Staff

Matron

Holly Warlow

I am Matron for the outpatient service, Welford Ward and Waterlily service.

Family Service Manager - Adult Eating Disorders

Nicola Brewin, BA(Hons) Psychology, MRes

I have worked for the service since 2007, previously working the in evaluation team. I have previously spent time managing the CAMHS eating disorder team. I am passionate about ensuring we are delivering the best service for our patients and that we are always looking to improve the service we deliver.

Ward Manager

Melanie Kemp

I have worked on Langley Ward since I qualified as a mental health nurse in 2014. As a student I recognised that I had found my passion and was fortunate enough to secure a staff nurse post immediately. This has been the most challenging but satisfying job that I have ever done. I have never woken in the morning and not wanted to come to work. I love the patient group and I want the very best for them. It is humbling to be a part of their recovery journey. As for the staff team. They are literally the BEST. Now as the ward sister, I have the pleasure of leading and managing this amazing team. I hope I do them proud.

Dr Rebecca Cashmore, MB ChB, MMed Sci, RCPsych

I have worked as a consultant psychiatrist in Eating Disorders since 2005 both in outpatients and on the inpatient unit. I am dual trained in General Adult Psychiatry and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and remain involved in the training and supervision of psychotherapists within the Trust. Since working with people in eating disorders I have also developed an interest in the use of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for outpatients and have developed and expanded the provision of CBT for inpatients. I am involved in audit and research within the service.

Dr Rachael Lawrence, MB ChB, MRCPsych

I joined the service at the end of 2019 having previously worked in Eating Disorders as part of my General Adult Psychiatry training. I work mainly in outpatients and my role involves audit, teaching and research within the service. I have also undertaken training in Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) and maintain an interest in this.

Specialty Doctor

Dr Katie Ricketts MB ChB

I joined the Eating Disorders Service in December 2019, as a Specialty Doctor. I work in Out Patients, supporting the Consultants and assessing new patients and providing follow up appointments. I have worked as a Psychiatrist in Community Teams for many years, and have worked in Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

Clinical Psychologists

Caroline Webb, BSc (Hons), DClinPsych, Dip CBT

I trained as a Clinical Psychologist in Leicester and worked in general adult mental health and eating disorder teams in Coventry prior to joining the Leicestershire Eating Disorder Service 11 years ago. Within this service I offer assessments and see patients, presenting with a variety of eating disorder problems, for individual therapy. I have undertaken additional training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and have many years’ experience using psychodynamic informed therapy for Anorexia. Over the last few years I have become increasingly involved in developing and evaluating group based cognitive behaviour therapies. I also provide training and supervision within the team and have teaching links with Leicester University.

Therapists

Alison Hall, BA Applied Social Science, RMN, Psychodynamic Psychotherapist and Accredited IPT Therapist

I have worked with people suffering from eating disorders in the NHS for the last 28 years. I have watched the Leicestershire Adult Eating Disorder Service grow from a few beds on a 30 bedded psychiatric unit to a highly specialist service offering complex in and outpatient treatments. Starting out as healthcare assistant in 1995 I have developed my professional career alongside the service. In 2003 I became an RMN, then a Deputy Ward Manager on the in-pt unit. In the last 12 years I moved to the outpatient team and trained in various models of specialist psychotherapy.

In 2022, after 6 years intensive training, I qualified as a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist. I am passionate about the influence of early life on the people we become. I look to combine my ‘hands on’ experience working in the field of eating disorders with my psychotherapy training to facilitate lasting change for individuals using the service.

Barbara Thompson , Diploma of College of Occupational Therapy, Accredited IPT Therapist

I trained as an Occupational Therapist and I have been working with the eating disorder team for over 20 years. I moved into my current role as a therapist over 10 years ago, before which I was working in the specialised eating disorder day hospital. I am experienced in providing psychodynamically informed psychotherapy for Anorexia and am an accredited therapist in Interpersonal Psychotherapy. I am also involved in running groups, including the Enhancing Self-esteem group.

