The Senior Team

Janette Beckett

Janette Beckett

Group Chief Executive

Janette has over 20 years’ experience of working within health and social care. She has held numerous roles and worked across a variety of disciplines from older people, young people, domestic abuse, mental health, homelessness, marketing, performance, contracts, and new business.

In 2014 she took the position of Director of Care and Social Business at Black Country Housing Group. She had responsibility for BCHG’s residential care business, domiciliary care service, supported living service, sheltered accommodation, young persons’ service, and social business activities. Key achievements include establishing its residential care business from scratch resulting in two care homes. Janette oversaw the growth of the Supported Living Service, increasing the number of residents supported by 50%, and providing stability and sustainment for the Employment Services.

Janette joined Spring in October 2017 and was responsible for all of the support services which include homeless, offenders, young people and refugee resettlement

 

Raj Shergill

Director of Housing & Customer Services

Raj has over 11 years’ experience in the social housing sector offering expertise in an array of fields.

 

He is a dynamic and passionate professional with experience of managing diverse housing options in both the general needs and care and support sectors, including overseeing a large portfolio of properties of 3000+ units spread across the West and East Midlands.

 

A well-respected specialist with a strong knowledge base in housing management services, specialising in customer satisfaction, tenancy agreements, repairs and maintenance, voids and lettings, support and assessment, leasehold and private rented sector service management, supported housing accommodation projects (homelessness and mental ill health), older people, and call centre management. He also leads on the issues of welfare reform and data management for the association.

Rachel Chiu

Director of Business Development

Rachel has a track record working as a development and governance professional within the housing and not-for-profit sectors helping not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises to scope and develop ideas for projects which focus on addressing inequalities and disadvantage, with a specific focus on marginalised communities and homelessness.

 

She facilitates robust partnerships across the third sector helping organisations to create innovative and substantive projects that increase opportunities and enhance the experiences and learning of those delivering and benefiting from the projects. With over 20 years’ experience in the West Midlands, her areas of work include health and well-being, life skills and employability, heritage, arts and culture, community asset transfers and enhancement of statutory service provision.

 

Her breadth of experience in strategic, operational and cross-sector scenarios enables her to create practical solutions both as an individual and in partnership with others.

Sarah Collins

Sarah Collins

Head of HR

Sarah has 20 years’ experience in human resources working in the IT, distribution, housing and care & support sectors.

 

Sarah was the Group HR Manager for Specialist Computer Centres for 11 years where she was responsible for employee relations, administration, remuneration & benefits, and TUPE. During her time at SCC she supported the successful transfer of over 1500 employees under the TUPE regulations, either as a result of company acquisition or service provision change. She also introduced a new HR and payroll system.

 

Sarah also worked for Trident Reach and Trident Housing Association as an HR Specialist. Her experience at Reach included dealing with technical employee relations cases including dismissal cases, appeals, contract renegotiations, and tribunals. She was also responsible for the successful TUPE transfers (in and out) of employees from various organisations involved with supporting people and care contracts in 2010 through to 2015.

 

Sarah is also a qualified Investors in People Internal Verifier and supported Reach in retaining its GOLD IIP accreditation in 2015.

Simon Billingham

Head of Finance

Simon is a qualified accountant (ACCA) and has worked in the not-for-profit sector for over 20 years.

 

He spent 13 years working in a variety of roles within the finance team of a Birmingham based housing association and has spent the last 6 years working in the finance team of the care & support charity which is a subsidiary of the main housing association.

 

His many roles within the finance teams include Finance Officer, Payroll Administration, Finance Manager and Head of Finance.  He is also non-executive trustee of Churches Housing Association of Dudley District.

Thea Raisbeck

Best Practice Lead

Thea has over 12 years’ experience in housing, homelessness and domestic abuse sectors and holds a BA (first class) and an MA (distinction) from the University of Birmingham. She is currently an Honorary Research Fellow within the Housing and Communities Research Group at the University and a Certified Practitioner with the Chartered Institute of Housing.

Thea combines her extensive frontline experience with exceptional research, writing and public speaking skills in order to produce meaningful and useful research that has relevance and applicability at practice, policy and strategic levels. Thea’s credibility as a professional, and her ability to engage stakeholders has allowed Spring to develop positive links and relationships with a varied range of individuals and groups.

Since joining Spring in January 2017 Thea has designed, researched and authored two pathbreaking reports on ‘exempt’ accommodation. These reports have already had significant impact at practice, policy and strategic levels; both locally and nationally.

Thea is also a non-executive director for Coventry Haven, part of the Women’s Aid network. She actively organises around women’s’ and girl’s rights and is an anti-poverty campaigner.