Mark Gallagher

Background

About Mark Gallagher

Hi I’m Mark and my mission is to foster a more inclusive society and champion mental well-being for all. I have worked in adult social care for over 15 years and I am passionate about ensuring people can access fantastic support and about how services can unlock their potential and drive innovation. Disability services and social care • Since 2008, I've worked for four charities spearheading initiatives like an accessible information service, an IT skills project, and a Family Support Brokerage project to enhance the lives of disabled individuals. • Provided support and mentoring to 8 local councils to develop and launching their Shared Lives schemes. • Led the North East Adass Shared Lives Regional Growth Initiative, collaborating with all 12 ADASS partners to expand and enhance Shared Lives throughout the region. • Conducted thorough reviews of 16 Shared Lives schemes, pinpointing areas for service enhancement, scheme resourcing, CQC compliance, and service innovation. • Undertook business case analysis for 14 Shared Lives schemes, providing local authorities with concrete data to guide decisions on commissioning, resource allocation, and Shared Lives carer pay. • Completed 5 Shared Lives feasibility studies for Shared Lives schemes. • Played a key role in the evolution of 30 micro social care enterprises. • Ensured individual voice and inclusion through the delivery of an advocacy service and the Right to Control personalisation pilot. Facilitation Expertise: • Led 16 successful Shared Lives annual conference workshops to up to 40 participants. • For over 7 years, I chaired quarterly national committee workshops, fostering Shared Lives sector development. This involved collaboration with scheme representatives from throughout the UK, disseminating vital information and fortifying the partnership between Shared Lives Plus (the Shared Lives national membership body) and individual Shared Lives schemes. • Ran a working group of 10 Shared Lives schemes nationally to jointly craft the inaugural Shared Lives quality framework. • Delivered and delivered service design workshops with local authorities, aiming to refine Shared Lives processes, address bottlenecks, and implement effective service solutions—all while promoting informed decision-making and co-production. • Sharpened my facilitation skills after completing AJ & Smart's Workshopper Fundamentals programme.