Member Spotlight: Dan Knowles – Oxfordshire Mind

February 4, 2022

We interviewed Health Alliance member Dan Knowles who is the CEO of Oxfordshire Mind here is his experience of being a member.

Tell us about yourself and your organisation?

We are a mental health charity, part of the national Mind federation. In the last 12 months we helped over 30,000 Oxfordshire residents with their mental health challenges. We provide information and signposting, talking therapies, group and individual support, volunteering opportunities, benefits advice, housing and more. We are founding partners of the Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership, the TalkingSpace Plus Partnership, and the Youth in Mind Partnership. More recently we have started delivering services in West Berkshire, where there is no Mind presence currently; we work very closely with our colleagues in Buckinghamshire Mind in order to do so.

What made you join the alliance?

The ICS brings a great opportunity to consider population health management across the BOB area, and to bring new innovative ways of working to the system. By leveraging the strengths of all partners – NHS, local authorities, and the 3rd sector – we have the ability to changes lives for the better. This is exciting!

How has being part of the group helped you?

We are still in the formative stages of course but already we have connected with new organisations and are enjoying being part of the evolving conversation

What would you say if you were to recommend it to others?

We all need to work together, especially since the pandemic, to improve lives and deliver better outcomes to residents in Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The ICS gives us a great opportunity to be involved and make a difference.