The Management Team
Our Management Team is responsible for the organisation's performance and services and its members have backgrounds in local government and housing associations, together with extensive experience in social care, finance, development, Private Finance Initiatives and housing.
Cedric Frederick FIMgt, MistLH, FRSA, MIoD - Chief Executive
Cedric Frederick joined KCHT as Chief Executive in September 2008. Prior to joining the organisation, Cedric was Chief Executive of Adepta, a multi regional charity that supported people with learning disabilities, autism and/or mental health problems. During his 12 years in post he led the organisations growth from a local service provider supporting 90 people, employing around 100 staff and with a turnover of £2m per annum to one that supported over 750 people, employed over 1000 staff and had an annual turnover approaching £27m per annum.
Cedric has also held a series of senior positions in the housing association and Local Authority sectors, including 4 years as Managing Director of a BME Housing Association.
Cedric has over 20 years experience as member of the Board of several housing related national governing bodies, housing associations and voluntary organisations. This experience includes over 9 years as Non-Executive Director of a specialist mental health Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Debbie Pert MCMI FCCA - Director of Finances and Resources, Deputy Chief Executive and Company Secretary
Born and educated in Ramsgate in Kent, Debbie began her career in finance working for an accountancy practice in Ramsgate, after which she worked for Thanet District Council and then as Financial Accountant at Thanet Community Housing Association, where she achieved her professional qualification. Debbie came to work for KCHT as Company Accountant in February 2000 and was promoted to Director of Finance and Resources and appointed as Company Secretary in 2003.
Debbie was confirmed in post as Deputy Chief Executive in January 2009, in addition to her role as Director of Finance and Resources.
Debbie is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Management.
Tracey Jones FCIH - Director of Property and Business Development
Tracey Jones is the Director of Property and Development and has worked in the social housing sector for nearly 30 years, gaining housing management experience with Dover District Council before developing new homes for Sanctuary Housing Association.
Tracey has worked for KCHT since 1995 establishing the Moving Forward service for young people and more recently specialising in the development and construction of our new care homes.
Tracey is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Jacqueline Morris - Regional Director, London
Born and educated in Thanet Kent, Jacqueline began her career in social care in 1980 running a day-centre for the elderly.At twenty-four, she became one of the youngest managers registered in Kent, to run a residential care home for people with mental health issues.In 1988 she was appointed General Manager and Company Director of CNH Ltd, managing dual registered nursing homes.
Jacquelines career began with KCHT in 1996 as Home Manager at Barton Court on the Isle of Sheppey.In 1998, the role was expanded to include the management responsibility for Court Regis in Sittingbourne.This was followed by her being appointed to the position of East Kent Area Manager, where she was seconded to Bexley in 1999, as part of the project team responsible for the transfer of the eight Bexley Care Homes in 2000. Jacqueline was then appointed to General Manager for London Care Homes in 2003.
Geoff Ward - Regional Director, Kent
A career beginning in the financial sector of the City of London and later seventeen years employment with the Ford Motor Company, Geoff moved to Kent and the social care sector in 1990. Owning and managing a residential care home provided Geoff with a sound understanding of the sector, which later took him to run operations for a privately-owned group of care homes. Geoff joined KCHT in 2001 and now holds the position of Regional Director, Avante Care and Support.
Passionate about his chosen field, Geoff is exploring new models of care with special emphasis on continued active living for people with dementia. An associate of the internationally recognised Eden Alternative, Geoff is also currently working with Canterbury Christ Church University South East Dementia collaborative to establish specialist dementia centres operated by Avante Care and Support in Kent and Medway.
Magdalena Marsden - Director, Community Support
Magdalena was born and brought up in the Czech Republic. She completed the equivalent of A levels and started to study at Charles University in Prague.
During her studies worked as a legal secretary and a part-time English teacher.
In 1998 she decided to interrupt her studies and improve her English by staying with friends in England.
She continued with her studies, but also started to work as a volunteer for Bexley and Greenwich Cottage Hospice. She had drawn upon her experience as a volunteer for a children charity KLICEK, which was established as the first children's hospice in the Czech republic after the fall of communism.
She joined KCHT in 2000 and after an initial position as an Activities Co-ordinator, she worked as an Assistant Manager, Home Manager and more recently as a Project Manager. In 2007 she commenced work as a General Manager for KCHT Supported Living and in 2009 she was promoted to Head of Operations for Community Services.
Magdalena has completed her BSc Hons Psychology in 2005 and amongst other qualifications has a Diploma in Management and Registered Managers Award.
Carolyn McVittie Managing Director, Stepahead Support
Carolyn McVittie joined KCHT in 2001 having 13 years experience working with children and families. Carolyn joined KCHT from Barnardos, a National Childrens Charity, were she worked in schools and colleges speaking to young people about the issues that they may face in their adolescence including homelessness, relationships and teenage pregnancy. Prior to Barnardos Carolyn managed a nursery in a private school.
Carolyn joined KCHT as a keyworker in the Breakthrough service and was appointed as the Managing Director of Moving Forward and Breakthrough in May 2009. Moving Forward and Breakthrough were the youth services within KCHT supporting vulnerable young people and their families. These are now known as Stepahead Support
Whilst working at Stepahead, Carolyn achieved a Diploma in Management and is a member of the Chartered Management Institute.
Derek Lindars MSc - Director of Human Resources
Having previously served as a musician in the Royal Marines Band Service, Derek gained a Masters degree in Human Resources from South Bank University and membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. During the latter half of the 1990s, Derek worked for a large food manufacturing company as a Human Resources (HR) Manager before joining KCHT in 2003 as HR Manager and advisor on Health and Safety matters. In 2005, Derek was appointed Head of HR with additional responsibilities for the professional and personal development of staff.
