I wanted the majority
of my work to focus on helping young people who are struggling.
I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist working for Britain’s National Health Service (NHS), delivering mental health services across Suffolk (Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust). I am also an Associate Professional Director for Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEE ICB) providing strategic advice and guidance on service development for young people’s physical and mental health.
I have been working in the NHS as a clinician for over 20 years, providing specialist mental health support to children and their families across the spectrum of need and complexity. In recent years I have developed an innovative mental health provision in schools across Suffolk, leading to a transformation in how NHS services are delivered.
My passion for innovation and bringing mental health support closer to all parents enabled me to develop a parent workshop programme throughout the pandemic. This series of regular free-for-all parent workshops on key topics like anxiety, low mood and self-harm, have and continue to be accessed by tens of thousands of parents from across the world www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/psychology-in-schools-team-nsft, www.nsft.nhs.uk/parent-workshops.
My contribution to children’s mental health during the pandemic was recognised in the 2022 New Year’s Honours List with an MBE, bestowed by the Queen, for exceptional contributions to my field. I was honoured to have Prince William present me with the medal, with my daughter who accompanied me to Buckingham Palace.
I regularly speak on BBC and ITV local news, as well as various radio stations about young people’s mental health, I also write articles for the local papers. Often invited to be a key-note speaker at events, I was named as one of 2022’s Suffolk 100 influential leaders.
Not only do I work on the ground every day, but I have also supported Westminster, informing UK policy on the changes needed in health and education to support children’s mental health.
