Meet the team
John Bolland – IPS Service Lead, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear
John has worked in the NHS for over a decade, starting as an Admin Assistant in a Psychology Clinic before transitioning to clinical work as a Support Worker in an Assertive Outreach Team. He specialised in Early Intervention in Psychosis, kick-starting vocational groups and activities in collaboration with service users and colleagues before successfully piloting IPS in Newcastle. He is now Service Lead for IPS in the Trust and loves collaborating with colleagues Trust-wide, empowering service users to pursue their dream jobs, supporting CNTW to be an amazing place to work and destigmatising mental health in the wider community.
Sarah Bittlestone – IPS Team Lead, North of Tyne (currently on maternity leave)
Sarah has been working as an IPS Team Lead since June 2019 after working for various third sector organisations. Her background is in working with vulnerable adults who have experienced homelessness, domestic abuse and addiction. After spending the previous three years working to support young people at risk of homelessness into employment, Sarah jumped at the chance to work for IPS as it combined her passion for supporting people to achieve their goals with her interest in mental health. The aspect of the job that Sarah enjoys the most is seeing someone start to discover their worth and how they have something valuable to offer an employer regardless of the challenges they have faced in life. Sarah feels lucky to be part of a dedicated team that all work towards the same goal and enjoys supporting staff to develop their skills and confidence.
Aimie Coburn – IPS Team Lead, North of Tyne
Amy began her career as a Youth Worker, and has been supporting people to enter employment since 2011.
“My previous role saw me working as a Job Coach for a National Lottery funded programme, and before that I worked in a variety of settings such as training companies, local authorities, and the housing sector. I have always had a keen interest in mental health, so I feel very lucky to be able to work in the IPS team, being a part of someone’s mental health journey and recovery. I am passionate about supporting people gain high quality employment, and reducing the stigma of having an employee with a mental health condition, through informal conversations and training sessions.
My favourite thing about my job is hearing how an individual’s confidence has grown in some way, or that they have achieved a particular goal they set for themselves, no matter how big or small that may have been.”
José A. Vicente-Herrero – IPS Employment Specialist, West Newcastle CTT (Silverdale)
José has 20 years of experience working in recruitment and customer-focused HR generalist roles in the UK and abroad.
José became aware of IPS Service in 2020 and decided to have a change in his professional career: “The moment I learnt about IPS Service, the CNTW’s vision and values, the support provided to individuals on their recovery journeys and the positive difference made in people’s lives I knew that I wanted to join the team. I am tremendously proud and honoured of being part of this team and I can’t wait to start supporting people on their journeys to recovery.”
Mark Cooper – Employment Specialist, South, Central Northumberland Mark has worked within specialist employment support for several years. Working on Projects such as Moving On Tyne and Wear, and Project Choice. His back ground has been in education settings, specialising in the delivery of work and life skills to young people with additional needs.
“To be able to support someone achieve their ambition and realise their dreams is a fantastic thing to be able to do. The sense of achievement and fulfilment that my role gives me is considerable, being a part of someone’s recovery journey is both an honour and a privilege.”
Mary Warwick-Greer – Employment Specialist, North Tyneside CTT
Mary has worked in employment support within mental health services for 10 years. Prior to being an IPS Employment Specialist with CNTW Trust she was part of a successful government project called Trailblazer as an Employment Coach helping people who were accessing primary mental health services back into employment. Before that Mary worked at a mental health charity as an Employment Advisor and was based within a primary care NHS service as an Employment Advisor focusing on retaining and regaining employment for clients accessing this mental health service.
I feel inspired when the people I support have found a way forward in their employment, whether finding a new role, managing their present employment or returning to work after a period of ill health. I am passionate about helping people and employers in managing mental health in the workplace and overcoming stigma and misunderstanding.
Kate Lancaster – Employment Specialist, Newcastle EIP
Kate has over 14 years’ experience working in the Mental Health sector.
“I am passionate about, supporting those who have experienced difficulties back into employment as a recovery tool. I thrive motivating people to gain confidence back in to work. I specialise in a unique way of getting to know someone, identifying their hopes and dreams to aspire them to achieve their goals back into employment and providing ongoing support until they regain their confidence again.”
Jamie White – Employment Specialist, Newcastle North and East CTT
I have worked in mental health services for the past 10yrs in various job roles. My roles have included Service User Involvement within the Addiction Services. During my time as a Service User Involvement worker I was awarded The Shining Light on Excellence Award. This was for my commitment and passion in supporting people in their recovery journeys from substance misuse. I have also worked as a Peer Support Worker where I was able to relate to service users due to my own personal experiences.
