Sophie Beech - Hospital Manager

Sophie joined Cygnet in 2009 as a staff nurse and worked at St. Augustine’s since its opening. She was promoted to senior staff nurse in 2014 and further promoted to Deputy Hospital Manager in 2017.

Sophie is a qualified registered mental health nurse and was trained at Keele University. She has 14 years of nursing experience of working in rehabilitation. Whilst in the role of deputy manager at St.Augustine’s Sophie’s duties were to undertake all care management responsibilities as delegated by the Hospital Manager. To promote and maintain high standards of patient care, and to lead the care team in providing skilled care of all patients. Her role included taking responsibility for the safeguarding of adults, ensuring effective clinical practices are in place, mentoring and supervision of staff, and implementation and monitoring of company policies and procedures.

Sophie moved to Cygnet Nield house as Hospital Manager in 2021.

Dr Amir Ahmed – Medical Director and Consultant Psychiatrist for Compton Ward

Amir is a Consultant in General Adult Psychiatry, and has been working in the area of Mental Health since 2009, after moving over from General Practice.

He completed his Psychiatry training in East London, and has been employed by both inpatient and outpatient services within the NHS and private sector.

Amir has a passion for delivering effective and high quality patient care, with a vision to drive change and promote development within the field of mental health.

He has an additional qualification in Open Dialogue, and is committed to the Patient-centred approach; advocating to empower those with a mental health diagnosis.

Amir is experienced in the assessment and management of Mood disorders, Psychosis, and Personality Disorders: including Trauma, Addiction, as well as Perinatal Psychiatry.

He strives to adopt a holistic model; working with the wider Multidisciplinary team in order to achieve positive outcomes for patients under his care.

Dr Olusanmi Nelson - Speciality Doctor for Clarion Ward

Dr Olusanmi Nelson joined Nield house in January 2023. Before then, he was employed in a non-training psychiatrist role in East Sussex.

He graduated with an MBBS from northern Nigeria. During his foundation years, he leaned more in interest and skill towards psychiatry and its unmet physical health needs, and began his specialty training there, working almost exclusively with women with complex needs.

In the past, he has had the privilege of working with people with personality disorders, adults with anxiety and mood disorders in acute setting. He believes patient recovery should be understood and defined from the patient’s perspective, and the carer who are mostly affected by the burden of these diagnoses.

His areas of interest are Neuropsychiatry, Personality disorder and Eating disorders especially its presentation and care in Neurodivergent individuals.

Outside of work, he enjoys photography and tennis, and lives with his family, and a Cocker spaniel.

Dr Obinnah Ihemedu - Speciality Doctor for Compton Ward

Dr Obi trained in Nigeria and got his MBBS qualification in 2014. He joined Nield House in March 2022 and has worked as the Speciality Doctor in Compton ward since then.

Obi has adapted well with psychiatry practice in the UK and has continued to form good rapport with patient and carers. He is a key member of the Compton ward team and plays a key role in patient management by carrying out assessments on admission and liaising with community mental health teams for a smooth transition of care and support post discharge. Obi also plays a significant part in physical health management of patients in the ward.

Aside being a strong Manchester United fan, Obi is a huge fan of medieval architecture and enjoys visiting historical sites.

Keith Jelly - Clinical Manager

Keith qualified as a nurse in in Scotland in 1993. After relocating to England the next year, he took up various clinical and managerial roles both in the private sector and the NHS. He has considerable experience working in female personality disorder services.

He joined the team at Cygnet Nield House in October 2023. While in the role of Clinical Manager Keith has endeavoured to maintain high standards of care while supporting the Hospital Manager, patients and staff teams.

Keith is committed to maintaining high standards of care and to supporting patients on their recovery journey.

Sarah Wood - Ward Manager for Clarion Ward

Sarah qualified as a nurse in 2021 from Keele University, after working in mental health care for over ten years, supporting older people in the community, then working with female personality disorder patients in low secure settings, all within the private sector.

Sarah has been with Cygnet since qualifying and started at Nield house as a preceptor nurse, before progressing to a senior nurse. Sarah commenced the ward manager role on Clarion ward in April 2024, whilst finishing a 12 month Leadership course.

She is dedicated to making positive changes on the ward whilst working closely with patients and staff to achieve this.

