Experience

Brighton MET (formerly City College Brighton and Hove)

• Mental Health Advisor

  • Jan 2017 - Present

  Working as as a key point of contact for the support of students with concerns around their mental health and wellbeing. Raising awareness and knowledge across the organisation, in order to promote mental wellbeing and resilience generally. Develop resilience and support improvements in emotional and psychological health, whilst also managing presented risk factors. Delivering individual sessions on a drop-in or appointment basis, where students can have their mental health assessed further, and access support, including structured sessions to develop awareness, resilience, and coping strategies. Providing group session where common needs are identified, for example managing anxiety. Advising staff, to discuss individual cases or general issues around mental health and wellbeing.Providing internal training and awareness sessions.Linking with local services that support young people’s mental health, to refer people who need specialised interventions, or develop effective co-working with involved services.



Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust

• United Kingdom
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner

  • Jul 2014 - Jul 2016

  -Accept referrals via agreed protocols within the service.- Assess and supports people with a common mental health problem in the selfmanagement of their recovery. -Undertake patient – centred interviews which identifies areas where the personwishes to see change and or recovery and make an accurate assessment ofrisk to self and others. -Make decisions on suitability of new referrals, adhering to IAPT referralprotocols, and refer unsuitable clients on to the relevant service or back to thereferral agent as necessary or step-up the persons treatment to high intensity.- Provide a range of information and support for evidence based high volume low –intensity psychological treatments. This may include guided self – helpcomputerised CBT, information about pharmacological treatments. This workmay be face to face, telephone or via other media. -Educate and involve family members and others in treatment as necessary. -Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment,where appropriate.-Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols -Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up andstep-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.-Keep up to date on new recommendations/guidelines set bythe department of health (e.g NHS plan, National Service Framework, NationalInstitute for Clinical Excellence).- Ensure that client confidentiality is protected at all times.-Be aware of, and keep up to date with advances in the spheres of treatment for common mental health problems. -Attend clinical/managerial supervision on a regular basis as agreed with manager.-Attend relevant conferences / workshops in line with identified professionalobjectives.



DISC

• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Therapist

  • 2009 - 2014

  Developing and maintaining therapeutic relationships with individuals with drug and alcohol dependency and associated mental health, physical health and social issues.Delivering counselling style interventions based on MET and CBT models, around problematic alcohol and drug use, and associated mental health issues.Managing a caseload of service users, included undertaking assessments of physical and mental health and social functioning, risk assessments, reviews and care planning.Working closely alongside medical staff for appropriate pharmacological treatments around substance dependency and associated areas like mental health.Development and delivery of therapeutic groups sessions, based on MET and CBT models and dealing with areas such as mood management.Liaising with and referring to partner agencies such as Primary Care Mental Health Service, IAPT, Crisis Team, Community Mental Health, Duel Diagnosis, Social Services. .Administration and use of data systems including SystemOne, relevant to treatment and within confidentiality policies, professional codes and legal frameworks.



The Bridge Project

• India
• International Affairs

• Addiction Therapist

  • 2004 - 2009

  Development of project for treatment of stimulant drug users, based primarily on psychosocial interventions taken from MET and CBT models.Implementing CBT and MET techniques to deal with psychological dependence on stimulant drugs, including related mood disorders particularly anxiety and depression.Managing a caseload of service users, included undertaking assessments of physical and mental health and social functioning, risk assessments, reviews and care planning.Training groups and individuals around alcohol and substance misuse and related treatments, including external agencies such as GP practices, social workers, pharmacists.Implementing therapeutic groups based on CBT and MET approaches.Using treatment data systems and reporting verbally and in writing in terms of service development and performance, within the context of professional codes, confidentiality policies and legal frameworks.



Forster Community College (previously Cathedral Centre)

• Tutor and Learner Support Manager

  • 2001 - 2004

  Designing, delivering and reviewing training programmes for learners in the college and outside agencies.Teaching adult basic skills classes.Line managing paid and volunteer support workers.Co-ordinating floating team of tutorial staff.Assessing additional support needs for learners with issues such as mental health, physical disabilities, learning difficulties and drug and alcohol issues. Designing, delivering and reviewing training programmes for learners in the college and outside agencies.Teaching adult basic skills classes.Line managing paid and volunteer support workers.Co-ordinating floating team of tutorial staff.Assessing additional support needs for learners with issues such as mental health, physical disabilities, learning difficulties and drug and alcohol issues.