Reading, walking, meditation, friendships,
DOLYANNA MORDOCHAI
London,ENG
Summary
An experienced and values led senior executive with vast strategic and operational management experience in the voluntary and statutory sectors spanning across Mental Health, Social Care, and Education. Over 25 years of experience leading children/young people's services with particular interest in Safeguarding, Mental Health, and Emotional Wellbeing, as well as children with Special Educational Needs and/or Autism. Proven track record of change management, business development, and service transformation whilst ensuring safety, quality, and human-centered, values-led actions lie at the heart of all efforts. Innovating and developing solutions to complex problems has been a key feature of 25-year career in the sector which has been guided by honest communication, clear vision, and warm, authentic leadership. Passionate about leading sustainable change for those in society most in need due to trauma, disability, injury, or any form of exclusion.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
2
2
Languages
Work History
Chief Executive Officer
Resources for Autism
12.2019 - 6 2024
- Overall operational and strategic responsibility for the charity, which employed 280 staff and over 60 volunteers
- Key achievements included: Led organisation through COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent cost of living crisis, ensuring continuity and adaptability of services
- Increased organisational income and significantly reduced operational deficit from 25% in 2019 to 3% in 2024 and increasing reserves to 4.5 months
- Conducted comprehensive reviews of statutory contracts, resulting in development of new partnerships and securing over £1.5 million in new statutory income and over 2M in philanthropic income.
- Enhanced governance structures and supported the regeneration of the Board, ensuring robust oversight and strategic direction
- Developed and strengthened leadership capabilities within the organisation, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement
- Established new commercial arm focused on neurodiversity training, creating an innovative source of income and expanding charity's service offerings
- Reinforced organisation's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and genuine co-production, implementing tangible strategies to ensure these values are embedded in all operations.
Head of Children Services/Strategic Lead
Norwood
02.2013 - 12.2019
- Head of Children Services for a leading social care provider with Children Services spanning across Mental Health, Social Care, and Education Sectors
- 32M turnover organisation employing over 1200 staff and 1500 volunteers
- As a strategic lead for children services, I worked directly to CEO and Board on all strategic issues regarding children services and led a management team of five
- Operational remit of 160 staff and 600 volunteers offering preventative and specialist support to over 2000 children, young people, and their families each year
- Developed and shaped two cycles of growth strategy setting for the organisation and led the implementation of Children Services Strategy
- Built new and nurtured existing strategic partnerships with Local Authorities and other voluntary organisations, raising the profile of Norwood's children services as a leading provider in Mental Health and SEND Services
- Financial oversight of a £3.2M budget across multiple cost centers and restricted fund projects
- Maximized funding opportunities for subsidised services through developing relevant partnerships with external agencies (voluntary and statutory), private donors, and commissioners
- Reduced inherited deficit of traded services by 20% over 18 months
- Redesigned the evaluation framework for Children Services ensuring the impact of our work is captured properly and service users have multiple avenues to co-produce and feedback their experience of our service
- Successfully led all aspects of Children Services with a high-performing team which includes three Service Leads, a Business Manager, and a Quality Assurance Coordinator
- Designated Safeguarding Lead for Children Services.
ChildLine Service Manager London/South East
NSPCC
01.2007 - 01.2013
- A national 24hrs helpline accessed by 4000 children and young people daily through phone and online counseling
- As a senior lead of ChildLine's largest base, I had overall responsibility for a team of 75 staff and 400 volunteers through direct line management of five Senior Supervisors and three Outreach Coordinators
- Led two major change management processes including a merger with NSPCC and move to online counseling
- Developed a five-year Helpline Development Programme (HDP) which resulted in a 50% increase in our response rate to children and young people
- Networked extensively with large donors and built productive relationships and partnerships with other organizations including Police, Social Services, Overseas Helplines, CEOP
- Ensured full compliance with child protection/confidentiality requirements, advising on confidentiality thresholds as appropriate.
Employer Liaison Officer
Landmark Training
01.2006 - 01.2007
- Employed at Senior Project Manager level to set up and lead a highly successful mentoring project, engaging over 100 private sector employers to act as coaches to young people excluded from learning opportunities.
Intensive Placement Officer
Brighton and Hove Council
01.2003 - 01.2005
- Undertook direct therapeutic work with children and young people in care and their foster carers.
Contact Supervisor
Brighton and Hove Council
01.2002 - 01.2005
- Acted as child's advocate in court and key child protection professional meetings and supervised contact between highly vulnerable birth families and their newborn babies as part of a legal parenting assessment which would ascertain future custody of the child.
Education
M.Sc.: Voluntary Sector Management (Merit) -
CASS Business School
London, ENG 09.2012 - 04.2014
M.Sc.: Social Anthropology of Development (Merit) -
School of African And Oriental Studies
London, ENG 04.2024 - 04.2004
Bachelor of Science: Social Psychology - undefined
Sussex University
Skills
- Business Development
Reliability
Adaptability and Flexibility
Excellent Communication
Problem-solving aptitude
Relationship Building
Strategic Partnerships
Organizational Leadership
Business Development
Non Executive And Voluntary Positions
- Chair of Trustees/Family First Aiders, 2014-2019
- Vice Chair Adoption Panel/Hillview Fostering, 2002-2003
- Volunteer/Ghana-West Africa/ BUNAC, 2001-2002
Professional Development
- Transformational Leadership Course (CASS Business School)
- Mindful Leadership Summit (Mindful Leader)
- Presenting Made Brilliant/Story-Telling for Business (An advanced presentation skills course for executives offered by world leading drama school-RADA)
- Leadership Course (Penny Ferguson)
- Media Training (NSPCC)
- Qualified Youth Worker (Brighton and Hove Council)
- Dare to Lead Certified
- Advanced Presentation (RADA)
References
- Kit Hunter Gordon OBE, kit.huntergordon@summit-group.co.uk, former RfA Chair
- Ron Brown, ron.brown05@btinternet.com, Director of Services Norwood
Interests
Timeline
M.Sc.: Social Anthropology of Development (Merit) -
School of African And Oriental Studies
04.2024 - 04.2004
Chief Executive Officer
Resources for Autism
12.2019 - 6 2024
Head of Children Services/Strategic Lead
Norwood
02.2013 - 12.2019
M.Sc.: Voluntary Sector Management (Merit) -
CASS Business School
09.2012 - 04.2014
ChildLine Service Manager London/South East
NSPCC
01.2007 - 01.2013
Employer Liaison Officer
Landmark Training
01.2006 - 01.2007
Intensive Placement Officer
Brighton and Hove Council
01.2003 - 01.2005
Contact Supervisor
Brighton and Hove Council
01.2002 - 01.2005
Bachelor of Science: Social Psychology - undefined
Sussex University
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