Lynn McGhee - Hospital Manager

Lynn qualified as Registered General Nurse (RGN) in 1992 and Registered Mental Nurse (RMN) in 1996. She has a vast experience of working in a variety of roles within the NHS, predominantly in mental health, both in inpatient and community settings. She also completed a BSc (Hons) in Specialist Mental Health Practice in 2008.

Prior to joining Cygnet Health Care in March 2022, Lynn was Associate Director of inpatient and emergency care services, holding a large portfolio of services across multiple sites. This included an Assessment Unit, PICU’s, acute inpatient mental health wards, dementia ward, care homes, mental health liaison teams, crisis and home treatment teams, neuromodulation service. A significant part of her role also involved transformation and redesign of existing services as well as setting up of new services.

Lynn is keen that her services deliver the best possible experience for the people who are using them and that her teams feel valued. She strives to ensure that service users and their carers are as involved in decision making about their care as they are able to be.

Dr Rajesh Rama Iyer - Medical Director

Dr Iyer joined the team at Cygnet Hospital Colchester as a Consultant Psychiatrist in November 2018 and became the Medical Director for the hospital in November 2019. He qualified in India with his primary medical education (MBBS) in 2001 and been a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the UK since 2010 (MRC Psych).He is approved under the Section 12 (2) of the Mental Health Act 1983. He has completed Post Graduate Diploma in Management and Organisational Dynamics from University of Essex in 2015 offered jointly by Essex Business School and the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies as this integrated approach provided a deeper analysis of the way organisations function and the nature of leadership.

Dr Iyer has more than 15 years of Psychiatric experience working both in NHS and Independent Sector. He has worked in various settings including Low Secure Female Personality Disorder service, PICU, Male Low Secure Service, acute wards, Learning Disability wards and in community settings. Dr Iyer was a Reviewer at the Royal College CCQI for Peer Reviews.

He is Passionate about patient involvement in their treatment and all parts of the Mental Health services as patient-centred care have better outcomes. He also believes physically active patients have better mental health.

Kudzanai Chikodzi - Clinical Services Manager

Kudzi is an accomplished Clinical Services Manager and Infection Prevention and Control Lead, driven by a passion for excellence in the healthcare industry. With a strong foundation in communication, management, and leadership, he strives to inspire and empower those around him. Kudzi’s expertise spans forensic settings, mental health, acute care, PICU, ASD, and learning disabilities, reflecting his commitment to making a meaningful impact.

Kudzi holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Hertfordshire, along with an MSc in Infection Control from the University of Essex. He is dedicated to advancing the standards of care and fostering a culture of safety and compassion.

Rebecca Catchpole - General Manager

Rebecca Joined Cygnet in March 2024. Rebecca is an accomplished General Manager with over 16 years of experience specialising in Facilities and Estates Management. Throughout her career, Rebecca has developed a robust skill set encompassing Health and Safety (H&S), Catering, Domestic services, Procurement, Logistics, Maintenance and Front-of-house operations.

For the past 7 years, Rebecca has honed her expertise within clinical environments, ensuring seamless operations and optimal service delivery. Her leadership in these settings has been pivotal in maintaining high standards of safety, efficiency, and patient care.

Rebecca’s comprehensive background enables her to effectively manage complex projects and teams, drive operational excellence, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. Rebecca is passionate about creating safe, welcoming, and efficient environments that support the core objectives of cygnet and its service users.

Dr Allison Sebley - Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Allison is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who completed her first psychology degree and clinical training in New Zealand, and has worked as a clinical psychologist in the UK since 1992. Allison started out in the NHS working predominantly in adult mental health and primary care services, but also in Child and Family Services and Community Mental Health Teams before specialising in Forensic Services both in the NHS and in the private sector in 1997.

Allison was appointed to a Consultant Clinical Psychologist position in low secure forensic Learning disabilities services in 1999, and has worked as a consultant clinical psychologist across a number of secure inpatient services for patients with a range of mental health problems, learning disabilities, personality disorders, and offending behaviour. Allison has been working for Cygnet Health Care since 2010 and has a particular interest in forensic mental health and personality disorders.

Vijeta Sharma - Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Vijeta is a HCPC registered Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist who joined the team in September 2014. Prior to joining Cygnet, Vijeta has worked in a number of roles supporting children, young people and adults with a range of communication disorders, before specialising in working with people with Autism and Learning Disabilities.

Vijeta is responsible for the provision of high quality assessments and interventions relating to Speech, Language and Communication needs of all service users at Cygnet Hospital, Colchester.

