Hannah Sidhu - Clinical Manager

Hannah studied in Leeds and qualified as a Registered Mental Health Nurse in 2011 before joining Cygnet Hospital Bierley in the November as a preceptor nurse. Hannah started her time in Low Secure Female PD services before being exposed to other wards in the hospital for professional development such as Denholme, Shelley and Bowling.

Hannah became a CTL on Bowling Ward in 2014 working across both Shelley and Bowling before progressing to Ward Manager on Shelley Ward in 2016, soon after transferring across to Bowling Ward in early 2017. Hannah is now the Clinical Manager for the hospital.

Hannah is very psychologically minded and has a keen interest in psychological based therapies to help our service users to achieve their optimum level of recovery. Hannah is highly motivated to work as part of a team to deliver a high standard of patient focused care. Hannah has also completed an Advanced Diploma in Health and Social Care Leadership and Management.

Kate Gorse-Brightmore - Hospital Manager

Kate graduated from the University of London South Bank with a masters in Psychology, including specialising in addictions and mental health. She has a leadership and management diploma awarded by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), as well as a gold accreditation in quality improvement. Kate has extensive experience of managing and regulating complex services in the health and social care sector, always ensuring people who use services receive safe, high quality and compassionate care when they need it.

She has been working in the health and social care sector for over 25 years, including in the voluntary and 3rd sector, NHS and independent services, as well as in a variety of settings including community, inpatient and criminal justice settings. Kate has a strong understanding of the Health and Social Care Act and regulatory requirements due to her career in the Care Quality Commission.

Kate joined Cygnet in 2020, initially working with services across a national footprint to improve compliance with the Health and Social Care Act (2008) (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Kate was appointed Hospital Manager of Cygnet Hospital Bierley in November 2022.

Michelle O'Neill - Regulatory Compliance and Improvement Manager & Learning Disability and Autism Lead

Michelle has worked in Health and Social care for over 22 years. She has worked across a number of services and in a number of roles in community and hospital settings. Michelle has extensive experience of managing complex services in the health and social care sector with over 15 years’ experience in management positions and has completed leadership and management qualifications.

Michelle has worked extensively in Learning disability and Autism services and this is an area of passion supporting individuals to live fulfilled lives. Michelle is the Learning disability and Autism lead at site and oversees the care of service users with such diagnosis ensuring that person centred care is provided in line with their needs.

Michelle joined Cygnet Hospital Bierley in 2021 and as part of her role focuses on service improvement and ensuring that the service users are at the forefront of all we do. She is keen to work in a collaborative way, supporting to ensure that service users are provided positive experiences as part of their care and treatment with a strong commitment to enhancing service user care and outcomes.

Michelle is passionate about leading teams, driving innovation, and fostering compassionate care environments.

Caroline Clare - Head of Psychology

Caroline is a Consultant Forensic Psychologist who joined the team as Head of Psychology in June 2020.

She has worked in a Psychological setting since 2008 and has experience of working with adults with a range of different needs including complex personality disorder, mental health issues, autism and learning disabilities. Caroline has attended training to be able to use different approaches in therapy (including CBT, EMDR, CAT and Schema Therapy) and has a certification in working with complex trauma.

She enjoys working with individuals to develop a collaborative treatment plan that will meet their needs. Caroline is keen to put individuals at the centre of the care, and enjoys being creative and trying different ways to help people to improve their quality of life and progress in their recovery journey.

Alice Butler - Head of Occupational Therapy & Deputy Learning Disability and Autism Lead

Alice studied at the University of Liverpool and qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2022. She started her time at Cygnet Hospital Bierley in the August of 2022 as a newly qualified Occupational Therapist working on the male low secure ward and has since spent time working across all of the wards gaining a variety of experience and is currently based on the male acute ward. Alice has progressed in her role at the hospital and has been the Head of Occupational Therapy since 2024.

Alice has supported adults with a range of mental and physical health needs as well as neuro divergent individuals. She has recently completed her Sensory Integration Preceptorship and is keen to enhance the experience of inpatient care for individuals with sensory needs. Alice is keen to work in a collaborative way to improve individual’s quality of life and create a safe and supportive environment throughout their recovery.