In my current role as an IPS worker I believe that helping people find employment is a good foundation for people to maintain long term recovery.
Dee Ewart – IPS Team Lead, South and Central
Dee has worked in Private Sector, Local Authority and NHS Mental Health services in a variety of roles for approaching 28 years, she was one of the original Employment Specialists when IPS was first trialled back in 2009 here in the North East, alongside contributing to The Take Ten People Project and also supporting the set up of a service user led group called Voices Empowered.
Dee is a registered Mental Health First Aid Facilitator/Instructor and a qualified Health and Social Care Tutor/Assessor and IQA (Internal Quality Assessor).Dee is passionate about increasing and improving opportunities to improve progression and employment prospects for individuals with experience of a Mental Health condition.
Ian Martin – Employment Specialist, Gateshead EIP
Ian has worked in employment support within the mental health care setting for 3 years. Prior to being an IPS Employment Specialist he was part of a successful Government Project called Trailblazer that supported people accessing Primary mental health resources back into employment.
“I love supporting people back into employment and feel very privileged to be part of their mental health journey and love watching people develop their confidence and grow individually. I love receiving the call from clients to say they have gained employment and listening to the pride in their voice in this achievement.”
Louise Tindill – Employment Specialist, Sunderland CTT and
Sunderland South EIP
Louise had a career in print, sales and marketing before a change of direction in 2018 where she went to work for a charity based in County Durham supporting armed forces veterans into employment.
As employer relations manager Louise was focused on the importance of establishing good connections with local businesses and encouraging employers to consider giving opportunities to people who might otherwise find considerable barriers to work.
Elsa Wright – Employment Specialist, Gateshead CTT and North Tyneside EIP
I have worked within Mental Health services for 12 years, predominantly in Employment. I have experience in working for charities, Local Authority and the NHS. I believe that every person has the right to fulfil their potential and am an advocate of the recovery model way of working which is why I am proud to be able to support the people I work with to achieve their goals.
“I am very passionate about this role and find it an honour and a privilege to help support people back into employment and to see first hand the positive difference that this can make to their lives.”
Jill Gray – Employment Specialist, Sunderland South EIP
Jill worked as a Clinical Support Worker for the Mental Health teams in the community at CNTW for 6 years, before joining the IPS team. During her time in this multifaceted role she supported many service users to build and regain their confidence allowing them to progress positively in their lives.
“Having the opportunity to support individuals to reach one of their life goals and to see their personal and professional growth is such a privilege. There is nothing better than to see an individuals confidence in their own ability grow as they achieve things they once though out of their reach.”
Faye Grieves – IPS Team Lead, Cumbria
Before her work as Cumbria IPS Team Lead, Faye worked as a Police Officer within Cumbria Constabulary. In the latter part of her service she specialised in supporting vulnerable victims and people at risk of Child Sexual Exploitation, working with multi agencies and conducting complex investigations.
“I am passionate about working with diverse individuals. Everyone’s circumstances are different and we tailor our service depending on their individual needs. I enjoy managing the IPS team in Cumbria, and I am proud that we form part of the wider team to support people in their recovery”.
Shelley Studholme – Employment Specialist, CMHART and EIP Allerdale and Copeland
Shelley is an Employment Specialist who prior to starting had twenty years working in education as a Primary School Teacher. A priority during this time was the promotion of Emotional Intelligence and Personal Social Health and Economic Education keeping its profile high on the curriculum.
“I longed to work within the field of Mental Health, in the community and on a one to one basis with individuals; whilst having the support of a strong team. I am, therefore, very privileged to be an Employment Specialist.”
Natalie Jacques – Employment Specialist, CMHART and EIP Eden
Natalie begun her career in Social Work, supporting Adults with a range of different health and social care needs to develop a quality of life that was important to them. Natalie then moved into the third sector to work as a Volunteer Manager for a Dementia Charity and she enjoyed encouraging and supporting volunteers from all backgrounds to use their individual skills and build their self confidence. Whilst working for the Charity she took on a specialist project that involved her supporting working age people with dementia remain in employment.
Natalie became an IPS Specialist as she is eager to support people to realise their passions through the platform of work.
