CV at Feb 2016

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Jan Wright
 Email: jfm.wright@btinternet.com
 Mobile: 07960 969 905
Educationalqualifications/professionalmemberships
 Certificate in Law with Commendation, the Queen’s University, Belfast(1989)
 M.Sc. Social Policy,Planning and Administration, University of Ulster at Coleraine (1993)
 NOCN [NVQ L3] Roles, responsibilities and decision making on public sector boards [Dec 2009]
 Associate member STEP [Society ofEditors and Proof-readers:http://www.sfep.org.uk]
Employmenthistory
 Housing Rights www.housingrights.org.uk: Sept 2015 – March 2016 [casual/temporary hours contract]
Policy and projectsupportworking directly with and to the Housing Rights CEO. Role to date has included:
production of organisation’s response to NIAssembly ‘Houses in Multiple Occupation Bill’ and related supportre
presentation to DSD Housing Committee; preparation ofevidence based policy materials on critical issues to be
addressed by way ofcurrent review ofNI private rented sector; interim review/evaluation of pilot[NIHE funded]
initiative aimed at reducing homelessness on discharge from prison plus, as secondary outcome, extentto
which pilotinitiative has potential to contribute to reduction in rates of recidivism; identifying and scoping,plus
related supporting/contextual desk research, potential funding opportunities for existing and possible future HR
projects and initiatives; production ofdetailed/comprehensive information resource for professional /para
legal/lay advisers on preventing clienthomelessness and sustainmentofaccommodation.
 Jan Wright Consulting : Sept 2004 – present
Freelance social research and evaluation consultant working alone in a self -employed capacity and as an
associate, mostfrequently with Williamson Consulting www.williamsonconsulting.co.uk/services. Working
principally with voluntary/charitable and statutory sector agencies, Ihave successfully completed over 50
commissions to date, on time and within budget.
 Changing Faces www.changingfaces.org.uk: April 2007 to June 2015 [postmade redundant]
Northern Ireland DevelopmentManager [25 hrs per wk, home office based],working for and on behalfof
children, young people, adults and their families with directexperience ofdisfigurementto any part of the face,
hands and/or body – from any cause, congenital or acquired. Role included provision ofinformation and advice
to service users; developing both user and health professional volunteer champions/ambassadors to promote,
via social/mass media, supportfor CF; developing and maintaining effective working relationships with, inter
alia, senior consultants/clinicians [e.g. burns, dermatology,plastics and reconstruction, oncology, prosthetics
etc] and related health and social care professionals. Managementand ongoing developmentofNI Skin
Camouflage Service and network of local specialistvolunteer practitioners. Specific responsibility for evidence
based research to support/inform lobbying and campaigning activitywith NI Assembly/Executive.

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 Big Lottery www.biglottery.org.uk: July 2000 to May 2004, when operating as Community Fund.
Head of Policy and Research for NI. Role included responsibility for decision making as per the Fund's statutory
framework on: applicanteligibility to apply for funding [e.g. vires awards could only be made to charitable,
philanthropic or benevolentorganisations]; providing NIspecific evidence based research to inform UK wide
strategic objectives as well as defining local funding priorities; senior level review ofGrant team
recommendations proceeding for Board decision [e.g. ensuring application metUK wide strategic and local
funding priorities]; explaining (orally and in writing) Board decision making processes, and criteria applied to
unsuccessful applicants; responding to formal questions and information requests from local MLAs/MPs.
 Housing Rights Service www.housingrights.org.uk: April 1993to June 2000
Head of training and information: responsible for establishmentofnew directorate providing specialist
information and training on housing law and related legal issues. Role included managementofhuman, material
and financial resources; as a member ofthe senior managementteam, lead responsibility for coordinating and
drafting strategic and operational plans and mid -point progress and performance review reports, annual staff
training plans; research and evidence based policy commentpolicy comment/briefing papers.
 NIACRO www.niacro.org.uk: Sept 1985to March 1993
Senior advice officer: supervisory responsibility for colleagues providing advice,information, advocacy and
representation casework service on welfare law, prison and criminal justice issues; provision ofpre-release 1:1
and group seminar advice in each ofthe [then] four adult prisons, and Hydebank Wood YOC.
Current voluntary/pro bono work
 Vice chair of Ballynafeigh Community Development Association Board [2011 –to present]
 Member ofLower Ballynafeigh Residents’ Group [2010 – to present]
 As sole/lonecarerfor an elderlyparentwith dementiaIhave specific interestinthe needsandchallengesfaced
by carers,and recentlybecameanactivevolunteer withthe Northern IrelandbranchofAlzheimer’s Society
www.alzheimers.org.uk
Overview of skills, experience and expertise
 Over 25 years directexperience ofworking in, with and across the NI/UK/ROI community and voluntary
sectors in management/senior managementroles, and in ‘specialist’ posts [e.g. change management,
project/initiative development, policy,research]
 As an independentconsultant I tender for my own work and plan and timetable each phase ofthe
commission. I routinely work with large volumes ofoften complex/detailed written and statistical data
and undertake face to face, telephone and focus group interviews with key informants [e.g. service
users, frontline/middle and senior managementpersonnel, key stakeholders,funders etc].

