Panel Chair on the Fitness to Practice Committees

• Aug 2012 - Present

Lay member - August 2012 - March 2017. Chair - March 2017 - to date Lay member - August 2012 - March 2017. Chair - March 2017 - to date

Solicitor Consultant

• Mar 2015 - Present

Consulting on a range of legal issues, including Court of Protection, mental health and professional regulatory law matters. Consulting on a range of legal issues, including Court of Protection, mental health and professional regulatory law matters.

Mental Health Act Commissioner/Mental Health Act Reviewer & Specialist Adviser

• Nov 2004 - Present

Primary objective is to safeguard the rights of people who are compulsorily detained in psychiatric hospitals in the UK, in particular those who lack capacity or refuse to consent to treatment. This is achieved through making announced and unannounced visits to psychiatric facilities, interviewing detained patients, reviewing patient records to ensure that medical professionals are complying with UK mental health legislation, and submitting written reports of findings and action points to senior management of the trust/providers of service. Show less

Court Appointed Special Advocate

• Mar 2015 - Present

Advocating in the juvenile/family courts for individual children who have been abused or neglected to ensure that the best interests of a child are represented and upheld while in foster care, and in the adoption or reunification process. Advocating in the juvenile/family courts for individual children who have been abused or neglected to ensure that the best interests of a child are represented and upheld while in foster care, and in the adoption or reunification process.

Volunteer Senior Incident Response Leader and Government Liasion with the State Operations Centre

• Nov 2007 - Jul 2018

Respond to local disasters in Metro Atlanta to provide immediate emergency aid to families displaced by disaster. During large scale disasters act as a Red Cross Government Ops liaison in the Emergency and State Operations Centres, working and collaborating with partner agencies including, law enforcement, EMT and fire services, public health services to provide emergency resources as part of the disaster relief operation.

Regional (State) Lead for Community Partnerships

• Jan 2016 - Jun 2018

My volunteer role includes:Building and managing on-going relationships with our community partners and external agencies in all aspects of the disaster response cycle. Engaging and working collaboratively with new and existing partners to improve and streamline resources and service delivery to our clients.

Litigation Paralegal

• Oct 2012 - Aug 2014

Assisted the Division's Director in preparing, maintaining and the production of documents and data in a large class action litigation case. Assisted the Division's Director in preparing, maintaining and the production of documents and data in a large class action litigation case.

Pro Bono

• Feb 2008 - Aug 2014

The Division monitors and directly represents defendants who have pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity or, who are incompetent to stand trial. Also offers advice and assistance to other attorneys who are dealing with criminal cases involving the mentally ill. I assisted the Division's Director and attorneys in representing patients detained in psychiatric hospitals in Georgia, and preparing cases for hearings before the superior courts across the State. The Division monitors and directly represents defendants who have pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity or, who are incompetent to stand trial. Also offers advice and assistance to other attorneys who are dealing with criminal cases involving the mentally ill. I assisted the Division's Director and attorneys in representing patients detained in psychiatric hospitals in Georgia, and preparing cases for hearings before the superior courts across the State.

Lay member on the Fitness to Practice Panels

• Mar 2004 - Jul 2012

GSCC was the regulatory body for social workers in England. GSCC was the regulatory body for social workers in England.

In-house Lawyer

• Sep 2005 - Jun 2007

Investigated cases where a nurse or midwife's fitness to practice was being called into question. Advised panels and other departments within the NMC on various legal issues. Represented the NMC at interim suspension order hearings, health committee hearings and final conduct and competence hearings. Left NMC to live and work in Atlanta. Investigated cases where a nurse or midwife's fitness to practice was being called into question. Advised panels and other departments within the NMC on various legal issues. Represented the NMC at interim suspension order hearings, health committee hearings and final conduct and competence hearings. Left NMC to live and work in Atlanta.

Volunteer Assistant Staff Officer (Operations)

• 1999 - 2007

Solicitor

• 2002 - 2005

Advised and represented patients detained under civil and criminal sections of Mental Health Act 1983, at Mental Health Tribunals and Hospital Managers hearings. Advised patients on capacity and consent to treatment issues, and served on the management committee of South West London Law Centre. Springfield Law Centre is the only law centre in the country to be based within the grounds of a large psychiatric teaching hospital treating patients with various psychiatric issues. It was a unique opportunity to gain a detailed knowledge and insight into working with patients with a forensic history and wide ranging mental health issues. Show less

Solicitor

• Sep 2000 - Aug 2002

Managed mental health department. Advised and represented patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 at various hospitals across London. Managed mental health department. Advised and represented patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 at various hospitals across London.

Legal Executive (1988-1996) Solicitor (1996 - 2000)

• Aug 1988 - May 2000

Practiced in predominantly criminal law, advising suspects at police stations, and representing defendants in the magistrates court. Prepared cases and instructed counsel for crown court matters. Practiced in predominantly criminal law, advising suspects at police stations, and representing defendants in the magistrates court. Prepared cases and instructed counsel for crown court matters.