“I believe that everyone has something unique to offer in this world and it’s important for their identity and sense of self that they are given the support and opportunities to fulfil this”.
Steve Reid – IPS Employment Specialist
Steve has worked in NHS Mental Health Services for over 20 years and started in inpatient services working on Acute and PICU wards for 5 years before moving into the community where he has been ever since. Over the last 5 years he has worked into Occupational Therapy as an Assistant Practitioner supporting service users with accessing training, education, volunteering and social groups. Steve has just started a new role as an IPS Employment Specialist and is looking forward to learning as much as he can about IPS to enable him to provide service users with the best chance of gaining meaningful, paid employment.
Deborah Stoker – IPS Service Administrator
Deborah Stoker joined the IPS service as a service administrator in February 2021, she is the first and only IPS administrator. She has an eclectic mix of skills, knowledge and experience spanning many years including, but not limited to:
- Newcastle Social services working with children with disabilities, young people and older people’s services.
- Research and Development with Newcastle city council working on many projects including; Climate Change, teenage pregnancy, Foster care evaluation and many more. Deborah worked in collaboration with Sport England and the Eagle’s basketball team on promoting healthy eating and lifestyles in Newcastle’s primary schools. She also worked on Investor’s in People related projects and leisure and sport’s facilities quality assurance accreditation.
- NHS Trusts including; Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals and Cumbria Northumberland Tyne & Wear Mental Health and Learning Disability Trust. She worked in Information Governance in disclosures and Newcastle East Community Treatment Team.
Deborah is enjoying her new role with the IPS service and is part of an amazing team, whose main objective is to help service users gain meaningful paid employment. Deborah is committed to helping people with mental health conditions, achieve their employment goals which ultimately enhances their lives. Her favourite quotation is:
“The most effective way to effect positive change is to ask the people affected”
Deborah Stoker.
Danny Cain IPS Employment Specialist – EIP CMHT Northumberland
Prior to joining the NHS, Danny has worked within the public sector for 21 years. He has also been a company director and owner of a wedding photography business for seven years.
His interests include gardening, which is great therapy for your mental and physical health. He also enjoys walking in the countryside and visiting National trust properties.
As a former NHS senior peer supporter, Danny has lived-in experience of mental health issues. He has previously worked within a Sunderland community mental health team, as well as ward-based rehabilitation and secure care services within the trust. He is passionate about supporting the individual and fully understands that meaningful employment can improve your recovery and enhance your mental health.
Since joining the trust in 2016 Danny truly believes that with the best care and support, that anything is possible. Danny will enable service users to fulfil their dreams and guide them through their recovery journey. Danny is always willing to go the extra mile to help service users achieve their goals in life. Danny feels privileged to be part of the Individual Placement and Support team and will do his very best to achieve team goals.
Kirsty Smith – Employment Specialist, Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Gateshead CTT
Before joining the IPS team Kirsty worked as an Education Mental Health Practitioner. This involved assessing and supporting people within the Education sector, delivering CBT based interventions to individuals and small groups and teaching wellbeing strategies to young people, their families and school staff.
“I see the role of Employment Specialist for the IPS team as the perfect opportunity to continue helping people and their employers to support their own and each other’s mental health and wellbeing. Supporting individuals to gain access to the work they desire can play a key role in recovery and self-confidence and can help them to live the type of life they want to live.”
Olivia Crommelin – Employment Specialist, North Cumbria
Olivia has 15 years of experience working for social services, starting as a team secretary and working her way up to become a social worker. This involved person centred work in supporting adults with health and social care needs, to enable them to live better and more fulfilling lives.
In December 2019 Olivia left social work in order to peruse a passion of hers and qualified as a holistic therapist, setting up her own business in carrying out various massage therapies and energy healing treatments, and continues to do this now alongside her role as Employment Specialist.
“I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to find meaningful and paid employment and that mental health is not a reason or a barrier to prevent this from happening. I am proud and very passionate about working in IPS, supporting people with their recovery and helping dreams to come true, I love working in the team”.
Rebecca Carey – Employment Specialist
I started my career in teaching and became interested in working with people with additional needs.
I moved into the charity sector working with children and adults with learning disabilities, for 6 years.
I am passionate in supporting people to reach their full potential and achieve their goals, no matter what those goals might be.
Ill mental health should not be a barrier to employment and with the right support, anything is possible. I look forward to supporting people on their individual employment journeys, as part of an award winning IPS Employment Specialist Team.