Director: Roxane Agnew-Davies MA(Hons), MSc, PhD, C.Psychol, AFBPsS

My specialist field is the impact of domestic violence on mental health. I am a part-time Senior Research Fellow in the Institute of Primary Care and Public Health at London South Bank University.

I am Mental Health Advisor to the Greater London Domestic Violence Project. I am a specialist advisor to and a member of the Expert Group on Domestic Violence for the Department of Health/ National Institute of Mental Health England Victims of Violence and Abuse Prevention Programme. For five years I was Head of Psychological Services for Women at Refuge, the national charity for women and children experiencing or escaping domestic violence.

I was commissioned by the Department of Health to produce guidance for mental health professionals on psychological support for women experiencing domestic violence. As chair of HEVAN (Health Ending Violence & Abuse Now), I was also commissioned to produce a manual for training health professionals, now available on the Home office website. I am consultant to numerous agencies and trains on domestic violence at local and national levels. I am a specialist advisor to the current Victims of Violence and Abuse Prevention Programme within the Department of Health.

I am a Chartered Psychologist, a full member of the Division of Clinical Psychology and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. I qualified 21 years ago and for over 10 years worked in various settings for the NHS, ending as a Principal Grade Clinical Psychologist. I am a clinician specialising in trauma and experiential therapy and have particular expertise in helping practitioners develop skills and techniques that can further improve their practice.

I have substantial experience in supervising a variety of professionals, on an individual and group basis. My teaching experience includes a four-year period as a lecturer in adult education at the University of Leicester and an extensive research background, with publications in professional journals, as well as two book chapters.

As a clinical psychologist, I have been trained to use diagnostic criteria developed by the American Psychiatric Association and to offer therapeutic interventions according to my assessment of the client. I am qualified to make clinical assessments of mental health in various respects.

I am an expert witness accredited by Cardiff University. 

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Associates:

                       Christine Mann, MA.RGN.CMB.RHV.BAPC(Accred)

Christine Mann is a domestic abuse consultant. From 20004-2007 Christine was the National Domestic Abuse Co ordinator for the Dept. of Health where she advised Ministers on domestic abuse, developed national policy and had the strategic lead over the NHS. She also worked for the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit and the Home Office on the Tackling Violent Crime Programme, focusing on the need to engage Primary Care Trusts with their Crime and Disorder and partnership responsibilities .An effective public speaker and trainer, she has experience of cross Government and inter Departmental working. In addition Christine was a member of the Executive Board of the Corporate Alliance and continues to work with the NHS. Employers Organisation, providing training for Human Resource Directors and their staff. Christine has extensive NHS experience, latterly specialising in implementing strategic change in health service policy and provision around domestic abuse and crime reduction. She has advised the British Forces Overseas and initiated an ongoing domestic abuse project in a large female prison.
She has been a magistrate on the Leicestershire bench for 24 Years.

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                                                Pat Wallace

Pat Wallace is an experienced trainer and consultant in relation to Domestic Violence. She worked as the Domestic Violence Co-ordinator for Buckinghamshire for 2 years and prior to that she co-managed one of the Home Office pilots in the ‘Reducing Violence Against Women Initiatives’. Previously she worked as a Health Visitor for a number of years and was also a community practice teacher.

As a trainer she has developed and delivered a 3 day Training for Trainers in Domestic Violence course. She has also designed and delivered training to many specialist and multi-agency groups. Pat is a facilitator for the Freedom programme and has just become a licensed trainer for the Freedom Programme. She is also trained to facilitate the IDAP perpetrator programme.

From her work as Domestic Violence Co-ordinator she has expertise in developing strategies which included designing and initiating small projects. These include developing a schools education pack, pump priming the delivery of the Freedom Programme, initiating a self referral perpetrator programme. Pat was also responsible for introducing Routine Enquiry for Health Visitors and Midwives in Buckinghamshire. This included the development and delivery of policies/protocols, training and support.

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                                                  Sue Penna

Sue Penna originally qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1987 and over a 17 year career in mental health worked with adults experiencing organic and functional mental health difficulties in hospital and community settings.
In 1992 Sue gained a post-graduate diploma as a psychotherapist/counselor, and at this time was focusing clinically on working with adults experiencing eating disorders and those that had been sexually abused as children.
In 1994 Sue embarked on a five year stint working alongside GP’s providing Cognitive Behaviour Therapy/Counselling within the general practice setting.  During 2003 and 2004 Sue was the co-coordinator of the Cornwall Domestic Violence Forum where amongst other things she developed training packages for a range of statutory and voluntary agencies. Since 2004 Sue Penna has successfully developed her freelance work from a small training agency to one that is now providing training/evaluation and consultancy services throughout the South West Region. Sue has a particular interest in the link between women’s mental health and the trauma of domestic abuse. Sue is a published author in professional journals in England and Europe and regularly presents at conferences in the Region.

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                                              Hamish Brown MBE

  Hamish retired in June 2004, as a Detective Inspector, from the Specialist Crime Directorate at New Scotland Yard after over 30 years service with the Metropolitan Police. He is the UK's acknowledged authority in stalking cases and was awarded the MBE for his work in this area. Hamish now lectures nationally and internationally, gives advice as well as engages in some media work commenting on general crime issues. Since retirement he has undertaken temporary contracts reviewing policies for councils with respect to anti social behaviour and he continues to work with the Probation Service concerning Priority and Prolific Offenders. He is commissioned by the Home Office to examine the offence of 'witness intimidation' from a stalking angle. Further information about Hamish can be found on his website at www.hamishbrownmbe.com.

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