Our governance and advisory board assist the Executive Management Team (EMT) to align values to our core goal. Our governance board advise on key operational, financial, social and performance management matters to encourage behaviours are consistent with SOEs purpose, values, strategy and business model.

Cleve Jackson – Social Work and Safeguarding Advisory LeaD | CHAIR OF THE GOVERNANCE BOARD

Cleve has over 30 years experience as a practitioner and social work manager. This has included appointments in local authorities, multi-agency working in small and large groups and has been a pivotal senior member in social work decision making and strategic planning. Cleve has a great understanding of the needs of young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds and from black Asian and minority (BAME) communities. Cleve has a range of experiences gained as a youth worker and a drama and dance teacher prior to his social work career. Cleve is our social work and safeguarding advisory lead off the back of his safeguarding experience gained as a social worker and social work manager, regarding children and adults. As a teacher, Cleve looked at the issue of safeguarding as it impacts on social workers regarding legislation, policies and procedures, together with safe caring practices.

Faye Demetrius – Educational Delivery Advisory Lead

Faye’s career has focused on many aspects of supporting young people, aged 7 – 19 mainly though teaching in secondary schools. Faye has educational delivery experience in working with in whole class, small group and 1:1 settings; in addition to supporting parents and families of young people.  

Faye is very patient, positive and understanding and is an emphatic role model to our young adults. Faye’s primary goal is always to help the young person to become independent and resilient and to see that their past experience doesn’t have to be their future.

Ashley Jones – Quality Assurance Advisory Lead

Ashley holds over six years experience in providing social work to young adults from disadvantaged and BAME backgrounds. Ashley ensures that our staff are meeting the performance targets of the service area; as well as independently assessing the EMT using management information and audit findings making certain that examples of excellence and areas of development are shared. Ashley mentors and support social workers in dealing with their most complex cases, ensuring that they receive high-quality supervision and that team members have the opportunity for reflection and analysis. 

During Ashley’s career as a family support worker, social worker, senior practitioner and a team leader he has gained extensive knowledge of safeguarding and wider law and procedures to best protect children and young people.

Diane Gordon – Inclusion and Diversity Advisory Lead

Diane brings over 30 years experience in educational delivery, child protection and safeguarding policy. Diane brings a range of organizational and interpersonal skills to the governing role and brings positivity and commitment to young people and their personal development to strive for excellence and a solution-focused attitude. 

Diane’s previous teaching/support appointments include: being head of inclusion at a Secondary School in Bermondsey; a Deputy Child Protection Officer and a Deputy Safeguarding Lead. Whilst working with Southwark Council, her role included being part of Southwark Local Authority’s BEST Team, i.e. their Behavior and Education Support Team. This is a multi-disciplinary team which met regularly to consider appropriate support for individual young people and/or their families.

Sylvia Harris – Operational Advisory Lead

Sylvia has over 20 years experience teaching young people in secondary school/college. In Slyvia’s current role alongside SOE, she is a College Vice Principal and the Deputy Safeguarding Lead in an inner City Sixth Form College with young people aged 16-19. Bringing an in-depth understanding of the challenges many young people face and the strategies that can be used to support them. 

Sylvia understands the demands and changing landscape of education as well as progression routes and opportunities that are available. As both Curriculum Director and College Vice Principal Sylvia has experience of putting strategies in place to create an environment where minimum intervention is required to manage young people, empowering them to be reflective and manage themselves.