New trustees Julia Scott and Andy Tilden

From starting out as an occupational therapist in the NHS, Julia’s career has developed across a variety of different roles.  Prior to joining the Royal College, Julia was Head of Disability services at Kensington and Chelsea Social Services in London.   She was Chief Executive of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists from 2006 to 2021.

Julia was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from Brunel University in 2006 in recognition of her contribution to undergraduate Occupational Therapy education and previously taught a Quality Assurance module at the University.  In March 2011, Julia was awarded a prestigious Social Care Fellowship from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE).  Julia is one of only six recipients of this Fellowship.  In March 2016, Julia was awarded an inaugural Fellowship from Skills For Care, in recognition of her leadership and support of the social care workforce.

Julia is now a Trustee of Age UK, a Strategic Advisor for Healthcomms Consulting and a mentor for  other Allied Health Professionals and is greatly looking forward to applying her experience to the work of  Barchester’s Charitable Foundation Board.

Andy Tilden retired as Director of Operations at Skills for Care in March 2021 having spent the previous year as Interim CEO. His role covered leadership and management, standards, learning qualifications and apprenticeships, recruitment and retention, workforce innovation and regulated professionals.  Andy has been working in and around social care since the late 1970s. He initially qualified as a teacher and has worked as a residential care worker, a trainer and manager in the NHS and as a lecturer. He qualified as a social worker in 1984 and worked in juvenile justice, child protection and learning disability services and a lecturer. He served three years as a NICE Fellow.

Andy is now Vice Chair and trustee of the RCN Covid Foundation, a trustee of Community Catalysts and a Non-Executive of Training Now which is part of the Agincare group. Andy is a Fellow of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and in 2021 he was awarded an OBE for services to social care.

Dr Pete Calveley, Chairman of Barchester’s Charitable Foundation comments:  “We are delighted to welcome Julia and Andy onto the Barchester Foundation board.  We are excited to work with them and we are certain that their many years of experience and combined expertise in social care will be hugely beneficial in helping us shape the Foundation’s future.”