Before joining Community Living as publisher this year, Rosemary was CEO of Integrate, a pioneering charity founded in the late 1970s with the help of the late David Brandon, this magazine’s first editor. Integrate’s vision was based on the philosophy of normalisation, made reality in the resettlement of people from long-stay hospitals into ordinary housing in Preston.

During her 28 years at Integrate, Rosemary was responsible for expanding its work in several areas, including employment schemes and partnership with UCLAN to train social work students and inspire them to pursue a career in learning disabilities. Since becoming publisher, Rosemary has introduced community care lawyer Belinda Schwehr (see below) who has taken our editorial coverage in a new and vital area at a time of cutbacks in our services.

Jo Clare has been Chief Executive of Three Cs since July 2008. Three Cs stands for ‘Control and Choice in the Community for people with learning disabilities and/or mental health problems’.

The charity supports people to have control over and choice about their lives and to contribute to the community as equal citizens. It provides supported living, outreach, transitions and social inclusion services in London and the South East.

Kay Holden is Director of Learning Disability Services at Southdown Housing Association. The Association provides a range of housing, support, volunteering and employment services to 1800 people in Sussex, the majority of whom have learning difficulties or mental health needs.

Southdown supports the band Heavy Load – all the members of the band are Southdown tenants or employees. The band is active in the ‘Stay Up Late’ campaign to enable people to choose what time they go home.

Seán is Chief Executive of the Elfrida Society. Seán has worked with people with learning difficulties for over 30 years in many different roles.

His early experience, in the mid-1970s, of working for a year in a large residential hospital fuelled a commitment to moving services for people with learning difficulties away from institutionalisation.

Gill qualified as a social worker and worked with children and adults with learning difficulties for over 25 years. She has worked for RNIB and SeeAbility, developing information services for people with learning difficulties and their supporters.

She writes leaflets and articles about eye care, and also about blind and partially sighted people with learning difficulties

David is CEO of Linkability, a charity founded by parents in 1990 seeking local solutions for their sons and daughters. David began his career in the social care sector in mental health services, qualifying as an RMN in 1975. He joined SCOPE in 1978 as manager of a residential home and was seconded to Linkability as Project Manager.

He became director when the charity was incorporated in 1989. Linkability now helps people with learning disabilities to live their own lives by helping them find accommodation, in partnership with housing providers, where they want to live. It provides cae and personal support tailored to individuals in Chorley, South Ribble and Rochdale.

Sue has 31 years experience of working with adults who have learning disabilities and a lifetime of family experiences as she has a brother who has learning disabilities, who lives at home and is supported by his family.

Sue began her career in 1980 in the voluntary sector, and has experience of Residential Care, Day Services and Supported Living all within the field of learning disabilities . Sue is a qualified Social Worker and has worked at Integrate (Preston & Chorley) Ltd for 17 years where she is the current CEO.

Belinda Schwehr, LLM, is Legal Frameowrk Trainer & Consultant with Care and Health Law. She has extensive experience as a barrister and solicitor, teaching public law and now runs the legal website www.careandhealthlaw.com. She offers independent legal and training consultancy about the legal framework underpinning social care.

She has advised the Ombudsman’s services, the ADASS, NAFAO, as well as a range of providrs and has been to over 50 health and care bodies to provide topical updates on the full range of policy, practice and performance issues, related to personalisation and the Putting People First agenda. Belinda’s specialist topics are the current cuts and the legal pitfalls councils can fall into if they are not up to speed with legal developments.