Synthesis of strategic and operational leadership which has impact and fosters systemic change

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Carol Ferron Smith MA
84 Deyncourt Road
Wednesfield
Wolverhampton
WV10 OSY Email: ​carol.ferron.smith@gmail.com
Mobile: 07904 183 788 Home Tel: 01902 738 795
Programme Manager/ Project Manager with over 15 years’ experience
● Led 6 service streams/ business areas concurrently delivering Multiple projects of up to
£1 million and a project team 26
● Multi agency/ Integrated services leadership experience of strengthening partnership
and collaboration between; Health, Social Care, Education, Welfare Advice/ Support
services, Youth Offending services, Family Support, Police, Locality based regeneration
partnership (Early Help & Prevention)
● Consolidated stakeholder and management skills (Community Development & Capacity
Building)
● Strong business transformation and change management skills, at both strategic and
operational levels (Evaluation, Monitoring, Implementation)
● Track record of ensuring project delivery on time and within commissioning authority
budgets (Service Level Agreements, Impact Assessments, Budget planning)
● Exceeded targets through robust monitoring and evaluation (Quantitative and
Qualitative)
● Extensive experience of working with private sector, public sector and voluntary and
community sector organisations ( Community Development & Regeneration)
● Culturally sensitive leadership and management (Inclusive Leadership and Practice)
Programme Management/Project Management
Galvanised multiagency and multi sector collaboration, partnerships and engagement
Key projects:
Sure Start Local Programme; Walsall Children’s Services​­ Led holistic programmes and
achieved set central Government targets to tackle inequality and deprivation affecting
children, families and communities, in the 45​th​
most deprived area in England. Specific
projects included: Teenage Pregnancy, Smoking Cessation, Breastfeeding Awareness,
Bookstart, Baby Massage, Parenting, Adult Employability, Built Environment; changing
neighbourhoods, Information Technology. (2003 to 2014)
Locality Multi Agency Early Help; Walsall Children’s Services​­​ ​Successful project
management of research process for evaluation of early help; Impact and Value for
Money in 2013. Led and managed multi agency early help team; Children’s Social Work,
Youth Offending, Health, Family Support, Housing, Welfare Advice. (2012 to 2013)
Participation and Engagement project; Embrace West Midlands Ltd​­ a joint initiative
between, Home Office, Joseph Rowntree Trust, Black Regeneration Network and Bristol
University. Action Research Project, aimed at widening the opportunities for
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2. disadvantaged groups, to participate and engage with strategic decision making bodies and
processes, across the West Midlands Region. Outcome of process contributed to the
development of a ‘​Community Participation and Engagement toolkit​’​.(2001 to 2003)
Local Area Network (LAN) for West Bromwich; Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Planned and consolidated the first of six LAN’S. Evolved the process and managed the
operational details and for the development of the first LAN in Sandwell; acted as a conduit
between Councillors, Heads of Local Authority services, Private sector organisations and
businesses, Voluntary and Community sector organisations. Launched the first network and
achieved cross sector participation and engagement in ‘locality decision making’ and
‘locality plans’. (1998 to 2001)
Working with ‘Cross Cultural Children and Families; Wolverhampton Children’s
Service​­ Created bespoke training on culturally sensitive systemic approaches to
Working with children and families for managers and practitioners. Achieved more
Inclusive decision making and practice. (1993 to 1998)
Women’s Development Project; Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council
Groundbreaking project, which empowered women and groups of women to participated
and engaged in local decision making and to affect change. Drafted and successfully
bid for funding for the ‘Women’s Development Fund’; rolled out across the West
Midlands and recognised as a ‘model of good practice’. (1991 to 1994)
Work History
● Wolverhampton Poverty Truth Commission (March 2016 to present)
● Low Hill Nursery School;Wolverhampton LA maintained school ­ Chair of Governors
(2013 to present)
● Sure Start Blakenall; Walsall Council ­ Programme Manager (2003 to 2014)
● Embrace West Midlands Ltd ­ Regeneration Coordinator (2001 to 2003)
● Community Links Team; Sandwell Council­ Senior Community Development Officer
(1998 to 2001)
● Children’s Services; Wolverhampton City Council ­ Independent Consultant
(1994 to 1998)
● Wolverhampton Childcare Agency Ltd ­ Manager (1995 to 1997)
● Osaba Women’s Centre; Coventry ­ Coordinator (1994 to 1995)
● Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council ­ Women’s Development Officer ) 1991 to
1994}
● The Dellcrest Children’s Centre, Toronto; Canada ­ Family Therapist/ Caseworker
(1987 to 1990)
Achievements
Chair of Governors for ‘Low Hill Nursery School 2012 to present
Outstanding Ofsted August 2013 ​for Early Years services and activities.
Good Ofsted outcome in February 2012​ for integrated service delivery.
Leadership Award 2011 ​recognising excellence
Chair of ‘Women of Wolverhampton’ (WOW 2009 ­ 2011) ​Women’s Consultative
Forum.
Achieved Investors in People in 2009. ​The first centre in the region to be awarded the
quality Mark for fostering a ‘Learning Culture’
Project Management of a 1 million capital project (February 2004)
Mentor for undergraduate students at Wolverhampton University ongoing
Commitment
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Qualifications:
IOSH Certification (Managing Safely in Schools)
2013
Masters of Arts; in Education​ Birmingham City University
2011
National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership​ (NPQICL)
Birmingham City University
2009
● Diploma in Social Work​, Ryerson Polytechnic Institute. Toronto; Canada
1987
Bachelors Political Science and Sociology​. York University Toronto; Canada
Interests:
Reading is a passion; eclectic (Politics, Sociology, Social Policy, Fiction)
Enjoy artistic painting and drawing
Attending theatrical productions and travelling
Walking my Yorkshire Terrier/ Jack Russell dog
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