Meet the Team

Chair, Psychological Professions Network (PPN), Midlands

Sunny is a HCPC registered Chartered Consultant Clinical Psychologist working in NHS healthcare in Birmingham and Solihull and is Chair of the Midlands Psychological Professions Network. Her current role is Chief Psychologist. Sunny’s own personal professional interests and areas of speciality are in ageing, disability issues, the integration of physical health with mental health needs and the promotion of psychological mindedness across systems, teams and organisations. She is a recipient of the British Psychological Society’s May Davidson Award for contributions to British Clinical Psychology with her work published in national and international peer reviewed journals and books. Sunny is also a qualified Family Therapist, Mediator, Executive Coach & Mentor and a BPS accredited Occupational Test User for Ability and Personality. Equality, diversity and inclusivity are core to Sunny’s values and practices as is her commitment to biopsychosocial approach to health and care.

Programme Manager, Psychological Professions Network (PPN), Midlands

James has worked in healthcare for over 20yrs. Much of this time has been spent in the Addictions treatment sector, where James began his career working as a Substance Misuse Worker delivering psychosocial interventions to individuals involved with drug related crime. After completing a BSc in Addictions, James progressed into management positions, complimented by a level 7 Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Executive Management qualification. James led the business development and quality improvement agendas for Wales's largest voluntary sector Substance Misuse treatment provider, which included a period acting as CEO. He moved back into the NHS in 2019 to lead a 2-year regulatory compliance project across the Midlands. Since 2021, James has worked on an interim basis to support Sunny with oversight and delivery of the PPN Midlands programme of work.

Assistant Psychologist Psychological Professions Network (PPN), Midlands

Molly is an Assistant Psychologist working in Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust with a split role between the PPN Midlands and Post-incident Support. She has a BSc in Psychology and completed a professional placement year in a leading homelessness charity in Wales. Molly began her NHS career as a Psychological Professions Administrative Assistant, gaining valuable insights into NHS systems and the work of psychology leads. Eight months later she started her current role as an Assistant Psychologist. She is passionate about supporting the development of Communities of Practice (CoP) within the PPN, aiming to connect psychological professionals in sharing knowledge and best practice to enhance the benefits of psychological services for the public.

Portfolio Manager (Midlands) – Mental Health, Health Education England

Helen joined the NHS in 2002, following a career in vocational education and delivering employability projects for people with disabilities. During her NHS career, Helen has held a number of roles all focusing on education, training and workforce development and planning. Helen joined Health Education England at its inception in 2013 and since 2017 she has worked on a range of Mental Health workforce projects and programmes. Helen is currently the Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Portfolio Manager for the NHS England Workforce, Training and Education Directorate in the Midlands. She has held this post since late 2020.

PPN Midlands Leadership Fellow

Anita is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist working in NHS healthcare across the East Midlands. She is the Psychological Professions Lead for the East Midlands Neonatal Operational Delivery System which works towards developing psychological provision and psychological thinking across the 11 neonatal units in the East Midlands. Anita’s professional interests are in the integration of psychological thinking in physical health settings, and she has worked across several different hospitals and departments. She has published research in national and international peer reviewed journals, and is committed to improving the experiences of patients and families accessing healthcare services.

PPN Midlands Leadership Fellow

Claire Pearson is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Associate Director for Psychological Professions at Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust. Claire's clinical area is Children and Young People, having worked across inpatient, community, paediatrics, sure start and child protection settings. Her current role spans a wide remit; adult mental health, physical health, forensic, older adults, learning disabilities, neuropsychology and children.

Claire has joined the PPN Midlands as a leadership fellow, which she is very excited about. Her 3 areas will be Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. She will be reaching out to all areas to introduce herself and see how we can work together. She looks forward to meeting you all.

PPN Midlands Leadership Fellow

James is an experienced Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Deputy Head of Psychology for South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, where he helps lead a team of over 30 Clinical Psychologists, Assistant Psychologists, a Cognitive Behavioural therapist, and admin staff working in physical health. James comes with a career long interest in physical health, having worked across acute, community and third sector settings in specialties such as chronic pain, neuro-rehab, long COVID, stroke, staff support, oncology, and palliative care. James is passionate about growing and evolving the psychological professions in order to meet the diverse and increasing needs of our population in the Midlands.

Outside of work James enjoys playing tennis badly, photography, escaping to the mountains and parenting two lively young kids!