Our staff
Jane Lane - Director
Jane has been in post since January 2002 and provides the strategic operational direction and is directly accountable to the management committee. With 20 years experience of working with disadvantaged groups the focus of Jane’s interests is to promote independence, increase social inclusion and citizenship for people with learning disabilities. Jane has a degree in Housing Studies.
Sarah Morris - Operations Manager Sarah Powers
Sarah joined Advocacy Matters in October 2006 as an Independent Casework Advocate. Previous to this, she worked as an NVQ assessor for health and social care for several years. Sarah also gained experience of working with young people and people with learning disabilities when she worked in supported housing within the community. She is now Operations manager, having responsibility for the day to day running of the organisation including line management of staff, providing supervision, support, appraisal, training and development opportunities.
Angela Ciriello – Office Administrator
Before joining Advocacy Matters (Wales) in April 2007 Angela worked as an administrator for nine years for a company that supported adults with a learning disability to live independently in their own home. Angela is delighted to be a part of Advocacy Matters (Wales), working and supporting both staff and service users.
Rhodri Wyn Thomas– Citizen Advocacy Co-ordinator
With over 10 years of experience of volunteering and the voluntary sector, Rhodri joined at the end of August 2008 as the Citizen Advocacy Coordinator, having previously worked for Interlink, the County voluntary council for RCT as a volunteering development officer. His role is to recruit, train and support Volunteer Citizen Advocates and partner them with an adult with a learning disability for them to develop a one-to-one partnership with a strong focus on rights and choices.
Nia joined Advocacy Matters (Wales) in May 2009 as the Independent Advocate for Bridgend. Prior to this she worked as a family law solicitor. Nia believes that everybody has an equal right to have their voice heard and is looking forward to developing our service in her home county of Bridgend.
Huw Jones – Independent Casework Advocate
Huw gained his people skills from some 15 years total experience of volunteering as a school governor, mediation officer and citizen advocate, in addition to his various employed roles. Huw is also a trustee with Person to Person citizen advocacy in Rhondda Cynon Taff. Before joining Advocacy Matters (Wales) Huw was a mental health development worker in the RCT area for 3 years. Huw believes that everyone has the right to be heard and not just listened to, even if it is politely.
Rita Steffanson – Independent Casework Advocate
Rita started working for Advocacy Matters (Wales) April 2006 working as an advocate on a new project which aims to provide an advocacy service specifically for adults with Asperger syndrome. She feels that she has learnt a lot about the dilemmas many adults with this condition face. She is keen to continue advocating for adults with this condition and to continue to learn from each person and each situation. Before joining Advocacy Matters (Wales) she worked for three years as an Advocate for Children and Young People looked after by Social Services.
Oz Pearson – Independent Casework Advocate
Oz began working with adults with disabilities as a volunteer back in the mid 90s. After graduating from UWIC with a Fine Art degree, Oz became involved in setting up art projects around Cardiff with various client groups (including those with learning disabilities.) He then began to work specifically with adults with learning disabilities, supporting them to be independent in their own lives, at home and in the community. Oz has also has continued to pursue his own artistic ambitions. Oz has been working for Advocacy Matters since March 2007. He is not Australian or a wizard!
Joanne Borja - Independent Casework Advocate
Joanne worked as a support worker for people with learning disabilities employed by Cardiff City Council from 1994. She joined Advocacy Matters (Wales) in October 2006. Joanne now works full time as an Independent Casework Advocate.
Joanne Roxburgh - Independent Casework Advocate
(Also known as Jo Rox!) Joanne joined Advocacy Matters in October 2008. Joanne has worked with people with a learning disability for 24 years as a support worker and as a Manager. Joanne is also a volunteer and sessional counsellor with Cardiff and the Vale Alcohol and Drugs Team. Joanne really enjoys working for Advocacy Matters because "we always put the person first."
Nathan Meredith - Independent Casework Advocate
My work with people began as a community support worker which included helping people of all age's access community activities. I gained a huge amount of professional experience working in a secure residential unit again supporting service users with mental health and/or learning difficulties. My most recent role before AMW was with Age Concern assisting people to resettle into their own homes after a stay in hospital. I'm also a trainee counsellor.
Lizzie Hale - Independent Casework Advocate
I have worked in a number of Social Services settings since graduating from University, including as a support worker for adults with a learning disability and a social work assistant for both looked after children and adults with a physical disability. I also worked as Direct Payments Development Officer for the Vale of Glamorgan Council, focusing on the promotion and development of the Direct Payments scheme within the Local Authority.
Sarah Wilson - Taking Part Worker
I began my career as a Primary Class Teacher, and then changed to Support Teaching for ESOL pupils. I left fulltime teaching and took part-time jobs as a shop assistant to study various short courses. In 2008/2009 I toured with Nofitstate Circus as their child carer. We toured in the UK and Europe, returning to Cardiff in autumn 2009. I started looking for more settled employment after the excitement of travelling! I was delighted to get the job of Taking Part Worker with Advocacy Matters (Wales).
