I trained as a Registered Nurse (adult) a Registered Nurse (Sick Children) and graduated with an honours degree in psychology from the University of East London in 1985, and a Master of Health and Medical Education degree with distinction from the University of Hertfordshire.
Having gained a teaching qualification I taught child development, embryology, psychology, teaching/assessing and mentorship at Great Ormond Street, London, Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge and as an Associate Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University.
I was a Senior Partner and co-founder of an independent training provider to the independent and public health sector. I worked as a Clinical Services Manager and Deputy Hospital Director in mental health and learning disability and managed a unit for dementia before spending eight years as a Primary Care Nurse, working across all prison categories’ Healthcare Departments, developing pioneering health awareness programs in nutrition (sponsored by the British Heart Foundation) day care for the elderly in prison, smoking cessation education and psychosocial support for detainees affected by cancer.
I am a graduate Member of the British Psychological Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health and was granted the title of Queens Nurse in 2015 for work within Prison Healthcare.