Rachel Southwell - Head of Social Work & Safeguarding Lead

Rachel joined Cygnet Hospital Bierley as a Social Worker in 2018 after completing her BA Hons Degree in Social Work. Rachel began as a student at Cygnet Hospital Bierley in 2017 and since then she has progressed in her career to become the Head of the social work department and Safeguarding Lead.

Rachel is passionate about partnership working, advocacy, and collaborating with service users, families, and external stakeholders. Rachel has experience of working on both male and female Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), acute wards, low secure wards, personality disorder wards and elderly mental health with dual diagnosis. Along with this, Rachel has volunteered in the community to support people who are homeless and experiencing issues with substances.

Rachel aim is to protect people’s health, wellbeing and human rights, to enable them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect.

Lauren Watson - Blossom Ward Manager

Lauren’s interest in Mental Health began when studying for her BSC in Psychology and Criminology in 2009 followed by a MSC in Forensic Psychology in 2010. Lauren began her journey within Cygnet as a Healthcare Support Worker in 2011, before completing her BSC Mental Health Nursing through The Open University in 2017. She has then progressed from RMN to Clinical Team Leader, before becoming Blossom Ward Manager in 2020.

Lauren has completed training in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. She is enthusiastic about delivering person-centred care and supporting service users in their recovery journey, within a therapeutic environment which is conducive to their needs. She is also a keen and supportive mentor for Student Nurses nurturing their development into RMNs of the future.

Sussie Goloe - Bronte Ward Manager

Sussie graduated as a Registered Mental Health in 2020. She has worked in a range of psychiatric services, including Acute, PICU, Low Secure, and Medium Secure with the NHS and private sector.

Sussie joined Cygnet Hospital Bierley in 2022 and worked as a Clinical Team Lead, on all wards (Female and Male low secure, PICU, Personality Disorder and Acute). She has since become the Ward Manager for the female low secure (Bronte ward).

As a Ward Manager, Sussie is dedicated to supporting her staff and fostering a positive ward environment where they feel valued and empowered to perform at their best. Sussie thoroughly enjoys her job at Cygnet, and particularly the team spirit at Cygnet Hospital Bierley.

Michael Murdoch - Shelley Ward Manager

Michael is a dedicated Ward Manager in a male low-secure forensic service, with a career defined by pioneering leadership and a deep commitment to the nursing profession. His journey in healthcare began in 2007 as a hospital housekeeper at just 17 years old, providing him with a foundational, "ground-up" perspective that informs his authentic leadership style today.

Michael has been at the forefront of the apprenticeship route at every level. He was one of the UK’s first Apprentice Support Workers in Learning Disabilities and was selected for the prestigious 2017 Nursing Associate pilot project at the University of Leeds. He continued this path as the first-ever Apprentice Nurse for Learning Disability Nursing, successfully completing his "top-up" to Registered Nurse at the University of Huddersfield.

As an RNLD, Michael is a staunch advocate for least restrictive practice and a positive risk-management approach. His diverse clinical expertise spans CAMHS, Dual Diagnosis, Autism, and Mental Health Rehabilitation. He has built a reputation for developing high-performing multidisciplinary teams rooted in co-production, trauma-informed care, and quality improvement.

Lauren Kirk - Lister Ward Manager

Lauren qualified from the University of Manchester, with a BSC Honours Degree in Mental Health Nursing in 2016. During the beginning stages of her career she spent her time working as an RMN and Deputy Ward Manager, in Manchester based services, gaining experience in Rehabilitation, Male PICU and Female PICU placements.

Before transferring to Cygnet, Lauren Managed a Female PICU for a number of years. Lauren’s PICU experience drove her to become a Risk Assessment Trainer and Educator, in 2020, training others to understand and respond to risk, while promoting least restrictive practices and providing safe environments through daily practice. Lauren has piloted and implemented the Safe Wards model within various settings to help provide better outcomes for service users.

Lauren joined Cygnet in 2022, where she started as the Male Low secure Ward Manager, before transferring to her current role as Ward Manager of Lister Ward – Male Acute, in 2024.