Mencap’s Jo Williams tops list of social care’s most influential people

Mencap’s Jo Williams tops list of social care’s most influential
people Jo Williams, chief executive of learning difficulties
charity Mencap, has been voted most influential person in social
care by Community Care readers.

Williams topped the list of the 20 people who have had the most
effect on the sector with more than 300 votes in a poll this
week.
Almost 2,300 people voted in the competition during the past two
weeks.

Williams has a strong track record in social care and was appointed
to her current position in November 2002. Her previous roles
include director of social services at Cheshire Council and
president of the Association of Directors of Social Services.

Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection Denise Platt,
who scooped second place with 237 votes, said she was “very
flattered”.

She was quick to congratulate Williams on her win. “I’m very
pleased because some of the things Mencap is doing are really
fantastic, especially its In Control group that is helping to move
person-centred planning into reality,” she said.

Bob Holman, the social care writer and activist, came third with
233 votes.

The votes were cast in three categories.

• For a full list of winners go to www.communitycare.co.uk