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 Delivery ofevidence based reportfindings and recommendations on time and within budget. Proven
ability to diagnose and evaluate issues quickly,with reference to and within the contextof any given
framework or setof rules. I ensure that as far as possible all relevantavailable facts and information
have been taken into accountand conclusions reached are defensible ifchallenged or disputed.
 Logical and objective approach to decision making [framing, deciding,communicating, implementing,
evaluating etc] and where opinions are divided, Iam able to respectthe consensus view and support
decisions where they may notalways reflect my personal position/opinion. As an evaluator I am familiar
with value for money and costbenefitanalysis considerations, and the need to demonstrate and be
accountable for spend ofpublic monies.
 I use MS Office on a daily basis: Word for reports, briefings etc; excel for statistical information and
charts, Outlook for email, and Powerpointfor presentations.
 Over 10 years’ direct experience ofhome working both alone, as a self -employed consultant, and
between April 2007 and June 2015 with Changing Faces as part ofa dispersed team.
 I have excellenttime management, administrative and communication skills having worked routinely
with a wide range ofaudiences in both paid and self -employed roles.
 I can provide references from pastemployers, private consultancy agencies with which I have worked
on an associate basis, and organisations for which I have completed commissions.

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Date Title Commissioner
June – August 2015 Economic value of return on funding investmentre
Northern Ireland voluntary advice sector
Williamson Consulting [for NICVA]
March – April 2015 Housing Advice in Prison: HMP Maghaberry Housing Rights Service
Jan – Mar 2015 Strategic review of advice provision Ballynafeigh Community
DevelopmentAssociation
Oct – Dec 2014 Evaluation/economic appraisal Williamson Consulting [for Willowfield
Parish Halls]
March 13 - Dec 14 Evaluation of Alcohol Housing SupportProject Extern
Sept12 - Jan 2013 Evaluation of phase 1 [April 2011 to Sept2012] of
second tranche funding for Extern Recycle [ongoing
longitudinal study]
Extern
April/May 2012 Review of‘ Housing Advice in Prisons’ initiative at
YOC/female prison HMP Hydebank Wood
Housing Rights Service
Feb/March 2012 Community Housing Advice Programme [CHAP] User
Panel
Housing Rights Service
Jan – March 12 Evaluation of pilotmodel atHMP Maghaberry Extern Recycle
Dec 2011 Data analysis and staff survey report Advice NI
Nov 2011 Evaluation of 4th GM service [ GM Colin] With Williamson Consulting
July – Oct 2011 Evaluation of 3 Good Morning services [GMNB, GMWB
and RECALL]
With Williamson Consulting
May - Nov 2011 Preparation ofDerry City Council Community Support
Plan
With Williamson Consulting
April 2011 Facilitation of focus groups re Regional Strategy for
Practice Learning Provision 2010-15
Partnership Care West
April-May 2011 Production ofstrategic positioning paper Extern Recycle
Jan – April 2011 Summative evaluation ofYrs1-3 ofESF funded
‘Recycle’ programme
Extern Recycle
Sept – Dec 10 Formative evaluation ofYr 2 ofESF funded
‘programme
Extern Recycle
June 2010 ‘Fit for Purpose’ review ofBCDA advice provision in
South Belfast
Ballynafeigh Community
DevelopmentAssociation

