She brings to the role a wealth of experience as a Forensic Psychologist working with adults, children and adolescents, and continues to work part-time at HMP Young Offender Institution Bronzefield with patients and their professional networks on the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway for the Central and North West London NHS Trust (CNWL).
Just one month into her new role, Michelle has been busy meeting colleagues from Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Trust, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Her first task will be to work with colleagues and partners to build an overarching view of the entire pathway for women who use forensic and secure services, including non-forensic and non-secure services which may lead into and out of these services.
"When patient experience falls down, it's often where there are junctions in the pathway. We know that having multiple transitions along a pathway can be really traumatic and not in the best interests of patients and so we need to build and bridge better relationships between the different services."
Michelle's work is part of NHS England's National Women’s Secure Pathway Transformation Programme which focuses on the need for therapeutic relationships, trauma-informed, least restrictive and recovery-focussed care. Locally, this includes projects such as the pilot of the Women's Secure Blended Service in Kent and Sussex and the launch of the Women's Outreach Service.
A key area of focus for Michelle will be to address the inequality that exists in forensic and secure services.
"Historically, services have been designed for male prisoners which do not allow for the specific needs of people who use women's services so there's real inadequacy and inequality in this area," explains Michelle.
"Our systems are not designed to adequately support women through their different life stages, from adolescence through to adulthood, during pregnancy and childbirth and the menopause, which can shape women's mental health."
"We're on the back foot in understanding the different needs of men and women in a forensic and secure environment and it's now time to catch up."
Michelle's vision is to design a pathway that is person-centred and informed by an understanding of the needs of women, enhances recovery and provides a much better experience for people who use women's service and staff who work in them.
If you would like to connect with Michelle, please email michelle.