The Clinical Leads for the mental health workstream were appointed on in late 2018, with the endorsement of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The mental health workstream is managed by Lucy Stroud (l.stroud@nhs.net) and Kirsten Sidoti (kirsten.sidoti@nhs.net).
Clinical Lead (Rehabilitation): Dr Sridevi Kalidindi
Consultant Rehabilitation Psychiatrist at South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Kalidindi is a Consultant Rehabilitation Psychiatrist and recent past Associate Medical Director at the South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. This role has involved working closely with commissioners and others to develop appropriate, successful services. She currently leads a Rehabilitation and Recovery Community Team and in the past, an inpatient rehabilitation unit as well. She is the immediate past Chair of the Rehabilitation and Social Psychiatry Faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Dr Kalidindi is a Visiting Senior Clinical Lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience and has authored and co-authored numerous key policy documents and research papers. She was awarded 2017 Psychiatrist of the year by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and remains a spokesperson for the College, strongly advocating for good mental health services for the population.
She is currently a national advisor for the development of the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (NCCMH) developing NICE guidelines for community psychiatry.
Dr Kalidindi said: “The Getting It Right First Time workstream in mental health rehabilitation, provides an enormous, long overdue, opportunity to upgrade rehabilitation services nationally. Improved patient experience and outcomes along with enhanced system functioning, is at the heart of this programme”.
Clinical Lead (CAMHS): Dr Guy Northover
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Guy Northover is currently a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist who has been working in Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for the past eight years. He has interests in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) urgent care services, clinical governance, health informatics and quality improvement. He holds a post graduate certificate and diploma in systemic therapy.
He has extensive clinical experience of Community and Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and has recently taken up the Early Intervention In Psychosis role working out of the Tier 4 inpatient unit. He has experience of service redesign through the development of CAMHS clinical pathways, the new Tier 4 inpatient service and rapid response team, as well as the CAMHS eating disorder service.
Dr Northover is the regional representative for the faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and undertakes the role of Quality Improvement Lead, attending the Royal College of Psychiatry Quality Improvement Committee. He is also an expert advisor for NICE Centre for Guidelines.
Dr Northover said: “Given the national pressures on child and adolescent psychiatric care it is essential that the crisis and inpatient services are providing the best possible outcomes for children and young people. I am thrilled to be part of the GIRFT team and I am looking forward to learning from the services, sharing best practice and reducing unwarranted variation – all of which are at the heart of the programme.”
Clinical Lead (Crisis and Acute): Dr Ian Davidson
Consultant general adult psychiatrist at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Ian Davidson is a consultant general adult psychiatrist at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust with extensive experience of community and inpatient general psychiatry. He has been a medical director, deputy chief executive and interim chief executive and is currently clinical quality lead for the trust.
He has held a variety of regional and national roles and has a background in research, education and national quality and improvement services, through to contributing to national policies – always alongside continuing clinical roles. He has also presented nationally and internationally on a range of topics, including care pathway development and evaluation.
Dr Davidson’s service development work has included helping design and commission a new hospital and procuring and implementing clinical IT systems, as well as care pathways.He has been, and remains, a long term advocate for ensuring that people who access services, deliver services or are affected by services are able to help shape and review services through their development.
In addition to his roles within his trust he is currently a clinical adviser on the NHSE/I reducing mental health acute admission out-of-area support programme and Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Autism Champion.
Project Manager: Lucy Stroud
Project Manager: Kirsten Sidoti