Vijeta has an in-depth knowledge of the Transforming Care Agenda, inclusive communication and supports the team to apply the principles of the accessible information standard and 5 good communication standards into all areas of care and treatment.

As well as completing assessments and interventions for communication, Vijeta is dysphagia trained and provides assessment and management of swallowing difficulties in a range of settings.

Emmanuel Ozowara - Head of Occupational Therapy

Emmanuel is a highly Specialist, HCPC registered occupational therapist who joined Cygnet in 2021 as a newly graduate, then progressed to the head of occupational therapy. Emmanuel has a good experience of working in mental health care industry. Skilled in supporting patients to regain independence in all areas of their lives and breaking barriers that affect their emotional, social, and physical needs.

Emmanuel is the student coordinator/educator for south region, working with universities to provide placement opportunities for occupational therapy students. Also has Bsc in humanities, completed level 3 supervisor/management training.

James Omoregbe - Highwoods Ward Manager

James joined Cygnet Hospital Colchester in October 2019 as a Clinical Team Leader and progressed to Ward Manager of Ramsey Ward in February 2020 where he built a formidable team. Since qualifying in M.Sc. Mental Health Nursing at the prestigious University of Essex 2017, he has worked at Oaktree Manor where he progressed up the ranks of a Charge Nurse.

James has gained extensive experience in Forensic, Learning Disability and Personality Disorder in low secure services. He has worked with a variety of service users with complex mental health needs.

Since August 2022 James was transferred to Highwood ward (Acute) as a Ward manager where he is passionate about building a team giving them the access, tools, skills and right support for each member of the team to excel, whilst working closely with service users to increase their access to the community through positive risk taking, and also to ensure their stay as an in-patient setting is not prolonged once they have received their treatment and gain recovery.

Martyn Kemp - Ramsey Ward Manager

Martyn initially joined Cygnet Hospital Colchester in September 2019 and has worked as a Ward Manager within the NHS in both acute and rehabilitation mental health wards, prior to joining Cygnet Health Care.

Martyn has wealth of experience of working as a Nurse in acute mental health setting since qualifying in 2008.

Benjamin Abass Ayimbire - Larch Court and Chestnut Court Ward Manager

Benjamin Abass is a registered mental health nurse with over 14 years post qualification experience with a Masters of Philosophy in Clinical Health Psychology, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Registered Diploma in Mental Health Nursing.

He joined Cygnet in 2021 and has worked in complex personality disorder, acute, low secure and learning disability services as a registered mental nurse, clinical team leader and a deputy head of care.

He is currently working as a Ward Manager for Chestnut Court and Larch Court based on his passion for learning disability and autism.

His hobbies includes rendering healthcare services to the vulnerable, conducting research, listening to music, travelling and taking on new adventures.

Cherry Rowbotham - Oak Court Ward Manager

Cherry initially joined Cygnet Hospital Colchester in December 2021 as a newly qualified Mental Health Nurse. Cherry completed her preceptorship progressing on to a Staff Nurse on Ramsey Unit. Cherry then went on to become a Clinical Team Leader in April 2023 before becoming Ward Manager of Oak Court in 2024. Previously Cherry was an assistant psychologist for IAPT and has experience of both mental health and learning disability settings.

Donna Morgan - Quality and Compliance Manager

Donna joined Cygnet Hospital Colchester as the Quality and Compliance Manager in September 2022.

Donna has over 20 years’ experience of working within Mental Health services in various settings. She started career in mental health over 20 years ago before moving onto becoming the Director of clinical services within the private sector.

Donna has an in depth knowledge of clinical governance framework and its applications in health care setting including risk management, compliance standards and external reporting including incident investigation. Creating a positive work environment, conflict resolution, accepting change, utilizing policies and procedures as guilds’, and staff coaching.

Donna is a strategic thinker with an ability to create feasible plans for improvement and to devise appropriate implementation strategies.

Paul Metcalfe - Safeguarding Lead

Paul is a Social worker with over 18 years of experience in a variety of Adult teams for Essex County Council and Mental Health Low Secure services. He is qualified to deliver Dialectical Behavioural therapy and training in Behavioural family therapy

Paul's main role is to have responsibility for Safeguarding of the adults in our care. To ensure safeguarding incidents are reported appropriately, that risk management plans are in place. Paul maintains contact with Essex County Council, the care Quality Commission and the police as required.

Paul is also available for support and advice to the staff, patients and carers. His hobbies include hiking and cycling at home he enjoys gardening and DIY projects.