Meet the Team
Mark Varney - Hospital Manager
Mark has been a Qualified Mental Health Nurse since 1988 and trained in Derby at Pastures Hospital. He spent the majority of his career working at Millbrook Unit in Mansfield as a Ward Nurse before progressing to ward manager. In June 2003 Mark became Care Programme Approach lead for North Nottinghamshire and was promoted to Trust CPA manager in 2005. Mark was also for many years a trainer in breakaway, restraint and PSTS. Mark joined Cygnet Health in May 2009.
Lucy Johnson - General Manager
Lucy has been with Cygnet Hospital Derby since opening in 2010; she initially worked within the medical administration department for several years and implemented efficient and accurate systems that changed the way medical administration works within the hospital.
Following promotion to General Manager in 2017, Lucy is the responsible line manager of the MHA team, as well as all non-clinical staff including the estates and catering teams. Working with individual team members, Lucy ensures the non-clinical departments run smoothly to meet targets and provides support to management and other departments as required.
Marie Howlett - Clinical Manager
Marie qualified as a nurse having completed her degree at Kings College London. She has worked for Cygnet since 2013, having started her career with Cygnet at Cygnet Hospital Kewstoke with experience in male acute services, whereby she took a lead role in taking the ward through the AIMs process leading to an excellent accreditation being awarded. She then went on to specialise in inpatient personality disorder services. She has worked as a Staff Nurse, Clinical Team Leader and progressed to Ward Manager of Alvaston Ward in July 2016, re-locating to Cygnet Hospital Derby. Marie progressed to the Clinical Manager role in 2020.
Marie has a passion for ensuring that patients are always placed at the centre of their care and least restrictive practice principles are at the heart of the service.
Dr Pavan Chahl - Consultant Psychiatrist
Dr Pavan Chahl began practising at Cygnet Hospital Derby in August 2010 on Wyvern Unit, our mental health rehabilitation service. Dr Chahl has brought with him a wealth of experience both medically and in his patient management style. Dr Chahl keenly looks for service user feedback to improve service provision and experience. Dr Chahl has a detailed understanding of how a team should work in a complex area such as rehabilitation and he always ensures all voices are heard.
Dr Jenny Dale - Consultant Psychiatrist
Dr Dale has been a consultant in general adult psychiatry for the last 10 years, with experience of treating a wide range of complex mental health conditions. She trained at the University of Birmingham Medical School and did her basic and higher specialist training in the West Midlands.
Jenny has a particular interest in psychosis, complex trauma conditions (including the use of trauma-sensitive yoga), and the role of the Arts in challenging stigma. She has also been involved in medical education and has held posts as Honorary Clinical/Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Birmingham.
Charlotte Dumelow - Alvaston Ward Manager
Charlotte started working at Cygnet Hospital Derby in 2014 as a Healthcare Assistant on Alvaston Ward, gaining experience in female Low Secure services specialising in the treatment of individuals with Personality Disorders. Charlotte then moved to the role of Clinical Ward Administrator prior to beginning her Master’s degree in Mental Health Nursing in 2015. After qualifying as a Registered Mental Health Nurse, Charlotte returned to Alvaston Ward as a Staff Nurse. She progressed to Clinical Team Leader and Deputy Ward manager, prior to becoming Ward Manager of Alvaston Ward in April 2022.
Charlotte also has a BSc (Hons) degree in Psychology and a MA (Hons) in Criminology, leading to her interest in Mental Health. Charlotte’s passion is to provide a safe and supportive environment for service users, whilst maintaining a focus on least restrictive practices. She encourages service users to be involved in there care as much as they are able, to ensure this is individualised and person-centred.
Daniel Whitfield – Litchurch Ward Manager
Daniel commenced his career in Mental Health in 2011 in a Forensic Locked Rehabilitation Service. He joined Cygnet Hospital Derby as a Health Care Assistant in 2013, gaining experience in both male and female Low Secure services and the male Locked Rehabilitation service. He has also held the Honorary post of Substance Misuse Worker. After qualifying as a Registered Mental Health Nurse at the University of Derby, Daniel progressed to his current role as Ward Manager on Litchurch Ward.
