GatenbySanderson Reference Template

Date:Reference taken by: Zoe Thompson

Reference Request for: Julie Lewis

Referee’s Name: James Winterbottom

Referee’s Contact Details:  j.winterbottom@wigan.gov.uk

Referee’s Organisation and Job Title in context of the reference AND/OR Referee’s current Organisation and Job Title

Director of Children’s ServicesWigan Council

Dates Candidate worked with referee (if applicable)

2nd May 2016 – 31st October 2016

Questions:

When and in what capacity did you work with them?

Julie has been working with them until recently on an assignment to look after Quality Assurance and James was her Line Manager

What were their main areas of responsibility and core objectives?

Her core objective was to develop a more systematic approach to Quality Assurance for their social care work and in doing this she had responsibility for the IRO service, conference chairs, LADO

How did they deliver against those objectives?

She delivered them very well, she was excellent

What were their key strengths?

She is an action orientated person, she can understand strategy and turn into action very quicklyGot to the agenda very quicklyGood at bring a team together to deliver on complicated and sensitive work

Could you identify any development areas?

Nothing comes to mind, she had some good challenges put infront of her and dealt with them well

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How would you characterise their leadership/management style?

She is very collaborative in her styleVery open with the teamGood communicator

How did they interact with their peers / stakeholders / Directors (inc elected members where relevant)?

She didn’t have any real contact with Elected Members for this particular assignment given the nature of the workPeers - she had a challenging task set and it cut across a lot of different areas, so she had contact with a lot of different people. She worked hard to develop relationships and was always keen to describe her purpose, she delivered this very well.Not aware of any issues, got along well with people and made things happenExcellent overall

Are you able to comment on how they deal with increased pressure and a changing environment?

She was nothing other than calm and thoughtful in her work, some of it was pressurized timescales and emotionally challengingNo issues at all, very good temperament and very positive

How would you rate their technical / financial management skills?

Financial management – she did some VFM work and looking at saving money, this was good, no issuesNot operationally running things like she has in previous assignments

Would you hire them again in the right circumstances?

Yes

What is your understanding of their reasons for leaving this position?

End of assignment, part of the job they asked her to do was to get them in a position that they could recruit longer term and she set them up for this well

Any other relevant information you wish to share about this candidate

She was adept at switching roles, the original assignment they asked her to do was different but another pressing priority came up and she was a asked to step into this – she was very accommodating and able to make the switch.

Please confirm with the referee:Would you be happy for comments to be shared, confidentially, with clients on request.(Yes/No)

yes

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The comments above reflect a summary of a telephone conversation with the referee, as accurately as possible, but for which GatenbySanderson cannot take responsibility and for which we accept no liability.  Prospective employers should always exercise caution whenever considering information such as this as although given and written in good faith it is offers no guarantees.

Signed: Zoe Thompson Date: 7.11.16

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