Jade Lavan - Director of Lavan Dementia Care Services

Why did you decide to become a Community Champion?

If you love someone living with dementia, you are living with it to!  I became a community champion because I am passionate about supporting people living with and affected by dementia and related conditions. 

As well as being a community champion I am also a Board Member for Healthwatch South Tees.

There is a growing number of people living with dementia, over 900,000 people in the UK and approx. 7400 living in the South Tees area.

Being a community champion will enable me to support the South Tees and wider community, to work with a variety health, social care and charitable organisations to promote and create supportive dementia friendly communities and services.

How does your role support people across South Tees?

I have predominantly always worked with older adults, dementia and mental health in a variety of roles including nurse, nursing home manager, turnaround manager, educator and commissioning. 

In May 2020, I established the Redcar and Cleveland Dementia Steering Group Network in which I remain the chairperson. A proactive and efficient group and network made up of over 50 professionals from different organisations striving to raise awareness of dementia and improve services. 

Due to the unfortunate lack of funding for the Specialist Admiral Nurse service, I decided to set up Lavan Dementia Care Services to continue to offer specialist clinical care and support to carers and their loved ones living with dementia.

I am also a Councillor for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council representing Zetland Ward and a member of Adult Health and Well-being Scrutiny, Climate and Environment Scrutiny and Improvement Committee, South Tees Joint Health Scrutiny Committee, Live Well South Tees Board and is a trustee for Social Ties and Butterflies Charity.