Debbie Whight RMN, BA, DipPSN

I trained originally as a mental health nurse and worked in a rehabilitation unit then as a community psychiatric nurse for 10 years. I became interested in eating disorders through training as an Interpersonal Psychotherapist and moved to this service in 2003. I continued my Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) training to become a supervisor and trainer and have taught on IPT courses both nationally and internationally.

My interest in IPT lies particularly in developing and researching adaptations of therapy for patients with eating disorders. I am the Leicester IPT Course Director and am on the training committee for ITP UK. I am also experienced in other models of treatment, particularly PITA – Psychodynamic Informed Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa.

Kerry Cheek BSc Hons OT, Adv Dip Couns, Cert Mindfulness

After gaining an advanced diploma in counselling I worked for the mental health charity MIND as a counsellor for several years. Whilst working towards my occupational therapy degree I met my first eating disordered patient. The complexity and devastating effects of the disorder together with the evident struggle to recover prompted me to specialise in this area. I then spent 8 years working with inpatients and day patients, either in a group setting or one to one, before moving to the outpatient department as a therapist. As a therapist I deliver both CBT and Psycho-dynamic based therapy, PITA, to the whole spectrum of eating disorders. I have a particular interest in neuroscience and mindfulness and am a qualified mindfulness instructor.

Laura Mumford BSc Honours Occupational Therapy

I have over 20 years’ experience working in mental health settings. My experience has been in both private and NHS sector in a range of settings including specialised eating disorders services. I am passionate about helping those with eating disorders to empower them to reach their goals. I use evidence based therapies to help clients overcome complex mental health difficulties. My aim is to provide a safe, professional, and friendly environment in which a client feels able to build a trusting therapeutic alliance.

Lauren Shaughnessy, BSc(Hons)Psychology

I am a counsellor in psychology working within the outpatient team. I have been part of the service since 2016, starting out as a psychology student where I realised this was the field for me. I then became a health care support worker in the inpatient service, moving on to being an assistant psychologist on the ward. During this time I qualified as a counsellor and have since moved to the outpatient team.

Lesley Meadows , BA Hons, RMN, dip Psychodynamic Therapy, dip (CBT)Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, accredited Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) Therapist, Trainer and Supervisor

I work as a senior Clinical Nurse Specialist with over 30 years’ experience of working in mental health. For the last 25 years I have worked in the specialist area of eating disorders working with individuals with a range of eating disorders and significant problems with anxiety, depression and personality problems. I have a particular interest in working with individuals who have experienced trauma.

I initially trained as a registered mental health nurse, but have also trained in a number of psychotherapies including: Transaction Analysis, Psychodynamic Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. I am an accredited IPT therapist, supervisor and trainer. In more recent years I have been involved in the development of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for eating disorders in our service.

Zoe Thistlewood , BSocSci, (Hons), DipN

I am a mental health nurse and after many years of supporting young people and their families with eating disorders, in both inpatient and out patient settings I am now pleased to be working with the adult eating disorders team.

I am a qualified IPT therapist and supervisor as well as being trained and experienced in other eating disorder treatments such as CBT-ED and FBT. I have specialised in nursing people with eating disorders for over 25 years and have also developed a particular interested in supporting people who also identify as being on the autistic spectrum.

Clinical Associate Psychologist

Ellie-May Watkins

After graduating from Bangor university in 2006 and spending 16 years in Learning Disability services in Ceredigion. My interest has always been eating disorder therapy and particular the challenges faced by individuals on the autism spectrum. I am keen to learn as much as I can from this amazing team and to contribute to positive treatment outcomes through research.

Assistant Psychologist

Celine Derbyshire, BSc (hons) Psychology , MSc Health Psychology

I am an Assistant Psychologist working within the outpatient team. After completing my Masters degree in Health Psychology I worked as a mental health support worker, which increased my interest to start my career in mental health. I have been part of the eating disorders team for a year and I am involved in running the groups that we offer whilst on our waiting list.

Research Staff

Research

We have a small but active research team but supported by the rest of the clinical team and various students on placement at the service. Research and service evaluation is very much embedded into and seen as an essential part of the service. The team works closely with Loughborough University, De Montfort University and other national and international universities.

Admin Team

The service is supported by two medical secretaries and a business assistant.