Regional Family Ambassador & Lived Experience Lead – Thames Valley<\/h2>\n\nZoe<\/h3>\n
Zoe works Monday to Thursday, 8.00am to 6.00pm. She oversees the Family Ambassador Team and works with experts by experience and families and carers as Lived Experience Lead, to ensure that the voice of lived experience is heard at all levels of decision-making and development within the Thames Valley CAMHS Tier 4 Provider Collaborative.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/03\/cropped-video-vector-v2-300x110.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n \n More about Zoe<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n \nZoe has worked within community and inpatient mental health settings since 2017. In the community, this has involved project managing an out of hours crisis service, a community based one to one support service and peer support services. In inpatient mental health services, this has included managing involvement and co-production projects across CAMHS Tier 4, perinatal, adult eating disorder, adult secure care and learning and disability and autism services across multiple Provider Collaboratives.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/div>\n
Local Family Ambassadors – Thames Valley<\/h2>\n\nElaine<\/h3>\n
Elaine works Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 3.30pm.\u00a0 She mostly works with parents\/carers with young people at Marlborough House<\/a> and Hospital at Home Eating Disorder Service.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/08\/elaine-howitt-150x150.png\")
<\/p>\n\n \n More about Elaine<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n \nElaine graduated in 1992 with a Sociology Degree and worked in Special Educational Needs in community settings until she completed her PGCE in Post Compulsory Education and Training in 2000.<\/p>\n
She worked in both mainstream and Special Education Schools as a teacher until completing an Acupuncture degree in 2015. \u00a0She continued to work in Special Educational Needs as a Teaching Assistant and began to develop her own Acupuncture Practice.<\/p>\n
At that point her eldest child of 3 started to struggle in school and developed an eating disorder. She required many medical interventions until she was admitted to Tier 4 services.<\/p>\n
Seven years later Elaine joins the Family Ambassador team with a wealth of knowledge about Special Educational Needs and the experience of having a child in Tier 4 services. \u00a0With extensive experience of the variety of processes involved due to her child having several long-term admissions, Elaine will be able to offer insight, practical advice and knowledge to any parent who needs it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/div>\n
\nSian<\/h3>\n
Sian works Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 9.00am to 3.00pm (Term time only).\u00a0 She mostly works with parents\/carers of young people at\u00a0Highfield Inpatient Unit<\/a>, Meadow (PICU)<\/a> and Hospital at Home for Learning Disabilities and Autism<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/08\/sian-mccoubrey-150x150.png\")
<\/p>\n\n \n More about Sian<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n \nSian has worked in administration, as a PA and Private Secretary for board of directors since leaving school at 16.\u00a0 In 2013 she left full-time employment to focus more on her two children who are both autistic, her eldest spending time in a mental health unit 100 miles away, and her youngest being diagnosed with Down Syndrome at birth.<\/p>\n
Sian has knowledge of navigating the education system to ensure her children have the best education possible, with her youngest receiving an EHCP and being accepted to a Special Educational Needs School and her eldest successfully passing her GCSE’s, after leaving an impatient admission and not returning to her mainstream setting, passing a college course and now maintaining a full time supervisory role at a Gastro Pub as a Mixologist.<\/p>\n
Over the past few years Sian has worked at a mainstream school as a lunchtime supervisor supporting children with SEN alongside assisting TA’s and giving advice to help them in their roles or with their families.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/div>\n
\nRenate<\/h3>\n
Renate works Tuesday 9.30am to 5.00pm, Thursday 10.00am to 4.30pm and Friday 10.00am to 4.30pm.\u00a0 She mostly works with parents\/carers with young people at Marlborough House<\/a> and Hospital at Home Eating Disorder Service.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/01\/FA_Reante_Watson-150x150.png\")
<\/p>\n\n \n More about Renate<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n \nRenate ran her own businesses before taking some time out to focus on her family\u2019s needs when her eldest daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy.\u00a0 In 2018 she returned to education and retrained as a therapeutic counsellor.<\/p>\n
Her youngest daughter started struggling in school during lockdown and was diagnosed with an eating disorder in 2022, requiring medical interventions and admission to a Tier 4 Unit as an inpatient.
