Catalyst Support Service Improvement Manager Keely Glithero talks about her professional journey and the exciting new challenge she is about to start.
Supporting people with multiple disadvantages
When I began with the Southern Addiction Advisory Service in 2001, I took on the role of Manager of Boxmooreâa pioneering service designed to work assertively alongside children and young people experiencing multiple disadvantages in Surrey. This was the first service of its kind, progressive and transformative, advocating for the wants and needs of young people who often lacked a voice. These were individuals hidden from the community yet enmeshed in a criminal justice system that recognized only their crimes, not their trauma.
This community service made a profound impact. It changed lives, saved lives, and altered familiesâ perspectives. It transformed the support they received and reshaped how systems viewed people and the services provided to the community.
Since then, my passion has remained with addressing multiple disadvantages. I have worked in OMNI outreach, supporting people with co-occurring needs, and lead the community needle and syringe exchange and overdose prevention within the NHS. I later returned to Catalyst Support to develop co-produced mutual aid meetings across Surrey for those with addictions. For the last four years, I have had the honour of being a service manager, leading a vision for Catalyst Supportâs outreach services. These services have achieved significant change, provided relational community support, won awards, and shifted perceptions in both the community and among commissioners. This success would not have been possible without the unwavering commitment and dedication of the teams who brought this vision to life.
Joining the Bridge the Gap Team
One standout example is the Bridge the Gap team, which provides trauma-informed, relational, and assertive outreach under the Changing Futures programmeâa national initiative supporting individuals with multiple disadvantages. Recently, an opportunity arose within this team for a Project Manager role. This position excites me as it aligns with my passion for addressing systemic barriers, developing strategy, and influencing change. Catalyst Support is one of 11 charity providers in Surrey participating in this programme, and my new role will involve operationally supporting the serviceâs delivery across our partner organisations.
Working across health, criminal justice, mental health, housing, social care, and education requires adopting a whole-person perspective. This approach necessitates bespoke solutions tailored to individualsâ needs. However, many systems still take a top-down approach, where people must navigate rigid pathways defined by quotas, waiting lists, key performance indicators, 10-minute appointments, rules, and protocols. Such approaches often encourage a fragmented view of individuals, focusing solely on deficits that the system aims to âfix.â
The result is a series of disjointed interventions from numerous administrators and professionals, with one person often receiving support from multiple, disconnected organisations. My new role will focus on understanding peopleâs stories and influencing systems to ensure community services collaborate effectively. The goal is to create environments where individuals can have their needs met without re-traumatisation.
While my career break will undoubtedly be busyâwith opportunities for learning, reflection, and growthâI am confident that it will equip me with new insights and strategies. I look forward to returning to Catalyst Support with fresh perspectives to further enhance how we meet the needs of the communities we serve.