Co-Director Margaret Lougher has a wealth of experience in mental health service practice and management in both the public and private sectors. She is still a practising AMHP (and previously an ASW) and has proven experience in teaching and supporting students at Master’s level study.
Her current specialist areas of interest are links between Mental Health Act 1983 (2007) with other relevant legislation, national and local policy and guidance, in particular the Children Acts 1989 and 2004, the Human Rights Act and Mental Capacity Act. The service user experience and developing updated methods to integrate those key messages into service delivery are central to her perspective.
Nicola Howard, Co-Director, completed the Diploma in Social Work and qualified in 2004 at Swansea University. Nicola has practiced as a Social Worker in Child Safeguarding Statutory Services, a Community Mental Health Team and is currently working for an Emergency Duty Team as a generic Senior Social Work Practitioner.
Nicola is a practising Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) and has held the Qualification for 10 years. Nicola has interests in mental health crisis and support, Children and adolescents access to mental health services and ensuring the views of people accessing services are listened to.
Post qualifications include PQ 6, Practice Assessor award and Team Manager Development Programme. Nicola is joint investigation trained in child and adult safeguarding. Nicola is a Deprivation of Liberties (DoLs) Assessor, Best Interests Assessor (BIA) and is also an Adult Protection Support Order (APSO) Authorised Officer.
Nicola has trained in Applied suicide intervention skills training (ASIST).
Nicola has worked in social work education at Swansea University since 2016, and is currently also a lecturer on the undergraduate programme and is one of the Practice Learning Opportunity Tutors.