Profile – Rosalind Turner

How long in the job? Since May this year.

Career lowpoint: Bleak days as a newly qualified teacher when I used to weep with frustration in the stock cupboard.

Best training ever done: Negotiation training by Nalgo (former local government union) when I was branch chair.

I didn’t get where I am today by: Being patient!

Over the course of my career, I wish I hadn’t: Taken so long to get the confidence and determination I have now acquired.

Most painful lesson I’ve learned at work: “Culture eats process for breakfast” (quote courtesy of Brighton & Hove Council managers).

Me and my career: My butterfly tendencies have stood me in good stead, giving me experience in a range of public services, rather than a single focus. My experience at Brighton Council, where I worked on bringing together children’s social services and education, gave me an understanding of what is required at Suffolk. I’ve been in Suffolk for a short time only and am busy meeting staff, visiting schools, health and voluntary sector services, and talking to children and young people wherever I can find them. It is interesting moving from a compact coastal unitary council to a large rural county. The needs of children, young people and communities are broadly the same, of course. I am particularly impressed by Suffolk’s children’s futures programme, led by the council in partnership with health, police and others to improve children’s services.

Curriculum vitae
2005: Director, children and young people, Suffolk Council.
2002: Assistant director, children, families and schools, Brighton & Hove Council.
2000: Assistant director, lifelong learning, Brighton & Hove Council.
1997: Head of community and continuing education, Brighton & Hove Council.
1995: Churchill travelling fellowship, studying drug education in Australia.
1994: Policy officer, East Sussex Council.
1991: Officer, substance misuse, East Sussex Council.
1987: Play development officer, Brighton Council.
1983: English and drama teacher, Brighton.
1978-82: Studied for degree and teaching qualification.
1974: Reporter, Wolverhampton Evening Star.