Ceilidh Kavanagh - Ward Manager for Compton Ward

Ceilidh qualified as a nurse in 2019 from Keele University, after working in mental health care for over ten years, supporting a variety of individuals with different needs, including learning disabilities, physical and mental health.

She has worked with both community and inpatient services in NHS and private sectors prior to nursing here at Cygnet Nield House.

Ceilidh has been with Cygnet since 2020 starting at Cygent Nield House as a Staff Nurse, before progressing to a Senior Nurse on Clarion Ward. She continues to support the team at Cygnet Nield House to support Compton ward as the Ward Manager.

She is committed to embedding collaborative working and reducing restrictive practice.

Jenna Walker - Lead Psychologist

Jenna is a Chartered and Registered Forensic Psychologist. She worked for Cygnet originally as an assistant and trainee psychologist and has returned following working in the prison service.

She joined Cygnet Nield House in May 2023 as Lead Psychologist, she is passionate about trauma informed care and compassionate working, supporting people in their recovery and promoting staff well-being.

Jordan Baxter - Assistant Psychologist

Before starting at Cygnet Healthcare, Jordan worked as a support worker in the community, and then as a healthcare assistant on an acute ward. She is passionate about mental health awareness.

Outside of work, Jordan loves all genres of music, and her favourite artist is Stevie Nicks. She also love true crime and all things horror!

Sandra Kariwo - Senior Occupational Therapist

Sandra has worked for Cygnet since 2021 and joined Cygnet Nield House on Clarion Ward in 2024.

She is involved in the creation and updating of the patient’s therapy programme. The programme on Clarion ward includes a variety of therapeutic activities, including self-care, leisure and vocational, which can be completed in groups or on a one to one basis in order to overall help patients maintain or improve their independent living skills.

Sandra works alongside the rest of Occupational Therapy Team to get to know the patients on an individual basis in order to incorporate their hobbies and interests into helping them develop a meaningful and structured daily routine and establishing an occupational identity outside their diagnosis.

Abbe Wilson - Trainee Forensic Psychologist

Abbe joined Cygnet Nield House in September 2024 as a Trainee Forensic Psychologist. She previously worked as an Assistant Psychologist across different psychiatric hospitals since graduating her Master’s Degree in 2021.

She wants to fulfil her role by ensuring she applies and utilises her knowledge to help promote positive changes and recovery, working closely with staff and everyone else involved to empower service users on their journey.

Abbe thoroughly enjoy running, yoga and going to the gym. Her guilty pleasures are chasing sunsets, finding somewhere new to explore and anything chocolate.

Leah Sibanda - Registered General Nurse

Leah qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 2015. Leah started her career as a gynaecology nurse spending three years caring for females only. Leah then went on to gain experience in settings such as emergency care and trauma.

Leah started her employment at Cygnet Nield House in 2021 and although very different to what she was used to, she thoroughly enjoys her role and the difference it can make to our patients.

Iustin-Nicolae Bilibou - Clinical Lead Dietitian

Iustin is a highly accomplished dietitian with a BSc in Nutrition & Dietetics and two MSc degrees, both obtained within the Faculty of Medicine—one in Clinical and Community Nutrition and the other in Health Systems Management.

Since joining Cygnet in 2020, Iustin has advanced from Specialist Dietitian to Clinical Lead for the Dietetics Department, building a wealth of experience that spans both mental and physical health.

His expertise covers a diverse range of fields, including eating disorders, neuropsychiatry, forensics, internal medicine, and endocrinology, reflecting a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between physical and mental well-being.

In addition to his role within Cygnet, Iustin serves as the Group Leader for the Romanian Society of Nutritional Sciences and regularly shares his insights as a speaker and lecturer at national and international conferences.

Dr Thushara Stanly - Consultant Psychiatrist

Thushara started her psychiatry training in 2008 and became a member of the Royal College of psychiatrists London in 2013. Thushara then completed her specialist training and achieved a Certificate of Training in adult psychiatry in 2017. She then went onto complete her Diploma in Clinical Neuropsychiatry at the University of Birmingham in 2020.

She has experience working with chronic and enduring mental health conditions.

Her special interests include eating disorders, personality disorder and neuropsychiatry. Her core training included child and adolescent psychiatry, learning disability, forensic psychiatry and she has worked in community and inpatient settings.

She is a strong follower of bio-psycho-social model of recovery and applies this in her everyday practice.