Richard Griffiths – Hospital Manager

Richard started working for Cygnet in September 2009, commencing his journey in the mental health field as a support worker. Richard went on to study mental health nursing at Nottingham University in 2011 and successfully qualified in 2014. Upon qualifying Richard worked a short period at Cygnet Sherwood House before transferring to Cygnet Oaks to broaden his knowledge and skill set.

During his time at Cygnet Oaks, Richard has progressed through the ranks to Senior Nurse, Head of Care and Interim Hospital Manager before being successfully appointed as the Hospital Manager at Cygnet Aspen House.

Richard is responsible for the overall running of the service and has a strong passion for Coproduction to drive service improvement as well as supporting staff to achieve their potential and deliver measurable results and patient outcomes.

Kevin Hall – Head of Care

Kevin joined Cygnet in 2010 initially working at The Fields as Deputy Manager. After training as a Registered Mental Health Nurse he joined Aspen House in 2015; initially as Staff Nurse before being appointed as Head of Care in 2018.

Prior to joining Cygnet, Kevin predominantly worked with children and adults with Physical Learning Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Conditions and challenging behaviours and even a brief time as a qualified teacher of Religious Education.

Kevin continues to enjoy supporting individuals to reach their full potential within the discharge pathway.

Carissa Utley - Forensic Psychologist

Carissa is a HCPC-registered Forensic Psychologist. She studied Psychology and Counselling at the University of Huddersfield before beginning her career in mental health care, and has since worked across a range of secure inpatient and custodial settings. Carissa completed her professional training in forensic psychology within the NHS and qualified in 2025, returning to Cygnet Health Care as a Forensic Psychologist.

Carissa has experience supporting individuals with complex presentations and co-occurring needs. Her clinical approach is trauma-informed and formulation-driven, drawing on models such as Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Schema-informed approached to support regulation and recovery. Carissa has a particular interest in supporting emotional regulation and works collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to promote consistent psychologically informed care and recovery.

Aisha Mahmood - Assistant Psychologist

Aisha has been working as an Assistant Psychologist for the past two years for Cygnet working across Neuropsychiatric rehab, high dependency mental health rehab and personality disorder services.

Aisha is particularly passionate about promoting accessible, person centred care whilst creating a safe, collaborative space for service users. She is excited to continue developing her clinical skills and contributing to the team’s commitment to high quality holistic support.

Courtney Hartley - Specialist Occupational Therapist

Courtney began her Occupational Therapy journey in 2017 at Sheffield Hallam University, qualifying in 2021 after completing her final placement at Cygnet Aspen House. During her studies, she discovered her passion for mental health through her work as a Community Mental Health Support Worker.

Following qualification, Courtney joined Cygnet Aspen House as a newly qualified Band 5 Occupational Therapist, where she developed her clinical knowledge and experience before progressing into a Band 6 role.

With a commitment to compassionate, creative and connected practice, Courtney prioritises a person-centred approach that values the individual above all else. She is passionate about enabling service users to build confidence, work towards meaningful goals and engage in recovery focused interventions that promote independence.

Courtney is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

Emma Needham - Occupational Therapy Assistant

Emma’s interest in mental health began after qualifying as an Integrated Therapist in 2020, which led her to work within community recovery services supporting individuals in their rehabilitation and personal development.

She has also gained valuable experience working with organisations such as Women’s Aid and Humankind, broadening her understanding of diverse support needs within mental health services.

Before moving into healthcare, Emma worked abroad as a translator, an experience that strengthened her communication skills and gave her a greater appreciation for different cultures.

After discovering occupational therapy, Emma was inspired to expand her knowledge and develop her career within the profession. She joined Cygnet Aspen House in 2022, where she supports the Occupational Therapy team in empowering service users throughout their recovery, helping them build independence, confidence, and meaningful progress toward their goals.