I qualified as a Childrens Nurse in 1996, and worked as a staff nurse within Childrens Bone Marrow Transplants (BMT), Childrens Intensive Care and Oncology, leading onto a role as Immunology Nurse Specialist for children undergoing BMT.

In 2007 I completed a Public Health Nurse Specialist degree and qualified as a Health Visitor working across Northumbria and South Tyneside Trusts, becoming Community Practice Teacher for specialist public health students in Northumbria.

During my practice years my interests have included developing family support services, both in the acute and community settings. Presenting at conferences locally, nationally and internationally. I had a lead role in the development and delivery of staff training across Northumbria Healthcare around  practice and partnership working, action learning and preceptorship programmes.

Research interets have included parent and child responsiveness studies in partnership with Newcastle university,  a collaborative study with young people and children with a focus on the qualities children want from childrens nurses, partnership research with the Great North Childrens Hospital alongside my PhD exploring the barriers faced by parents with mental distress when accessing child health services.