Meet the Team
CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
In line with recommended best practice all our trustees, staff and volunteers undergo either an EDBS (with a barred list check) or a DBS Check depending on their role. They also complete a range of CPD training to update their professional skills and ensure they have the appropriate levels of Safeguarding Training.
CASE MANAGEMENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT
Jan Rock
CEO & Case Manager
Jan has over 12 years lived-experience of acquired brain injury in children, young people and adults. She has a degree in Public Service Management, Certificate In Lean Organisation Management and is an experienced Prince2 Practitioner. Jan also has several CPD leadership qualifications and often speaks at professionally focused Brain Injury Conferences. Her Continuous Professional Development training includes: Paediatric Acquired Brain Injury; Special Education Needs and Disability; Paediatric neuro-rehabilitation; Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy; ADHD following Traumatic Brain Injury; Spotlight on Modern Slavery & Sexual Exploitation; Understanding and Addressing Trauma in Traumatic Brain Injury, Sleep Training; Sleep and Fatigue After TBI; and Understanding children with SEBCMH issues. Jan manages the charity day-to-day, oversees a range of complex cases, and she delivers acquired brain injury awareness training to a range of professionals, sectors and organisations. In her private life she loves spending time with her family and grandchildren and getting out and about in the countryside.
ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS TEAM (ABI SEN)
Janet Gamesby
Senior SEN Specialist Mentor
Janet has 17 years’ experience of working in secondary education within the SEND team supporting young people with a range of complex disabilities. She is a qualified Higher-Level Teaching Assistant and holds qualifications in Dyslexia and Safeguarding to Level 3. Janet is also very aware of the negative impact an acquired brain injury – as a hidden disability – can have on a child’s ongoing development and educational outcomes. After hearing Callum’s story, Janet initially contacted us about doing some volunteering work. During this time, she felt inspired by the work we do for brain injured children and young people and saw working here as a unique opportunity to use her skills and experience to support this neglected cohort to achieve their long-term recovery goals. When the ABI Support Worker post was advertised, she applied and is now excited to be part of this innovative team. Janet has since completed training in Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy that she applies to her day-to-day SEN work, which helps to transform the lives of the children and young people that she works with. In her private life, Janet’s family are very important to her and she enjoys spending time with them. She also likes to go walking and swimming in her leisure time.
Vacant post – (awaiting funding)
Specialist SEN Mentor (Primary Level)
Vacant Post – (awaiting funding)
Specialist SEN Mentor (16 – 25)
Callum Rock
ABI Support Mentor
Hi, my name is Callum, but you can call me Cal! I had a rock climbing accident and sustained a brain injury in 2010, just after I left school. After lots of hard work and intensive neuro-rehab support that was provided by my family, I have been to college and even graduated university! I therefore know that what this charity does, works.
Professionally, I commenced a Physiotherapy Degree before deciding that it was not for me. Afterwards, I trained and qualified as an adventure activity leader, gaining a BA in Outdoor Education and Leadership. I have also completed additional training in First Aid and Understanding Challenging Behaviour.
Volunteering at Matrix has provided me the opportunity to use my knowledge of cognitive rehabilitation, anatomy and muscle groups to help children and young people with physical, communication, cognitive, emotional and behavioural difficulties following an acquired brain injury. I can also use my lived-experience to provide peer mentoring support to improve behaviour and mental wellbeing. In June 2023 I joined the Team in an employed role.
Christine Sherred
SEN Administrator/Resource Worker
Christine provides administrative support to the SEN team and creates and coordinates resources for our innovative Cognitive Recovery Programme. She has lived-experience of acquired brain injury both in children and adults and understands the devastating impact of a lack of recovery support available to children and young people post acquired brain injury.
ADMINISTRATION
Lynne Aungiers
Office Manager
Prior to joining Matrix Neurological, Lynne worked in a wide range of both public and private sector organisations, including chemical and process industries, social housing, not for profit, charity, and NHS, amongst others, honing and blending traditional skills with the ever-changing office landscape and its digital progression.
Working independently or as part of a team, Lynne’s vast work experiences, allowed her to build a wide range of skills needed to manage the busy and often complex needs of an office of multi-disciplinary personnel. She has learned that versatility and patience are a ‘must’ for office management, as the focus of any day can change in a heartbeat, from finding solutions to arising emergencies, to troubleshooting a malfunctioning piece of equipment.
In her spare time Lynne likes to sew, read, craft, and particularly enjoys live music, theatre and going to the cinema.
VOLUNTEERS
Our volunteers all live locally and provide a range of essential support functions to the charity and make a significant difference and positive contribution to our work.
Admin Volunteer – Vacancy
Callum Richardson
Outreach Volunteer
I am Callum, and I am volunteering with Matrix Neurological because this charity helped me to recover from my brain injury by strengthening my cognitive function. Volunteering helps me to give something back and gain work experience in a professional environment. I am kind and generous person and a true lover of helping all! I also like music. I go to gigs whenever I can, I listen to different genres of music and I collect vinyl records.
Fundraising Volunteer – Vacancy
STAFF AND VOLUNTEER SURVEY MARCH 2022
