Our Senior Leadership Team is responsible for ensuring that Together for Children delivers it's vision and priorities as a company. The team has a strong track record in delivering excellence and improvement, and lead on delivery of the priorities set out in our company business plan.
Simon Marshall
Director of Children's Services and Chief Executive of Together for Children
Simon Marshall became Chief Executive and Director of Children's Services in September 2024, having been Sunderland's Director of Education since 2017. Simon has 26 years' experience working in education across the North East of England, teaching in a range of schools across the region. He spent twelve years as a headteacher, specialising in leading schools in challenging circumstances. This included being head at Sunderland's Highfield Primary School where he was recognised nationally for developing innovative school-based mental health services to support children and families. In 2014 he was named School Leader of the year in the National Wellbeing School Awards.
Helen Monks
Director of Children's Social Care
Helen was appointed as Interim Director of Children's Social Care in April 2024, having joined Together for Children as a Service Manager for Safeguarding Services in July 2019.
Helen has 25 years' experience as a qualified social worker and has worked in other parts of the region in a variety of roles including within Early Help and Safeguarding services.
Helen has a Master's Degree in Social Work; and has demonstrated a commitment to ongoing professional development with a range of further awards in specialist social work and leadership programs.
Kimberley Richardson
Interim Director of Education Services
Kimberley was appointed as Interim Director of Education Services for Together for Children in November 2024.
Prior to this appointment Kimberley held the position of Strategic Lead for Education at Together for Children; leading the delivery of a range of educational services to vulnerable children and young people across the city. Before her move to Together for Children at its inception in 2017 Kimberley lead the HR function at Sunderland City Council for over a decade.
Kimberley has a strong legal academic background, holding both undergraduate and postgraduate law degrees; she has demonstrated her commitment to continuous Continued Professional Development (CPD) throughout her career including achieving accreditation as a Leadership Coach.
Karen Davison
Director of Early Help
Karen was appointed to the post of Director of Early Help for Together for Children in February 2017.
Karen has 21 years' experience in education across the North East of England, starting in the secondary sector and moving on to primary school leadership and experience in the special school sector and a Pupil Referral Unit. Karen moved on to spend eight years in Local Government in the region, firstly in school improvement, pupil place planning and capital projects, and later in the areas of special educational needs, early years and childcare, and early help.
During her time as a Headteacher, Karen worked as a Denominational Inspector of Church of England schools, and between 2002 and 2010, she was a Respite Foster Carer for a North East authority.
