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Our Group Care Board members are listed below – please click on their image to view their profile.
Professor Graeme Betts CBE
Chair Professor Graeme Betts CBE
Graeme has more than 25 years’ experience working as a Chief Officer and Chief Executive in local government and the NHS. He has developed major expertise in improving social care by building effective leadership, driving up performance and developing a performance culture.
Graeme is passionate about improving the quality of life for the people he serves as well as reducing social injustice and inequality and improving health and wellbeing.
Graeme was recognised in the Queen’s New Year Honours in 2020 when he was awarded a CBE for services to adult social care. In June 2023, Graeme was awarded an Honorary Professorship from the University of Birmingham in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the advancement of his profession through publications and the development of public policy and services.
Graeme Betts joined the Group in August 2020.
Rosalind Preen
Board Member Rosalind Preen
Rosalind brings a wealth of experience to the Care Plus/Choices Common Board, having worked in the public care sector for more than 30 years. She has worked across all sectors of health including community, mental health and acute care.
Rosalind believes in equal chances and choices for all, especially when accessing services that support our health and wellbeing.
Rosalind is a qualified accountant and has many years of experience sitting on Boards within the NHS, using her financial skills to advise and support decision making.
Rosalind Preen joined the Group in November 2022.
Paul Riley
Board Member Paul Riley
Paul holds more than 20 years’ experience across social care and health, gained from various executive, non-executive and trustee roles in children’s social care, education and mental health & learning disabilities. He made a conscious decision to move from working in commercial environments, during the first half of his career, to organisations with a social purpose and uses his business strategy and commercial experience to help make a positive difference to vulnerable people’s lives.
Paul is currently an associate consultant at the Institute of Public Care, Oxford Brookes University, and is involved in a range of Department for Health and Social Care commissioned projects.
He is passionate about social change and making sure vulnerable people are given the support and environment needed to live safe, fulfilling lives and achieve their ambitions.
Paul Riley joined the Group in March 2023.
Helen Hackney
Board Member Helen Hackney
Helen has almost 20 years’ experience of working in social care, predominantly within adult and children SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities) and PMLD (Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities) services. She has had the privilege to work for Scottish Social Services, Scottish Borders Council and in a variety of respite and care settings. Helen now offers her support as the Operations Coordinator for Big Top Musical Adventure, a CIC company providing musical workshops for children with additional needs.
Helen embraced a career in social care after being the primary carer for a parent. She is passionate about spreading happiness and has a great desire to help others find joy, satisfaction and purpose in their lives. Throughout both her working and personal life, she has supported many individuals to work towards achieving their full potential and creating their best lives possible.
Helen is a Housing Plus Group tenant and brings a customer’s perspective to the Care Plus/Choices Common Board and the Service Performance and Customer Experience Committee. She knows the experience of customers, how policies affect them, the repairs process and the impact of rent changes, helping her to question and challenge Housing Plus Group decisions.
Helen Hackney joined the Group in July 2021.
Les Clarke
Executive Lead Les Clarke
Les has many years’ experience in a variety of roles in housing, health and social care. He qualified as a State Registered Nurse and has worked in neurotrauma, spinal injuries, intensive care and surgery before moving into NHS management.
Before joining Housing Plus Group, Les was executive director of operations at the Terrence Higgins Trust, which is one of the worlds’ leading charities in the field of HIV and sexual health.
He spent several years with the UK’s leading provider of Extra Care Housing and also worked for a large private sector domiciliary care provider.
Les is a former visiting specialist lecturer at the University of East London and remains on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register for nurses. As a practicing nurse, he maintains a strong interest in health.