\nFollowing her inpatient stay she was supported by CAMHS Tier 4 Hospital at Home for Eating Disorder services.\u00a0 Alongside this she accessed hospital education through her Local Authority and gained her GCSE’s, enabling her to return to full-time education in college.<\/p>\n
Renate has lived experience of autism, ADHD, Neurodiversity, substance misuse & addictions and mental health illnesses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/div>\n
\nHilary<\/h3>\n
Hilary works Tuesday 10.00am to 4.00pm, Thursday 9.00am to 5.00pm and Friday 12.00pm to 2.00pm. She mostly works with parents\/carers with children at the Highfield Inpatient Unit<\/a> and Meadow (PICU)<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Headshot](\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/03\/hilary-seymour-150x150.png\")
<\/p>\n\n \n More about Hilary<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n \nHilary worked in customer services and then as a Teaching Assistant in mainstream schools supporting children with SEN whilst also caring for her family. In 2021 she gave up work to concentrate on supporting her daughter full time due to her high level of needs. Her daughter had been struggling with her mental health since 2019, and this culminated with an admission to a tier 4 unit in 2021, and another one in 2022. Her daughter received a diagnosis of Autism and ADHD during this time, and with the right support is now studying at college.\u00a0 This enabled Hilary to start volunteering at Citizens Advice, where she has been helping a wide range of people and has built on her understanding of the benefits system.<\/p>\n
Hilary has lived experience of Neurodiversity and mental health illness and knowledge of navigating CAMHS, Education, Health and the Benefits system.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/div>\n
Local Family Ambassadors – South West<\/h2>\n
You can contact the South West Local Family Ambassadors by email: dpt.familyambassadorsswpc@nhs.net<\/a><\/p>\n\nNicky<\/h3>\n
Nicky works Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.\u00a0 She mostly works with parents\/carers with young people at the Plym Bridge, Sowenna<\/a> and Wessex House Units.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2023\/12\/nicky-heaton.png\")
<\/p>\n\n \n More about Nicky<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n \nNicky worked in customer service, sales and logistics, but left full time employment to support her youngest daughter.\u00a0 Her daughter was diagnosed with Autism during her primary school years and later with an Anxiety Disorder, and demand avoidance (PDA).\u00a0 They had been involved with CAMHS for many years however, due to her daughter\u2019s diagnoses and complex behaviour this culminated in an admission to a Tier 4 unit 240 miles from home.\u00a0 She was discharged after four months to a specialist residential school placement.<\/p>\n
Nicky has navigated her way through interventions with Social Services, CAMHS, education and health professionals for the Tier 4 placement, which along with the residential placement, was out of county.<\/p>\n
When Nicky returned to work, she wanted to use her experience to support others so started in the NHS as an administrator in primary mental health, then as a Medical Secretary for a Consultant Psychiatrist in adult mental health, before moving to the same post within CAMHS.\u00a0 Nicky has now joined the team of Family Ambassadors, to support families through their journeys.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/div>\n
\nKatrina<\/h3>\n
Katrina works Monday 11.30am – 4.00pm, Tues 9.00am – 4.00pm, \u00a0Weds 9.00am – 3.00pm.\u00a0 She mostly works supporting parents\/carers with young people at Riverside Unit<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/01\/katrina-hutchins.png\")
<\/p>\n\n \n More about Katrina<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n \nKatrina has worked in Bristol for the NHS for over 20 years as a Physiotherapist.\u00a0 She has worked as a highly specialist Physiotherapist in Rheumatology and Advanced Practice Physiotherapist in Emergency Medicine.\u00a0 She is taking a break from that role to support her family and other parents experiencing the practical and emotional challenges when their child needs inpatient CAMHS services.<\/p>\n
At the end of 2022 her eldest daughter was diagnosed with an eating disorder, which resulted in a two month admission to an Acute hospital for refeeding followed by a four month admission to a Tier 4 Unit out of area near London.\u00a0 Her daughter is now back at home being supported by her family and CAMHS to re-enter her school in her GCSE year.<\/p>\n
Katrina has a wealth of experience negotiating the medical world. She has two other younger children including an 8 year old boy who has an ASD diagnosis.\u00a0 Katrina has personal experience of working with Autism, Neurodiversity and Eating Disorders and has worked successfully with both the primary and secondary schools for reasonable adaptations to facilitate her children remaining successfully in mainstream education.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/div>\n
