ work for the Short Breaks project.

Hi, I’m Eleri Taylor and I’m the SEND Designated Social Care Officer and Service Lead for the support and advice part of the Disabled Children’s Service at Devon County Council.

My role is to be the link between social care and the 0-25 team, and to advocate for all children with SEND within Children’s Services. I’m a qualified Social Worker, and prior to starting this post in March 2020, I had worked for Disabled Children’s Service in Devon for five years.

Hi, I’m Amy Bickford and I’m a Senior Officer in the Participation Team at Devon County Council.

The Participation Team is responsible for making sure that children and young people get their voices heard on the things that matter to them.

I am pleased to be working on the Short Breaks project as I think it’s really important that the people receiving the short breaks get an equal opportunity to have a say about what is offered.

Hi, I’m Julia Bonnell and I’m one of the Co-Chairs of the Parent Carer Forum Devon (PCFD).

I’ve lived in Devon since 2011 and love this beautiful part of the world. I’m mum to four lovely kids, and two of them have SEND.

I believe that involving parents in decision making is key to successfully improving things for our children and young people. 

Hi, I’m Victoria Mitchell and I’m the other Co-Chair of the PCFD.

I moved to Devon in 2014 and have two boys with SEND.

I want to help improve services for all families and am passionate about the difference receiving quality support at the right time makes.

Hi, I’m Kate Stephens and I’m the Head of Service for Public Health Nursing Service and Lead for Early Help at Devon County Council.

I work on the Early Help work within the Short Breaks project to ensure that children, young people and their families can access Early Help and support when needed.

Hi, I’m Beth O’Sullivan and I’m the Stakeholder Relations Manager in the Communications Team at Devon County Council.

I’ve worked in communications for more than ten years, supporting a wide range of projects and organisations to tell their stories. I’m really pleased to be involved in the Short Breaks project to make sure we’re getting the right messages out to families and partners, in the most effective way.

Hi, I’m Karen Powlesland and I’m the Head Accountant for the Children’s Social Care and Public Health Nursing Services at Devon County Council. 

I’ve led the team of finance professionals who provide advice and support to the Children’s Social Care and Public Health Nursing Services across Devon since 2016. Previously, I was Head Accountant for Education and worked closely with school leaders and the SEND team.

Hi, I’m Charles Dixon and I’m a Human Resources Adviser at Devon County Council.

I’ve worked for Devon County Council for 20 years and currently work within the HR Operations Casework Team.

Hi, I’m Glen Lobb and I manage four internal Children’s Homes, the Contact Service and the ROVIC Service at Devon County Council.

I came in to working in Health and Social Care after having a son with complex needs, so I have experienced how important and what a difference the right services can make to a family.

I enjoy this role as it’s rewarding to see the children grow and develop. They always have a way of making me smile and laugh, even on the tough days. I’ve been privileged to work across the public, private and voluntary sectors, all of which bring different lenses to look through.

I’m also currently undertaking a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Exeter University and am enjoying the personal development which comes with it.