BIO

I have substantial knowledge and experience with a career spanning 17 years in various roles, specialising first in young people with complex needs, mental health issues and challenging behaviour, before moving to work with offenders in the criminal justice system in a variety of settings. 

Prior to joining Salford Foundation this experience included five years as a manager at a residential school for children with complex needs, two years at Greater Manchester Probation Trust supporting the re-settlement of high risk offenders; and four years as a Case Manager for high risk offenders at Manchester Youth Offending Service, where I specialised in AIM for children who are convicted of sexual offences and worked closely with prolific young people involved in gangs. I then moved into managing independent living projects taking a therapeutic approach to addressing emotional behavioural difficulties. 

At Salford Foundation, I am responsible for managing a number of programmes, some of which seek to resettle young people and adults on release from custody. Other programmes I manage are focused on early intervention and prevention with children and young people associated to gangs. I manage contracts that work through the gate in Cheshire prisons to offer employment opportunities and mentoring support and manage some services that are gender specific, supporting female offenders in prison and on release. 
I have taken the lead on developing the ADAPT programme, a resettlement programme for young people aged 15-25 that have served time in custody. ADAPT has been extensively and independently evaluated and proven to be highly effective at resettling young people on release, by significantly reducing reoffending rates, achieving positive outcomes with clients and generating savings to the public purse which run into millions of pounds. 

I have a real interest in therapeutic interventions, I am innovative and creative in my approach. 

I practice reiki in my free time.