The People

Rex Hewitt

Rex has recently undertaken an assignment as Project Manager with the Northern DHB Support Agency, based in Auckland, New Zealand. This work is examining and reporting on children and young people's alcohol and other drug use and detoxification services.

Rex has over 20 years experience as a senior manager within UK local government and the voluntary and community sector. As an Assistant Director of Social Services he has was responsible for the planning and delivery of Adult Services for two local authorities, which included mental health, learning disability and alcohol and drug services. As the Chief Executive of Turning Point, a UK NGO, he led the organisation in providing and developing national and local services in the areas of mental health, alcohol and drug treatment and learning disabilities. He has been the interim Director of four UK NGOs, and the Director of Operations for Heathwork UK, which became Skills for Health a Sector Skills Council.

He has contributed to the development of Government policy in drugs and alcohol services working with the Home Office, Department of Health and Department for Education and Skills in England. As a member of the Special Health Authority National Treatment Agency Steering Group he assisted in the development of a Human Resource Strategy. He was worked closely on policy issues with the Welsh Office and the National Assembly for Wales, in areas such as learning disabilities, mental health and drugs and alcohol. He was a member of the Secretary of State for Wales Advisory Panel on learning disability services.

Rex has established social and economic regeneration programmes throughout the UK. This included establishing a London borough based Co-operative Development Agency and innovation, and enterprise centres in Dundee, Nottingham and Newport (Wales). He played a lead role in the establishment of an all Wales Registered Social Landlord and Supported Housing agency for people with learning disabilities. He has led two organisational mergers and was responsible for the reorganisation of disability and mental health social care services in Cardiff. He designed and managed through to approval the UK Drugs and Alcohol National Occupational Standards (DANOS). He led a team providing a programme for the UK Home Office, working with 25 Pooled Budget pilot sites commissioning alcohol and drug services for children and young people.

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