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April/May 2010
March 2010
Review of‘ Housing Advice in Prisons’ initiative at HMP
Maghaberry
Facilitation of Community Housing Advice ProjectUser
Panel [e.g. feedback on member services etc] and
report
Housing Rights Service
Community Housing Advice
Project/Housing Rights Service
Jan –March 10 Formative evaluation ofYr 1 ESF funded ‘programme
[for life sentence prisoners on pre-release, homeless
people and those with substance abuse issues]
Extern Recycle
Jan/Feb 2010 Review ofPhase 1 [Oct 09- Jan 10) ofCastlereagh BC
independentadvice provision contract
Advice NI
Nov/Dec 2009 Response to DSD advice sector consultation South Belfast IndependentAdvice
Working Group
September 2009 Facilitation and recording offeedback generated at
initial Interdependence Project‘away days’
Ballynafeigh Community
DevelopmentAssociation
May 2009 In depth quantitative and qualitative study of ‘specialist’
member advice provision
Advice NI
March 2009 Reportanalysis of BVPIsurvey feedback Housing Rights Service
Sept/Oct08 Evaluation of Journeys Outreach :EU funded initiative to
promote skills developmentofdisadvantaged women in
urban and rural areas
Ballynafeigh Community
DevelopmentAssociation
June/August2008 Evaluation of DYNAMO project: EU funded initiative to
promote skills developmentofdisadvantaged
people/groups
Ballynafeigh Community
DevelopmentAssociation
June 2008 Part ofteam evaluating BelfastCity Council’s ‘Conflict
transformation Project’
As Associate, Williamson Consulting
May/June 2008 Review of‘ Housing Advice in Prisons’ atHMP
Magilligan
Housing Rights Service
Mar/April 08 User Panel [i] - facilitation and report Housing Rights Service
October - Dec 07 Evaluation of Shopmobility Bangor (accessible transport
for those with limited /no mobility).
Shopmobility Bangor
Sept 07- Feb 08 Evaluation of NIACRO Parent and Child Support
[PACS] – a projectto provide supportfor prisoners’
families as a distinct group in their own right, and to
engage with others to reduce intergenerational effects
of offending behaviour.
NIACRO

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March -June 07 Evaluation of NIACRO Reconnect[now Choose 2
Change] – a project for young people excluded from
education, disengaged from training and facing barriers
to employmentdue to offending behaviour
NIACRO
Jan - April 07 Evaluation of two jointOaklee Housing Association
/NIAMH project['Beacon SupportService'] providing
specialistsupportto enable vulnerable older tenants to
maintain their tenancies and independence.
Oaklee Housing Association
Dec 2006 Facilitation of Strategic Planning Review, production of
revised Strategic Plan document
East Belfast IndependentAdvice
Centre [EBIAC]
Nov 06- June 08 Formative and summative evaluation of two NIACRO
projects to increase the employability ofex-offenders
As Associate , Williamson Consulting)
Oct- Nov 06 In depth analysis ofLaw Centre NI training Law Centre NI
Sept06- Mar 09
Formative and summative evaluation of service
development(x 2 projects) funded by BIG Lottery
Speechmatters [ now Stroke NI]
June- Aug 06
Needs assessment, and production of
recommendations re allocation ofYouth Council grant
aid
As Associate, Williamson Consulting
April 2006
Production ofpolicy and procedural referral
documentation re CAPS project NIACRO
Jan -March 06
Primary research and analysis of supportservice needs
of prisoners' families in Northern Ireland NIACRO
January 2006
Review analysis ofAdvice NIQuality Standards and
Systems project Advice NI
Sept - Dec 05
Evaluation of Child and Parent Support[CAPS] project
–an early intervention programme providing intensive
supportservices to families whose children [aged 8-12]
at risk ofanti-social and offending behaviour.
NIACRO
July – Sept05
Evaluation of NVQ AssessmentCentre and related
training provision Advice NI
July –Aug 05
Summative evaluation ofservices delivered by
Shopmobility Belfastfor older people with limited or no
mobility
Shopmobility Belfast
April- July 05
Evaluation NIACRO Mentoring Programme for young
people aged 13-18 'at risk'. Initiative also included youth
conferencing
NIACRO

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March 2005
Editing research report“Balances along the Border” A
Gender Auditin NI and the six Southern Border
Counties
Women Educating for Transformation
Jan 05 -Dec 05
Monthly mentoring supportto Head ofTraining
Advice NI
Jan/Feb 05
Interim evaluation of services (funded over 3 years) by
Community Fund Shopmobility Belfast
Sept - Dec 2004
Evaluation of pilot projectproviding e-consultation
supportand facilitation for independentadvice sector Advice NI