Zoe<\/h3>\n
Zoe works Monday to Thursday, 8.00am to 6.00pm. She oversees the Family Ambassador Team and works with experts by experience and families and carers as Lived Experience Lead, to ensure that the voice of lived experience is heard at all levels of decision-making and development within the Thames Valley CAMHS Tier 4 Provider Collaborative.<\/p>\n
Zoe has worked within community and inpatient mental health settings since 2017. In the community, this has involved project managing an out of hours crisis service, a community based one to one support service and peer support services. In inpatient mental health services, this has included managing involvement and co-production projects across CAMHS Tier 4, perinatal, adult eating disorder, adult secure care and learning and disability and autism services across multiple Provider Collaboratives.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/div>\n Elaine works Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 3.30pm.\u00a0 She mostly works with parents\/carers with young people at Marlborough House<\/a> and Hospital at Home Eating Disorder Service.<\/a><\/p>\n Elaine graduated in 1992 with a Sociology Degree and worked in Special Educational Needs in community settings until she completed her PGCE in Post Compulsory Education and Training in 2000.<\/p>\n She worked in both mainstream and Special Education Schools as a teacher until completing an Acupuncture degree in 2015. \u00a0She continued to work in Special Educational Needs as a Teaching Assistant and began to develop her own Acupuncture Practice.<\/p>\n At that point her eldest child of 3 started to struggle in school and developed an eating disorder. She required many medical interventions until she was admitted to Tier 4 services.<\/p>\n Seven years later Elaine joins the Family Ambassador team with a wealth of knowledge about Special Educational Needs and the experience of having a child in Tier 4 services. \u00a0With extensive experience of the variety of processes involved due to her child having several long-term admissions, Elaine will be able to offer insight, practical advice and knowledge to any parent who needs it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/div>\n Sian works Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 9.00am to 3.00pm (Term time only).\u00a0 She mostly works with parents\/carers of young people at\u00a0Highfield Inpatient Unit<\/a>, Meadow (PICU)<\/a> and Hospital at Home for Learning Disabilities and Autism<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sian has worked in administration, as a PA and Private Secretary for board of directors since leaving school at 16.\u00a0 In 2013 she left full-time employment to focus more on her two children who are both autistic, her eldest spending time in a mental health unit 100 miles away, and her youngest being diagnosed with Down Syndrome at birth.<\/p>\n Sian has knowledge of navigating the education system to ensure her children have the best education possible, with her youngest receiving an EHCP and being accepted to a Special Educational Needs School and her eldest successfully passing her GCSE’s, after leaving an impatient admission and not returning to her mainstream setting, passing a college course and now maintaining a full time supervisory role at a Gastro Pub as a Mixologist.<\/p>\n Over the past few years Sian has worked at a mainstream school as a lunchtime supervisor supporting children with SEN alongside assisting TA’s and giving advice to help them in their roles or with their families.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/div>\n Renate works Tuesday 9.30am to 5.00pm, Thursday 10.00am to 4.30pm and Friday 10.00am to 4.30pm.\u00a0 She mostly works with parents\/carers with young people at Marlborough House<\/a> and Hospital at Home Eating Disorder Service.<\/a><\/p>\n Renate ran her own businesses before taking some time out to focus on her family\u2019s needs when her eldest daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy.\u00a0 In 2018 she returned to education and retrained as a therapeutic counsellor.<\/p>\n Her youngest daughter started struggling in school during lockdown and was diagnosed with an eating disorder in 2022, requiring medical interventions and admission to a Tier 4 Unit as an inpatient. Renate has lived experience of autism, ADHD, Neurodiversity, substance misuse & addictions and mental health illnesses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/div>\n Hilary works Tuesday 10.00am to 4.00pm, Thursday 9.00am to 5.00pm and Friday 12.00pm to 2.00pm. She mostly works with parents\/carers with children at the Highfield Inpatient Unit<\/a> and Meadow (PICU)<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hilary worked in customer services and then as a Teaching Assistant in mainstream schools supporting children with SEN whilst also caring for her family. In 2021 she gave up work to concentrate on supporting her daughter full time due to her high level of needs. Her daughter had been struggling with her mental health since 2019, and this culminated with an admission to a tier 4 unit in 2021, and another one in 2022. Her daughter received a diagnosis of Autism and ADHD during this time, and with the right support is now studying at college.