He has a strong passion for supporting others through their journey of recovery. Daniel promotes continuous service development, with a focus on ensuring least restrictive practice and patient led philosophies are embedded throughout the ward. Daniel’s interests out of work include spending time with his family and friends and keeping active. He also enjoys listening to, and making music as a multiple instrumentalist and partakes in various different projects and bands.
Luke Mousley - Wyvern Ward Manager
Luke started working at Cygnet Hospital Derby in January 2017 as a Staff Nurse. He has since stuck with his ambition and his caring nature helped him progress to Clinical Team Leader, Deputy Ward Manager and he has recently attained position of Ward Manager. Luke qualified from Nottingham University with a master’s degree in Mental Health Nursing which he passed with a distinction.
Luke has a brief background in Drama & English with a BSC (Hons) degree and also did a Joinery apprenticeship. Luke wanted to help make a difference and so had a career change, starting work as a Bank Nurse at the mental health sites at Kingsway Hospital and the Radbourne unit. Luke is professional and hardworking but always makes time to have a laugh with his colleagues and the Service Users alike.
Outside of work, Luke likes socialising with family and friends, playing sports such as football and practising boxing as well as keeping active by going hiking.
Andrea Watson – Lead Psychologist
Andrea started work with Cygnet in 2014 as Forensic Psychologist and officially became Lead psychologist in 2016. Andrea has several qualifications in Psychology and has worked as a qualified psychologist for many years. Andrea aims to provide the highest standard of psychological services to service users.
Andrea carries out assessments of Service Users before admission to the hospital, runs Psychology groups such as DBT sessions and other 1:1 sessions with Service Users, she communicates with the clinical teams, relatives and commissioners alike, maintaining the CPA 20 standards to a great level and provides reports to the MHA team ready for CPA meetings.
Andrea leads a brilliant and dedicated team of psychologists and assistant psychologists and also trains and supervises students that come for a placement at Cygnet Hospital Derby. Andreas warm, charismatic and caring nature make her the ideal Lead of the psychology team.
Carol Colins – Head of Social Work
Carol started working with Cygnet Hospital Derby in 2012. Carol has a degree in Psychology and a MA in Social Work and has previously worked within community mental health teams, providing support and therapeutic interventions (CBT) for a diverse group of people. Carol moved into working in Low Secure psychiatric hospitals in 2008 and has enjoyed her roles ever since, particularly enjoying working with service users, family and friends.
Sara Egan – Substance Misuse Worker
Sara started as Substance Misuse Worker for Cygnet Hospital Derby in 2013 and continues to improve interventions for service users on all wards. Sara has worked with Substance and Alcohol Misuse for over 21 years.
Sara has experience with hostels helping people resettle back into the community and worked with Addaction for 12 years prior to Cygnet Hospital Derby where she worked as part of a recovery team offering 1:! Psychosocial interventions, group work and complimentary therapies, working within the Criminal Justice System with Tier 3 alcoholics in Derbyshire. Sara uses her experience from the community when working with service users and finds new ways to support and engage service users struggling with addiction, changing packages as her experience in mental health grows.
Nicole Reynolds - Office Manager
Nicole joined Cygnet Hospital Derby in 2014, starting as a Receptionist and progressing her way through various roles within Admin over the years and became Office Manager in 2022. Nicole is responsible for the Reception team, Administration team and as part of her wider role, she helps report on the Hospital’s KPIs and provides support to the senior managers and ward teams at Derby, as well as supporting the non-clinical staff alongside the General Manager.
Brandon Scarborough-Jones - Head Chef
Head Chef Brandon has gained great skills and knowledge in the hospitality sector, having worked in professional hotel and restaurant kitchens during his 15 year career so far. He is hugely driven and passionate about the quality of food he serves. With his Level 3 Diploma in professional cookery, supervision & leadership and the 3 rosette restaurant experience he’s brought with him to Cygnet Hospital Derby, he feels will lead the kitchen team to bring happiness and joy to our Service Users through the power of food.
