Meet the Team

The team provide an accredited Advice and Guidance service and arrange volunteering, work placements, supported employment, work trials and part and full time work for individuals.

Derek Jones - Coordinator

Derek is responsible for the management of the three main contracts and joined WDP in November 2005. He believes in shared responsibility and encourages the team to put their clients at the heart of the teams work and to challenge them to succeed. Derek has been a teacher, trainer and manager for much of his working life and (is a sports broadcaster for the BBC in his spare time!)

Jane Pendlebury - Senior Employment Advisor

Jane joined the team after gaining experience over a number of years in the private and public sector of learning and support. As a qualified teacher of the deaf and for children with a language impairment, Jane brings a calmness to the team. She is an excellent listener, very well organised and is a key player within the team relating to advice and guidance in learning opportunities. Jane is very musical and the only member of the team allowed to sing in the office without a complaint, as she's always in tune. This empathy continues with her clients where she uses her careers advisory skills at NVQ Level 4 to great effect.

Kevin Jackson - Employment Advisor

Kevin has been a part of the team since November 2005 and has developed into an outstanding advisor with a caring and human touch in the way he supports our clients. Kevin was educated at Grange Park St Helens and is a keen Saints fan. He has used his work experiences in the manufacturing field, including British Gypsum, as an influence in his current role. His hands-on skills and knowledge of the workplace are particularly helpful to our clients as is his knowledge of health and safety matters and the ' Access to Work' scheme. He is a qualified advisor at NVQ Level 4 in Advice and Guidance demonstrating his commitment to providing the best possible service.

Julie Payton - Employment Advisor

Julie has demonstrated her strong will and commitment through starting as a volunteer with WDP then taking on a temporary role as a clerical assistant within the team. She then had the confidence to apply for the very important role as Job Coach and has all the necessary skills to make her successful in supporting our clients and their future employers during pre- and post employment activity. Julie is a qualified BSL signer and is continuing her personal development by undertaking a careers advisory NVQ4. Julie has previous work experience in the industrial and distribution sectors and also spent a year in Australia on a working visa. Fortunately, she decided not to stay ' down under' and can now use lessons learned on her own journey into employment for the benefit of our clients.

John Balshaw - Administrator

John is another member of the team whose journey into full time employment began with a volunteer role in WDP. Another long serving member of the team 'JB', as he's affectionately known, runs an informal help desk for the rest of the team when ICT problems arise. His main skills are clerical where he has achieved merit grades in GNVQ Advanced Business Studies. He has previously worked at North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust and has a real understanding of our client group and their needs. JB loves his football, particularly when Liverpool is winning. He is lead administrator for our Next Step and Pathways projects and is also a key support worker for WDP's fundraising team, how does he find the time for it all?

Fran Humphry - Administrator

Fran is another of the calming influences within the team. She works two days a week and with her excellent organisational skills is a key player in collecting and collating evidence for our Skills 4 Jobs 'Routeways' programme. Always willing to go the extra mile Fran can sometimes be 'too conscientious', although you won't hear her colleagues complaining about that. Fran is a thinker and problem solver with an attention to detail but has a creative streak as well, as demonstrated by her Arts Foundation Classics award gained through the Open University. Her oratory and mentoring skills are demonstrated through her church activities outside of work time and she brings those strong values to the workplace, where they are an important part of our operational jigsaw.

Veronica Hudson - Job Coach

Past employment of ‘V’ s has been Leonard Cheshire Disability as Senior Support Officer, Warrington Borough Council as a Community Support Worker , Department of Work and Pensions as a Civil Servant and NACRO as a Job Club Leader. Outside work some of ‘Vs’ interests is supporting Warrington Wolves, socialising, as well as being a very proactive Parish Councillor for past 5 years which coupled with her sense of humour makes her the ‘lively political ‘ asset to the Employment team. Veronica has taken on the role of Job Coach with WDP and has a wealth of experience in supporting disadvantaged people enabling them to gain valuable life skills.

Debbie Thomas - Mental Health Employment Retention Officer

Debbie has worked in health since leaving college in 1984. She started as a Nursing Auxiliary at Warrington Hospital and then went on to work with adults with severe learning difficulties. Her work in the mental health field has included supporting people with complex and severe mental health issues. This involved monitoring and supporting people and liaising with appropriate agencies including GP's, Psychiatrists, Social workers and nursing staff. Debbie has also worked as a Nursing Practitioners assistant on an Intermediate Rehabilitation unit as part of a multi-disciplinary team delivering patients care plans. Debbie is now using her direct work experience in her new role supporting businesses in identifying the trigger points regarding mental health in the workplace and providing practical solutions.