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Management Structure

Chief Executive – Steve Hamer OBE FRSA
Coming from a background in teaching, Steve first entered the social care field in 1977, working with single, homeless people in London before joining Cranstoun, a residential rehabilitation programme for drug misusers in 1979. After two years at Cranstoun and then two years teaching English in Sudan, Steve returned to the drugs field in 1983 to open the Parole Release Scheme, the UK’s first dedicated resettlement service for drug using prisoners.

Since joining Compass in 1986 as its first employee, Steve has guided the organisation through its many stages of development, to become one of the UK’s leading drug treatment providers. Steve has an MA in Social Policy, an obsession with jazz and a love hate relationship with Queens Park Rangers.

In June 2005, Steve was awarded an OBE in the Queen´s Birthday Honours, which not only reflects his personal achievements in helping to develop better services for drug users nationally but also reflects on the work of Compass, to ensure good quality services for clients.

Director of Finance and Company Secretary - Carol Butterill
A qualified Chartered Accountant since 1989, Carol has worked in the charity and not for profit sectors for over ten years.

Her interests outside work include running, painting, long distance walks, photography, family and local history, football (West Ham United) and gardening on her allotment.


Area Director Yorkshire - Linda Haig
Linda spent her first career in the Hotel industry and following a period as a ‘mature student’ she graduated with a degree in Social Policy and Criminology. Linda then spent two years working for the prison service delivering groups to rehabilitate offenders, including those with substance misuse problems. Her interest in this field developed and she joined Compass in 2001 as a Treatment Manager/Team Leader within a prison setting. She spent time developing a range of group work and one to one programmes and delivering training to staff and prison colleagues.

This was followed by a period as Area Manager for Compass prison services, moving on to manage the wide variety of community services in East Yorkshire in 2004.

As Area Director, Linda is now responsible for services across Yorkshire, including Hull, East Riding, York, North Yorkshire and Bradford. She continues to be interested in staff training as being the foundation for delivering quality treatment to our clients.

With a son and two black Labradors any other spare time is spent reading, gardening or cooking.


Area Director The Midlands - Rachel Bundock
Rachel joined Compass in 1999 as a CARAT worker and over the years has continued to gain knowledge and experience in a variety of roles and settings which include young people’s services, specialist women’s services, structured day programmes and working within the criminal justice system. She has been fortunate to set up brand new services in both Milton Keynes and London.

After completing a degree in the History of Art & Design, Rachel became involved in volunteering for a local drug and alcohol helpline and went on to complete a certificate in drug and alcohol counselling. After a couple of years undertaking voluntary work and evening courses in counselling skills, Rachel joined Compass.

Outside interests include, a love of cooking, shoe shopping and being a fair-weathered member of a local book club.


Area Director London & The South East - Fran Holgate
After training as a nurse in England, Fran went backpacking to Australia in 1988. In 1989 she began working in the Australian alcohol and other drug sector, and over the next 17 years she worked in clinical, research, policy development and management roles. In 1998 she was central to the establishment of an innovative youth-specific treatment service operating across the State of Victoria, which offers a comprehensive and holistic range of services to young drug users. She has a particular interest in bridging the gaps between research, policy and practice. In February 2005 Fran returned to England and joined KCA as Operations Manager for London.

Outside of work Fran is a keen rower on the river Medway, and a less keen student in the Open University MBA programme.


Director of Human Resources - Leigh Hitchcock
Leigh originally joined Compass in 2002 as HR Manager, progressing to Head of HR. After relocating to Suffolk with her family, she started her own HR consultancy business in 2004 and continued to work with Compass on an ad hoc project basis until December 2006. In January 2007, Leigh returned to Compass as Director of HR and now works part-time 2.5 days per week.

After completing a degree in American Studies and Geography, Leigh worked for Cambridgeshire Constabulary as a HR Officer while she gained her Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development qualification. She then worked for British Sugar as a Regional Personnel Manager before having a break to have her daughter in 2001.

Outside interests include spending time with her family and friends, holidays, contributing to the local PTA and yoga (when she can fit it in!).



Clinical Director - Yvonne Ward
Yvonne Ward qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 1992, with a varied background in general medicine and gastroenterology, she became frustrated by the treatment of substance misuse patients on the hospital wards and began increasing her knowledge around this area to assist in making changes.

She joined Compass in 1999 and her first role within the organisation was a Practice Nurse with the remit to develop a prescribing service for drug users in the criminal justice system in Hull. Following this she progressed and developed the prescribing services within the organisation and has been promoted through the management structure into the current position of Clinical Director. During this time she has gained a Diploma in Management and in 2005 qualified as one of the first nurse prescribers in the organisation.

Yvonne continues to be passionate about improving the health status of people who misuse substances and improve communication between primary and secondary healthcare provision in the statutory and non statutory services. Her experience and background provides a solid base for bridging the clinical and managerial structures within the organisation.

Outside interests include loud music, good food and holidays.


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