“Thank you for your superb handling of this case over the last few days. Your calmness in the eye of the media storm has been a joy to behold, and your skills and experience in dealing with the media has been a lifesaver…the resolute way your bore the brunt of the media frenzy was hugely impressive.”

Matt Dunkley, Director of Children’s Services

and President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services

 

“I can say without hesitation that your calm and professional support has been invaluable both to me and the Council …Your knowledgeable and understanding approach has been an essential resource to us…I have always valued and rated your contribution highly.”

Jean Haigh, Head of Special Educational Needs

 

“…and I have never before worked with a communications manager who is so approachable, shows understanding of the operational issues and is prepared to appropriately challenge practice issues.”

Douglas Sinclair, Head of Safeguarding

 

“I have worked with Iain in relation to a number of different comms issues including media handling, fostering and adoption campaign management, training for new managers etc.  In all areas Iain presents the comms team as being approachable, respectful, knowledgable and not least of all, professional.  He displays a real 'can do' approach which is very refreshing.”

Sally Carnie, Head of Looked After Children Services

 

 “Iain has supported me and my management group on a number of high profile media cases. I have worked with communications colleagues in other local authorities and the support from Iain is outstanding. I consider myself very fortunate to have the advice and support from Iain available.

Diane Williamson, Head of Locality Social Work and Family Assessment

 

“I really appreciate you, your wisdom, kindness and help.”

Terry Boatwright,  Head teacher, Bishop Bell School

 

 “Iain's strengths in writing, keeping calm, listening and understanding the brief were key in the hugely successful promotion of both Aiming High for Disabled Children and the Individual Budgets pilot. As a colleague, I have valued his advice, support, honesty and guidance.”

Bernadette Dawes, Short Breaks Development Manager

 

“Iain provides invaluable support to my team and to me.  In particular, he has enabled us to effectively handle the closure of a project, working with my team and also directly with the headteachers involved.  Iain has also provided support to my team in developing our use of social media to support and track young people post-16.  Iain is a highly valued colleague whose expertise is much valued.”

Elizabeth Funge, Head of Education Improvement

 

 “Iain has provided the Public Health team with very welcome expertise and support.  I have been impressed with the level of expertise and professionalism that Iain has provided, as well as the range of input, which has also included leading on a Social Media campaign to improve rates of MMR vaccination.”

Jo Bernhaut, Public Health consultant

 

“Iain has always been available and this makes it quick and easy to get the support and advice we need…this particularly relates to issues raised by parents about schools which we need to ensure do not escalate unnecessarily and need sensitive handling.”

Helen Harrison, Information for Families Service

 

“Iain has been a real asset helping us to understand how the media works and helping managers deal effectively with complex and demanding cases which have hit the media spot light…managing and co-coordinating the complex dynamics between the police media dept and ourselves building up a excellent relationships.”

Peter Richards, Looked After Children Operations Manager

 

“Iain has been able to provided invaluable support to our Team to enable us to positively promote the work of the Anti-Bullying Service, both internal within ESCC and externally. This has been achieved because Iain as built up a really good understanding and insight into our work over the years. “

John Khan, Head of Anti-Bullying Team

 

“Iain has always provided excellent advice and guidance when marketing and promoting our work in the Contracts and Purchasing Unit.  Iain is very proactive in requesting information from us to publicise good news stories from schools.”

Brendan Griffin-Ryan, Contracts manager

 

“I have appreciated Iain’s ability to find effective ways forward in terms of communication for a service such as East Sussex Music Service where our needs and requirements are often at odds with a bureaucratic machine, particularly corporate services…he has helped us to find ways of overcoming the pressure to be anonymised and to have an identifiable presence among children, schools and families. He has a clear understanding of the needs of a children’s service rather than a corporate bureaucracy – in essence, he is an enabler.”

Tony Biggin, Head of ESMS