EMMA POPAY
Rochdale,United Kingdom
Summary
Accomplished professional with a proven track record in building diverse high-performing teams and engaging stakeholders effectively. Demonstrates resilience in high-pressure situations, leveraging data-driven decision-making to enhance performance monitoring. Strong leadership skills complemented by expertise in training and development, aiming to drive organisational success through strategic initiatives.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work history
Operations Manager
Care Quality Commission
04.2023 - 06.2026
- Strategic and operational leader responsible for delivering end-to-end regulatory assessment activity across Primary and Community Care services. Lead team of 8 inspectors to manage 600+ locations and providers at scale to deliver complex, system-based assessments that identify risk, ensure safeguarding, and drive measurable improvements in care quality. Accountable for managing operational risk across providers and systems, ensuring proportionate and evidence-based regulatory action in line with key performance indicators and organisational priorities.
- Consistently perform against organisational performance targets, often ahead of time and exceeding targets without compromising quality.
- Collaborates closely with fellow PCC Operational Managers and cross directorate colleagues to identify emerging risks, prioritise activity, and coordinate inspection planning across sector. Develops and implements consistent, network-wide approaches to ways of working across primary, community, and independent health providers, embedding standardised procedures and continuous improvement.
- Proven ability to lead and develop high performing diverse and psychologically safe teams, ensuring consistent, evidence-based regulatory decisions that safeguard service users and drive quality improvement. Skilled in risk management, performance delivery, and quality assurance, with strong track record of quality assurance and enforcing regulatory standards.
- Highly competent in using management information systems and tools to monitor performance, maintain audit trails, and support data-driven decision-making.
- Recognised for excellent communication skills, influencing at all levels, and promoting culture of continuous improvement, inclusivity, and accountability. Skilled communicator developing and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders across Greater Manchester.
Inspector
Care Quality Commission
01.2012 - 04.2023
- Experienced inspector within Primary are directorate, leading oversight of large and complex portfolio across multiple ICB localities, including both large-scale and independent providers. Operates with high degree of autonomy, building and maintaining strong relationships with colleagues, providers, and external stakeholders. Recognised for providing leadership across challenging environments, influencing decision-making, and ensuring consistent and effective regulatory approach.
- Demonstrated strong leadership in risk management and regulatory decision-making, analysing intelligence from management systems and external sources to identify concerns and take appropriate action. Experience in use of a range of regulatory tools, including inspections, portfolio reviews, and monitoring activities, to gather evidence and drive improvements. I played key role in safeguarding service users by responding decisively to concerns raised by public or staff, ensuring timely and proportionate regulatory interventions.
- Confident leader and communicator, skilled in producing high-quality reports, presenting findings, and handling complex stakeholder interactions. Actively contributes to team development by mentoring new inspectors, delivering training, and acting as Mental Capacity Act coach. Demonstrated adaptability and leadership beyond core responsibilities, supporting wider organisational priorities, including cross-directorate work during COVID-19 pandemic and contributing to quality improvement and regulatory initiatives.
- I completed Successful manager programme and Professional Regulatory Skills Programme (PRSP).
Education Training Director
BROOK
Greater Manchester
01.2009 - 01.2012
- Led strategic cross-sector programmes, managing multidisciplinary teams of 50 staff across multiple sites to deliver integrated, high-quality services for young people. Directed programme delivery with strong focus on achieving key objectives through effective resource management, proactive risk assessment, and prioritisation of competing demands within complex environment.
- Led and implemented comprehensive learning and development strategy, undertaking organisation-wide training needs analysis and designing inclusive, blended learning programmes aligned to strategic goals. Evaluated programme effectiveness to ensure continuous improvement and measurable impact. Directed education programmes for young people while also leading delivery of accredited professional training across health, social care, and education sectors.
- Managed contracts, budgets, and service delivery across multiple local authorities and CCGs, ensuring strong financial oversight, value for money, and high performance. Oversaw delivery of integrated services, including community-based clinics, ensuring responsive to needs of young people and delivered positive outcomes.
- Held lead responsibility for safeguarding, child protection, and Mental Capacity Act compliance, embedding robust governance frameworks and risk management processes. Built and maintained extensive strategic stakeholder relationships, strengthening partnerships to enhance service reach and improve outcomes.
- Successfully secured over £150K in funding through grants, consultancy, and training, and played key role in winning £500K contract, supporting service expansion across three new sites. Evaluated service effectiveness and produced high-level reports for boards and commissioners, driving strategic decision-making and continuous service improvement.
Education Outreach Manager
Brook
01.2003 - 01.2009
- Provided hands-on management of the education outreach team promoting services among young people and provided cutting edge personal and social education to young people. I led multidisciplinary staff team, students and volunteers. Identified and developed new areas of work, and continually developed and maintained partnerships with other agencies and professionals. Lead within the organisation on the development and implementation of education outreach strategy, including monitoring and evaluating effectiveness. Ensured strong professional development of education outreach team, generated funding proposals in support of development and maintenance of education outreach strategy, and managed budgets.
- Delivered critical support to allow agency to become one of the first to achieve Department of Health ‘Your Welcome’ standards for young people.
- Achieved accreditation status for personal, social health education devised for young people.
Education Outreach Worker
Brook
01.2000 - 01.2003
- Led ground-up creation of education services as first full time staff member within Brook. Developed and maintained extensive network of professional contacts within school, youth services, and other relevant agencies. Created and implemented relevant sexual health education programmes for young people based on close consultation with young people, and collaborated with other agencies to produce joint sexual health initiatives. Designed policy and good practise guidelines for the organisation.
- Increased clients accessing service by 99% in first year of establishing education outreach.
- Developed partnerships and delivered intervention programmes to 80% of secondary schools throughout Oldham, including the nationally recognized ‘realities’ course in which young parents deliver peer education into to the classroom.
- Spearheaded volunteer programmes to recruit and train peer educators from the local community who were disengaged, with 85% of recruits advancing into further education and/or training.
Area Youth Work Manager
OLDHAM COUNCIL
Oldham, United Kingdom
01.1998 - 01.2000
- Managed two youth centres in Oldham, leading staff and volunteers to deliver safe, compliant and well-resourced services, overseeing a centre relocation co-designed with young people, delivering education programmes, and building strong local partnerships to improve engagement and provision for young people, including in hard-to-reach communities.
- Additional experience includes: Community Drugs Prevention Worker (Home Office).
- Youth Worker (Leeds City Council).
Education
Certificate in Education - Education
Bolton University
JNC Diploma - Youth and Community
Leeds Metropolitan University
Assessor/Verifier Level 3 -
Open College Network
Timeline
Operations Manager
Care Quality Commission
04.2023 - 06.2026
Inspector
Care Quality Commission
01.2012 - 04.2023
Education Training Director
BROOK
01.2009 - 01.2012
Education Outreach Manager
Brook
01.2003 - 01.2009
Education Outreach Worker
Brook
01.2000 - 01.2003
Area Youth Work Manager
OLDHAM COUNCIL
01.1998 - 01.2000
Certificate in Education - Education
Bolton University
JNC Diploma - Youth and Community
Leeds Metropolitan University
Assessor/Verifier Level 3 -
Open College Network