Judith is a Director at the Commissioning Support Programme.

Judith Smyth leads on Governance and Commissioning and is a very experienced policy implementation consultant. She has worked for eight years as an independent consultant and facilitator, working with Local and Regional Government, Housing Associations and the NHS. Much of this was with children’s services. During this time Judith was Chair of a successful Health Authority steering it through major changes including a hospital closure and beacon status Health improvement partnership work. She studied contracting, procurement and the role of the voluntary sector as a Harkness Fellow in the USA and before becoming a consultant, was Director of a large Housing association and a Town planner.

Her areas of expertise include: integrated commissioning, leadership, strategy and planning, governance, effective partnerships, integrated commissioning, developing integrated teams, change management, performance management, board development and community involvement. She is an NRU-approved Neighbourhood Regeneration Advisor. In addition to developing understanding of integrated commissioning and helping clients to choose how best to change children's services, Judith has been leading the teams working for the DCSF to implement the Lead Professional Guidance and supporting the Budget Holding Lead Professional pilots.

 Recent Relevant Experience:

·         Project lead for the DCSF contract to provide support and challenge for 17 pilot authorities. Over 20 months, with 8 consultants, she worked with each authority to provide a bespoke service and developed and supported a learning community through participative conferences and papers, and action learning sets.

·         Consultancy support for the change for children agenda, including development of locality based family support services and new governance arrangements - for example in the London Borough of Westminster, Peterborough, Haringey, Leeds, Somerset, Southwark and Kirklees.

·         Design and delivery of Cin4 workshops to establish integrated whole system commissioning (including Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Cornwall, Kingston on Thames, Hartlepool, Staffordshire, Barnet, Hillingdon, Blackpool)

·         Workshops for National council of voluntary youth services, Connexions London, Careers England, Narrowing the Gap, Cabinet office.

·         Team leader for Lead professional contract with DfES in which she worked with ten Local Authorities to help them to overcome difficulties in implementing the Lead professional Guidance by developing practical tools and policy documents.

·         Team leader for the Budget Holding lead professional pilot programme she helkped provide support and challenge to the 16 pilot BHLP authorities to implement whole system outcome focussed change and multi level commissioning.

·         Development of options for the future managerial and structural arrangements for Leeds Children’s services authority

·         Developing integrated services for children at risk including detailed operational policies for integrated CAMHs teams, BEST teams, Children’s Fund, Surestart and Early years partnerships including stakeholder engagement and involvement of children, young people and parents.

·         Head of OPM Centre for Public Governance working with Boards in the NHS, third sector, Housing Associations, Higher Education and NDPBs