Christine Towers, Research and Service Development Manager

Christine has worked at the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities since 2005, where her role involves managing and delivering research projects, development projects and consultancy contracts.

Christine’s particular areas of interest include planning with families, improving the quality of support for people with learning disabilities, the use of personal budgets to change the delivery of short breaks, older people with learning disabilities, and the development of social and community networks.

Her current research interests include the experiences of fathers of children with learning disabilities (Recognisng Fathers) and planning for the future with adults with learning disabilities and their families (Thinking Ahead). She has previously worked on national research projects into direct payments and the impact of person centred planning.

Over the past 25 years, Christine has worked in a variety of roles developing opportunities for people with learning disabilities and their families in health services, social services and the third sector. She has an interest in partnership working across sectors and has project managed the integration of learning disability services across health and social care in a local authority.

Her development work has included housing and support, family support services, day-time opportunities for people with complex needs and service user involvement. She has managed services for people with learning disabilities in an inner-London Local Authority and has also worked for a number of years managing mental health services and undertaking development work for a mental health organisation. Christine was previously a trustee for a mental health advocacy project.

Christine has a MA in Social Policy (London University, Goldsmith’s College), a BA in English Studies (University of East Anglia), and a Diploma in Management Studies (University of Greenwich).