Charlotte Gatherer

• Brought an authentic lived experience lens to the oversight of the Culture of Care program, keeping patient and carer needs at the centre.
• Actively participated in delivery team meetings, sharing practical insights to help shape decisions around leadership, safety, evaluation, and future planning.
• Collaborated with partner organisations to make sure patient and carer voices were always included and heard in discussions.
• Helped plan, run, and review learning events across local, regional, and national levels to share insights and inspire change.
• Wrote, designed, and reviewed program materials and resources to ensure they were accessible, meaningful, and grounded in real experiences.
• Reviewed the data and contributed to reports, offering a lived experience interpretation of the findings.
• Co-hosted a national lived experience group, creating a supportive space for people involved in the program to connect and share ideas.
• Worked directly with Quality Improvement (QI) coaches to help wards involve patients in their change ideas.

Strategic Policy & National Advisory Roles

Partners: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Department of Health, NHS England, GIFT

• NICE Guideline Development: Systematically evaluated clinical evidence bases, integrated expert witness testimony, and co-authored national statutory guidelines for “Transitions from children's to adults' health and social care services".
• National Policy Transformation: Formulated national healthcare strategy as a core advisory member of the Government’s Children and Young People’s Mental Health Taskforce.
• Service Framework Design: Steered the strategic direction of the National CYP IAPT service development group to embed lived-experience into national care frameworks.

Service Design, Strategy & Co-Production

Partners: Southern Health NHS FT, Sussex Partnership NHS FT, BongBong

• Clinical Pathway Development: Partnered with two NHS Trusts to co-design specialist clinical pathways for personality disorders and eating disorders.
• Quality improvement and environment: Collaborated on an environmental improvement project for CAMHS waiting rooms to optimize patient safety and wellbeing.
• Resilience Frameworks: Co-authored a scalable Resilience Framework and preventative mental health curriculum adopted by educational institutions.

Clinical Facilitation & Patient Resources

Partners: Sussex Partnership NHS FT, YoungMinds, Southern Health NHS FT

• Inpatient Co-Production: Launched and co-facilitated a monthly co-production forum within a CAMHS inpatient ward to integrate patient feedback into ward management.
• Therapeutic Group Facilitation: Co-led Emotional Coping Skills groups across two acute adult psychiatric inpatient wards.
• Resource Innovation: Designed and published practical patient toolkits, crisis resources, and psychoeducational materials.

Research and Recruitment

Partners: Milestones, University of Southampton, Southern Health NHS FT

• Research: Contributed to study design and metrics, conducted qualitative interviews, and analysed data for peer-reviewed publication.
• Recruitment: Served as an panellist for healthcare recruitment, evaluating candidates on patient-centred care principles.

Public Speaking & Workshop Delivery

Partners: YoungMinds, GIFT, BEAT, University of Southampton, National Health Service (NHS), SidebySide (HIOW FT)

• Presentations: Designed and delivered presentations to local, national, and international audiences on healthcare reform.
• Training: Developed and facilitated training on mental health and co-production, enhancing knowledge, skills, and confidence among healthcare professionals, corporate bodies, and educators.
• Coaching: Offered coaching, advice and support to teams seeking to embed and enhance co-production within their quality improvement work.

• Delivered targeted, 1:1 clinical interventions (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy), enhancing patient's core skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
• Administered and scored standardised psychometric measures, including the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS), evaluating cognitive profiles to directly inform treatment pathways.
• Monitored and systematically assessed clinical risk, along with formulating immediate safety strategies. This involved utilising validated forensic risk measures and collaborating with multi-agency partners.
• Maintained clinical records using the RiO electronic patient data system, ensuring strict compliance with information governance, GDPR, and data protection.
• Managed, executed, and reviewed comprehensive service audits and clinical research, translating findings to inform service-development actions.
• Contributed psychological insights within MDT meetings, presenting observations on patient progress, risk, and intervention outcomes.
• Worked under the supervision of a Clinical Psychologist, engaging in reflective practice to synthesize psychological theories with casework.

• Conducted rigorous research and scoping exercises to identify clinical best practices, synthesizing data to inform service development and evidence-based interventions.
• Utilised formal clinical supervision and structured shadowing opportunities with a Clinical Psychologist to deepen understanding of psychological formulations and evidence-based interventions.
• Participated in team meetings, facilitating improved communication between healthcare professionals.
• Assisted in designing appropriate psychological materials for patients.

• Managed the daily execution of the therapeutic timetable, proactively liaising with young people to diversify opportunities.
• Under direct supervision of an Occupational Therapist facilitated evidence-based clinical interventions, including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Sensory Integration and WRAP for individuals and groups.
• Utilised interpersonal skills and empathetic engagement to build trust, reduce anxieties, and motivate young people to participate.
• Conducted initial needs assessments and sensory profiles to inform person-centred treatment plans.
• Spearheaded the service user involvement strategy, designing new participation opportunities that increased patient engagement and autonomy.
• Monitored service user engagement and risk levels during interventions, ensuring timely, accurate reporting to the MDT.
• Actively contributed clinical insights to MDT meetings to support holistic care.
• Maintained timely, accurate progress notes, tracking patient progress.

• Cultivated therapeutic, respectful relationships with patients on an acute adult ward, establishing a safe environment conducive to recovery and engagement.
• Designed and delivered a diverse programme of social, creative, and occupational activities, promoting patient recreation, expression, and life skills.
• Tailored activity plans dynamically to accommodate individual patient needs and personal preferences to ensure maximum inclusivity.
• Executed robust risk assessments and continuous monitoring for all activities.
• Managed the activity budget ensuring efficient allocation of resources.
• Maintained precise, confidential documentation of patient participation to track engagement levels.
• Received clinical supervision from an Occupational Therapist to align activity schedules with evidence-based best practices.
• Liaised proactively with the Multidisciplinary Team to expand recreational offerings, significantly enhancing patient well-being and the overall ward atmosphere.

• Supported the delivery of a structured movement group tailored to the unique physical, emotional, and developmental needs of young people with disabilities.
• Maximised participant engagement by utilising advanced communication strategies, including active listening and simple or non-verbal communication.
• Championed inclusion for less able young people by providing one-to-one assistance to ensure safe, confident participation.
• Supervised small group activities, effectively facilitating peer interaction, building social skills, and keeping participants focused on session goals.
• Implemented positive behaviour management strategies, proactively identifying triggers to de-escalate challenging situations and maintain a safe, supportive environment.