​Derbyshire Alcohol Advice service is staffed by dedicated and experienced professionals and are led by a management team and board of Trustees with years of experience in related areas.

Senior Management Team

Elaine Handley - Service Manager
Elaine has been part of DAAS for over 25 years and has worked her way through the organisation as administrator, counsellor and team leader. She has led the development it from NDAAS (North Derbyshire based alcohol service) into DAAS (countywide) and then to an integral part of Derbyshire Recovery Partnership for which DAAS delivers key elements of service provision.

Elaine also has an ILM management qualification and has taken a lead in gaining service accreditations for DAAS, such as IIP, CSE, BACP and the Matrix award for information and guidance.  Elaine has a background in counselling and gained a Masters degree in counselling and human relationships with a specialist interest in gender and power relationships and women and alcohol. 

Alison Scott - Deputy Manager
Alison has worked for DAAS for 10 years having started out as a volunteer counsellor.  She is part of the Leadership Team, supporting the overall management and development of the organisation in her role as Deputy Manager.  As Clinical Governance Lead and Caldicott Champion she ensures that our clinical work is of the highest quality and that client information is used appropriately.   She continues to have a small private counselling practice.
 
Prior to working for DAAS Alison worked in the pharmaceutical industry in sales and project work. She also trained and worked in the fitness and nutrition field .  

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Peter Mayes - Finance and Business Manager
Peter Mayes joined DAAS in October 2020, replacing Laura Cain as Finance and Business Manager. Peter intends to develop the finance reporting for DAAS , as well as maintaining robust financial management systems.
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He is a fully qualified accountant and has had extensive experience, working in the NHS, Next, and British Midland Airways.

Trustees

Neil Swanwick - Chair
Neil worked in the NHS for 38 years, primarily in pharmacy as chief pharmacist at Chesterfield Royal hospital  and later in General Management as Director of Planning & Performance, North Derbyshire Community Health Care NHS Trust; and  Chief Executive, High Peak & Dales Primary Care Trust; He concluded his NHS career as Director of Derwent Shared Services.

​His experience includes working as and with clinicians, in Organisational Development, Corporate & Clinical Governance, Operational and Strategic Management, and Planning. Neil has been Chair of DAAS (and subsequently DAAS CIO) for 30 years and drove through the process of becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation

The Chair is supported by 

• Tom Davidson - Vice Chair
• Paul Beeson - Treasurer
• Gill Sullivan - Secretary
• Geoff Link
• Andrew Ramrattan
• Bev Miller
• Francis James

DAAS is always keen to hear from individuals interested in joining the board. We are particularly seeking people with a legal or clinical background . For more information go to our vacancies page.