Meet The Directors
Directors
Chief Executive
Alyson Martin
Alyson was appointed Chief Executive in January 2012, having been Director of Care Services since 1992. She has worked for the Somerset Care Group since it began in 1991, and prior to this worked for Somerset County Council from 1983-90.
Group Finance Director
Chris Wall
Chris was appointed to the Board of Somerset Care at Home in 2006. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1995. Chris joined Somerset Care as Group Financial Controller in 2002, and became Group Finance Director in April 2011.
Director of Care Services
Eoin Keogh
Eoin joined the Somerset Care Group in April 2010 as Director of Community Services, and became Director of Care Services in January 2012. After beginning his career as a residential social worker, he held senior positions in housing and social care organisations for over 18 years.
Group Head of Human Resources and Training
Sue Baverstock
Sue was appointed to the Board of Acacia Training & Development in 2006. Sue is Group Head of Human Resources and Training and joined Somerset Care in 1993, having previously worked in insurance. She qualified as a graduate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in 1999.
Non- Executive Directors
Chairman
Chris Davies CBE DL
Chris was appointed to the board in April 2008, having worked as a Director of Social Services for both Somerset County Council and Cardiff City Council and as a former President of the Association of Directors of Social Services. In 2010 Chris was appointed as a Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the county of Somerset. Chris became Chairman in January 2012.
Vice Chairman
Jim Iles
Jim was appointed to the board in 2004, having retired from the role of Chief Executive at South Wight Housing Association which he had held since 1997. Prior to this he was Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Community Services at West Wiltshire District Council.
Barrie Dale BSc (Hons) FCIH
Barrie was appointed to the board in October 2000. He was Borough Housing Officer at Taunton Deane from 1985-97, and Assistant Chief Executive at Taunton Deane from 1997-99. From 1999 he was also Associate Lecturer at Bridgwater College.
Richard Barnfield
Richard Barnfield was appointed to the board in April 2009, having been a member of the board of Acacia Training and Development since January 2003. He had previously been Managing Director of WESTEC (now West of England Learning & Skills Council) and prior to this was Head of Personnel & Training for the Bristol & West Building Society
Heather Strawbridge
Heather joined the Somerset Care Group Board on 1st October 2010. Heather was a Somerset County Councillor from 1993 to 2001 during which time she held several positions including Deputy Leader of Council. She was a member of Sedgemoor District Council from 1995 to 1999, and recently completed her term of office as Chairman of Connect South West. Her current appointments include Chairman of the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Governor of Bridgwater College, and Trustee and Director of the NHS Confederation.
Dr Jane Townson
Dr Jane Townson BSc, MSc, MA, PhD, joined the Somerset Care Group Board in April 2011. Jane’s earlier career was spent working in bioscience and agribusiness and since 2005 she has been a non executive director and Senior Independent Director on the Board of the Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, gaining significant experience in clinical and social care governance. She also runs her own business, providing consultancy and professional training services for organisations and individuals on the link between nutrition and health and wellbeing.