Coach Profile - Robert Fordham
Robert Fordham has a Master's degree from Durham University
and is a qualified teacher. He is Registered Member of the Society of
Homeopaths and a member of the European Mentoring & Coaching
Council.
How I got here
Ever since I started to think, I’ve been interested in
human potential – how it is squandered and how it can be unlocked.
I’m a qualified teacher, but spent my early career working
with young people in a Social Services setting, as I'd quickly
developed an interest in working with people rather than the formal
business of teaching.
Health challenges forced me into a big re-think. I became
interested in complementary medicine (CM), qualified in homeopathy and
have practiced for over 20 years.
I’ve been a director of a private training school, where we
had a major national impact in turning a theory-dominated approach to
professional learning into a curriculum based on experiential learning.
I’ve also been a director of a CM clinic where I conceived,
marketed, developed and managed significant projects in partnership
with the NHS (in what is still a relatively hostile environment).
My portfolio career has included training, coaching and
supervision of practitioners.
I've specialised in communication (listening and
questioning skills), de-coding clients’ stories, developing
professional practice and the management of continuing professional
development.
Coaching grew out of my CM practice. I wanted to use the
insights I’ve developed as a homeopath to help highly functioning
people function even more effectively.
I recently completed a postraduate diploma Coaching
for Organisational Excellence at Sunderland University
Business School – and was delighted to be invited to teach on the
course.
What I do
My recent work has focused on:
The development of the leadership capabilities of managers
and senior managers – so far this has been on a one-to-one basis.
Developing and delivering “coaching for managers and
leaders” packages. These have contributed to management development
programmes that have been used by local authorities and NHS health care
trusts.
Adapting the ILM level 3 and 4 Coaching courses for
delivery to management training programmes.
Practitioner education and supervision.
People I’ve worked with recently
One-to-one with managers; assistant directors, heads of
function and entrepreneurs.
Organisations: Durham County Council, Avery Dennison,
Die-Life (a local engineering company) and Sea-Bait (a local
aqua-culture company).
Coaching competence workshops and programmes for:
Northumbria Healthcare Trust, Teesdale District Council, Society of
Homeopaths.
Delivering homeopathy services for Gateshead Primary Care
Trust and to private patients.
Tutoring for Sunderland University Business School.
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