Andy Smith joins as Director of Wellbeing and Safeguarding
We are delighted to have Andy Smith joining 果冻传媒 as Director of Wellbeing and Safeguarding, on 3 April 2023.
Andy will be leading the University鈥檚 strategy for wellbeing and safeguarding for both students and staff. He will be working across the University, leading and developing support in areas including disability, wellbeing, counselling and psychology, student funding, community safety, and residential community. Andy will chair the Student Wellbeing Strategy Group and the Workforce Wellbeing Strategy Group, both of which report to the University Executive Board.
Andy said:
"I feel very honoured to be joining the 果冻传媒 as the Director of Wellbeing and Safeguarding, and I'm looking forward to meeting my new colleagues, our students and staff in the next few months as I begin to lead the valuable work the directorate does."
Rachel Sandby-Thomas, Registrar, commented:
鈥淚 am delighted that Andy will be joining us as our new Director of Wellbeing and Safeguarding, an essential role reinforcing our steadfast commitment to staff and student wellbeing. We look forward to working with him and welcoming him into the team.鈥�
Andy began his career in psychiatry after graduating from the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine as a mental health nurse in 2003. He specialised as a community practitioner in the Armed Forces before leaving the service to become the clinical lead for Northern Ireland's veterans' mental health service.
Three years later Andy was promoted into a regional role and became responsible for inpatient and community mental health services across North England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. After six years in this role, he moved to become a deputy director with the Priory Group before moving into Hospital Director roles where he led on a number of improvement projects, including the development of workforce, patient and organisational wellbeing strategies in the wake of the COVID pandemic.
He has a diverse background in mental health, working in senior operational, strategic and clinical roles across a broad range of services. Andy is also a Churchill Fellow, and a graduate of the Clore Fellowship programme for senior leaders in the social sector.