\u00a0 This enabled Hilary to start volunteering at Citizens Advice, where she has been helping a wide range of people and has built on her understanding of the benefits system.<\/p>\n Hilary has lived experience of Neurodiversity and mental health illness and knowledge of navigating CAMHS, Education, Health and the Benefits system.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/div>\n You can contact the South West Local Family Ambassadors by email: dpt.familyambassadorsswpc@nhs.net<\/a><\/p>\n Nicky works Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.\u00a0 She mostly works with parents\/carers with young people at the Plym Bridge, Sowenna<\/a> and Wessex House Units.<\/p>\n Nicky worked in customer service, sales and logistics, but left full time employment to support her youngest daughter.\u00a0 Her daughter was diagnosed with Autism during her primary school years and later with an Anxiety Disorder, and demand avoidance (PDA).\u00a0 They had been involved with CAMHS for many years however, due to her daughter\u2019s diagnoses and complex behaviour this culminated in an admission to a Tier 4 unit 240 miles from home.\u00a0 She was discharged after four months to a specialist residential school placement.<\/p>\n Nicky has navigated her way through interventions with Social Services, CAMHS, education and health professionals for the Tier 4 placement, which along with the residential placement, was out of county.<\/p>\n When Nicky returned to work, she wanted to use her experience to support others so started in the NHS as an administrator in primary mental health, then as a Medical Secretary for a Consultant Psychiatrist in adult mental health, before moving to the same post within CAMHS.\u00a0 Nicky has now joined the team of Family Ambassadors, to support families through their journeys.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/div>\n Katrina works Monday 11.30am – 4.00pm, Tues 9.00am – 4.00pm, \u00a0Weds 9.00am – 3.00pm.\u00a0 She mostly works supporting parents\/carers with young people at Riverside Unit<\/a>.<\/p>\n Katrina has worked in Bristol for the NHS for over 20 years as a Physiotherapist.\u00a0 She has worked as a highly specialist Physiotherapist in Rheumatology and Advanced Practice Physiotherapist in Emergency Medicine.\u00a0 She is taking a break from that role to support her family and other parents experiencing the practical and emotional challenges when their child needs inpatient CAMHS services.<\/p>\n At the end of 2022 her eldest daughter was diagnosed with an eating disorder, which resulted in a two month admission to an Acute hospital for refeeding followed by a four month admission to a Tier 4 Unit out of area near London.\u00a0 Her daughter is now back at home being supported by her family and CAMHS to re-enter her school in her GCSE year.<\/p>\n Katrina has a wealth of experience negotiating the medical world. She has two other younger children including an 8 year old boy who has an ASD diagnosis.\u00a0 Katrina has personal experience of working with Autism, Neurodiversity and Eating Disorders and has worked successfully with both the primary and secondary schools for reasonable adaptations to facilitate her children remaining successfully in mainstream education.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n More about Zoe<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n
Local Family Ambassadors – Thames Valley<\/h2>\n
Elaine<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n\n More about Elaine<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n
Sian<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n\n More about Sian<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n
Renate<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n\n More about Renate<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n
\nFollowing her inpatient stay she was supported by CAMHS Tier 4 Hospital at Home for Eating Disorder services.\u00a0 Alongside this she accessed hospital education through her Local Authority and gained her GCSE’s, enabling her to return to full-time education in college.<\/p>\nHilary<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n\n More about Hilary<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n
Local Family Ambassadors – South West<\/h2>\n
Nicky<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n\n More about Nicky<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n
Katrina<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n\n More about Katrina<\/span>\n <\/summary>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/06\/fa-headshot.png\")
<\/em><\/p>\n