|
 |
Previous story (News Browser) Next story
A new ‘Safer Schools’ police officer has started work at Erith School. PC Barry Shepherd has replaced Dave Holbrook, who has recently retired. Barry started his new job on Monday 17 October, having transferred from duties as a local police officer in Danson Ward.
Barry, 35, brings a wealth of policing experience to the role, and says he is really looking forward to working with the pupils, and staff. With three children of his own, he says he is ably qualified to take on his new challenge.
Erith School Headteacher, Toby Hufford says: “We are very much looking forward to the valuable link that Barry Shepherd can provide to further establish the good working relationship we have between pupils, parents and the local community. We are fully committed to the success of the scheme.”
Sector Inspector Steve Duffy has been introducing Barry to all the school’s students during a series of morning assemblies.
Inspector Duffy says: “Police and schools are essential partners in pursuit of a safe community. This in turn promotes respect, responsibility and enhances prospects for maximum educational achievement.
“By being based within the school premises, Barry will be more readily accessible to our young people, and will be on hand to talk with them if they need to on a one-to-one basis.
“I am very grateful to the head teacher and staff at Erith for welcoming Barry into the school family, and I very much look forward to a close and beneficial working relationship in the future.”
Safer Schools Officers are already in place at Cleeve Park in Sidcup, Beths in Bexley Village, St Luke’s College, Sidcup, St Columba’s and St Catherine’s Schools in Bexleyheath, the Business Academy Bexley at Thamesmead, Blackfen School for Girls and Hurstmere Boys School, Sidcup.
The Safer Schools officers are a dedicated police resource and will not be reassigned to other duties.
The Safer Schools Partnership involves police, Bexley Council, schools, parents and pupils and has been welcomed by Bexley’s Education Director, Deborah Absalom.
Cllr Chris Ball, Chair of Bexley Community Safety Partnership and Council Leader says: “Safer schools officers have proved to be a great success in Bexley. Having these dedicated officers based in our secondary schools allows closer contact between the police, pupils, school staff and families.
“It has proved to be a worthwhile, positive relationship, and has built strong links between the pupils and police since we introduced the scheme in the Borough in September last year.”
On November the 1st, Ms Mandip Klear, who lives in Erith, has been named this year’s ‘Mental Health Representative of the Year’.
The ‘Representative of the Year’ Awards 2005, sponsored by PharmaTimes Magazine, recognises the work of sales representatives in the UK, based on their relationship building and interaction with customers, knowledge of the therapeutic area and also their efficiency in response to queries and orders. Mandip was originally selected by her customers to enter the awards. ‘Otsuka’, the company Mandip works for, endorsed Mandip’s entry, based on her consistently high performance in 2005 and the progress she has made in all of the Award criteria areas over the last year.
Mandip, who has worked for ‘Otsuka’ for over a year and a half, is responsible for ‘Abilify®’ sales in North East London with her territory partner. The award winning ‘Abilify’ is an atypical antipsychotic for the treatment of schizophrenia. It was discovered by an ‘Otsuka’ scientist, and has been available in the UK since 2004. ‘Abilify’ is marketed by ‘Otsuka’ and ‘Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Ltd.’ in the UK.
Commenting on the win, Mandip says: “I really enjoy my work, especially building rapport with my customers, gaining their trust and being able to fulfil requests. All my customers are very knowledgeable, so it is important to provide them with the information that they find most useful and relevant to their job without sounding patronising. I work hard to meet my customers’ demands, so it is great to see that they value my efforts.”
|
|
