Meet the Trustees
Dr Susan O’Connor – Chair
Susan is a Consultant Psychiatrist working mainly in the NHS in Bristol. She is now semi-retired but continues to work as an adult psychiatrist in Somerset. She works as a medical chair of Fitness to Practice Panels and a Medical Panellist in the Social Entitlement Chamber- sitting on employment and disability appeals. She does voluntary work in the prison and is an independent reviewer for the Royal College of Psychiatrists and special Advisor for the Care Quality Commission. Susan also worked as a Senior Clinical Advisor in the Department of Health on the development of several key mental health policies for England including “No Health without Mental Health”, a cross-government mental health outcome strategy. Susan was appointed Chair of Citizens Advice North Somerset Trustee Board in ??
Adam Barnes
Adam has nearly 20 years’ experience of working in the advice and legal services sectors, latterly specialising in Employment Law. He worked for Citizens Advice and DAS Law Ltd. Since leaving DAS Law, Adam is now working in his own businesses; Solace in Employment Ltd offers HR support to small businesses and advice and representation in employment related litigation to both individual and commercial clients and Solace in Bereavement Ltd offers practical advice and assistance to individuals following a death.
Dr Simon Britten
Simon is a retired Consultant Psychiatrist who has spent 16 years working in North Somerset for the Weston Area Health Trust taking on roles of Clinical Director and acting Medical Director. Simon spent a further 10 years working in Bristol as Associate Medical Director of Adult Mental Health services. Simon’s work has also included Medical Advisor to the Hospital Advisory Service and CHI. Since retiring Simon has worked as a medical member for the Social Entitlement Courts and run a small project for recovery addicts gaining experience through sailing.
Julie Dunn
[to follow]
Liz Fothergill
Liz spent 23 years with Citizens Advice Taunton both as a volunteer and as a staff member as Deputy Manager and finally Chief Officer, the latter for 11 years before retiring in May 2016. Liz ran various projects including Macmillan, Legal Aid Scheme, Pensionwise and Financial Inclusion to mention but a few. During this time Liz worked closely with the board of trustees to improve and develop the organisation including a move to newer and larger premises. Liz has been a trustee for Taunton Association for the Homeless for 8 years and since retiring has also become a trustee for Taunton Heritage Trust, a very old almshouse charity that also awards charitable grants to those in need.
John Peake
In 2002 John set up SouthWestLaw a firm committed to social welfare legal work in the face of various governments’ repeated efforts to reduce scope and funding. He remains a director of SouthWestLaw. John has recently returned to being a trustee at Citizens Advice North Somerset after eighteen months working there as one of the housing lawyers. He is a very experienced benefits lawyer and adviser, representing people before Tribunals across the whole range of welfare benefits. He also sits as First Tier Judge in the Social Entitlement Chamber.