I was born in South Africa and my career has centred on Child Psychiatry in the UK. I led a child Psychiatry service for many years and have been a Group Medical Director for Specialist services in Cumbria, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust (CNTW).
My national work at Board level has included the National Association of Child Contact Centres; Family Mediation Standards Board; Voice of the Child; Advisory Board on Family Law; Council on Tribunals; Children Act Advisory Committee; NHS Litigation Authority (Resolution); Association of Child and Adolescent Mental health professionals and others.
At present I am a Trustee of Research Into Practice Committee (Dartington Trust); Mental Health Matters and am a Commissioner for the Archbishops report ‘Love Matters’ reporting on Families and Households.
As Director of Trust Innovation since clinical retirement, I have worked with a growing team to support significant and outstanding development in clinical and corporate mental health care delivery within CNTW. This continues to drive trust improvement in all departments.
Our improvement work has attracted national and international attention and we have worked with many NHS trusts, other healthcare providers and other national organisations and charities to design and improve service provision both in the UK and in other countries.