Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Psychodynamic Psychotherapist with special clinical interest in child and adolescent depression, anxiety, personality disorders, attachment disorders, child trauma and loss, gender identity disorders, psychosomatic/ liaison psychiatry and wellbeing and safeguarding of children and families. Integrative part of my work are specialised individual and systemic therapeutic approaches (Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Group therapy, Mentalisation-Based Treatment, Family Therapy) and use of psychopharmacology in preventing and treating mental health disorders in children and adolescents. I am Clinical Teacher at Leicester University and Clinical and Educational Supervisor for trainee doctors in Psychiatry/ Child Psychiatry Training, CAMHS Lead on the Care Pathways for Depression, Personality Disorders and Attachment Disorders, and CAMHS County Lead for Consultants.
I am passionate about clinical training and teaching, prevention and early intervention and safeguarding of children, young people and families, particularly those affected by Parental Mental Illness, which lead me to develop the ‘Think Family - Whole Family Programme: Improving Outcomes for families with parental mental illness. The programme aims of gradually building, both an extensive service-sector skill-set, and an expanding professional awareness. Amongst the key components of the Think Family Programme are the Multiagency (health, education, social care and voluntary services) Training, Early Help Services Training, and Schools Training in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust wide 'Think Family-Whole Family Clinical Audit'. The Programme is underpinning significant change in clinical practice, such as routine identification of parents with mental illness and their children, family-focused assessment and practice, and multi-agency collaboration in supporting families. Both, the training programme and the audit have been published in a number of peer reviewed journals.
As a Lead for Medical and Clinical Leadership in my Trust, I developed the Medical Leadership Strategy and Implementation Programme. I am experienced and skilled in Management, Organisational Dynamics and Wellbeing of Employees. I have written a range of specialised CAMHS and Safeguarding reviews, protocols and procedures; policy and strategy papers; clinical audits and papers in peer reviewed journals. I have organised, chaired and presented at a number of regional, national and international workshops and conferences.