External contributor / Sandra Betney

I have a great deal of varied experience in the NHS, have recently completed two reciprocal mentoring programmes to improve my understanding of the issues faced, one with a community leader from the afro Caribbean community in Gloucester and two with colleagues with protected characteristics in more junior management positions in the Trust. I have mentored people on the NHS finance training scheme, the NHS general management training scheme and the Gloucestershire graduate training scheme (digital post). I am currently a in a reciprocal mentoring programme with a member of staff from our ICB from a very different background to me and I am a sponsor in the One NHS Finance sponsorship programme with one sponsee.

A bit about me:  

• I am Director of Finance for Gloucestershire Health and Care since its creation in October 2019. I became joint Director of Finance for 2gether and Gloucestershire Care Services in June 2019, having previously been Director of Finance for Gloucestershire Care Services. I am proud to have been the lead executive for the successful merger and integration. Before joining Gloucestershire Care Services, I worked in a Mental Health Foundation Trust in Birmingham, Mental Health in Gloucestershire, a national IT and information NHS Arms Length Body, a Health Authority and a Community and Mental Health Trust in Yorkshire. I have been at Executive director level in the NHS for 21 years now.  
• My pronouns are she/her.  
• My responsibilities include, planning, finance, estates, facilities, contract management, procurement, business intelligence and digital services.  
• I am the SIRO and executive responsible for Health Safety and Security in my Trust  
• I am a qualified accountant and began my accountancy career with a Housing Association, I have worked in the NHS for 30 years, and been a Director for most of that time.  
• I am the co-chair of the Trust’s Womens’ Leadership Network, which I set up in 2019, and regularly attend the other Trust networks