Martin Graham - Hospital Manager

Martin Graham originally joined Cygnet in September 2010 as hospital manager of Cygnet Hospital Harrogate. Martin has worked in both the NHS and Independent Sector for 30 years and has extensive management experience within medium secure, low secure and Acute Psychiatry. Martin is keen to promote partnership working and will be strengthening relationships between the NHS and Independent Sector in the future.

Sarah Hinton - Clinical Manager

After completing a BSc Hons in Psychology Sarah decided to become a Mental Health nurse and completed her PGDip in 2013. Since then she has worked in the NHS in London as a staff nurse, deputy manager, ward manager and matron across different specialties including CAMHS, Acute, PICU, Forensic, Crisis Teams, and Eating Disorders. Whilst working, Sarah completed an MSc in Healthcare Practice; with a focus on psychosocial interventions, and a dissertation topic of reducing restrictive practices in acute and PICU settings.

Sarah has recently relocated to Harrogate, where she grew up, and joined Cygnet. She is passionate about working within the acute setting and encouraging staff to support positive therapeutic engagement with service users within these environments. She motivates teams to focus on innovative quality improvement, maintain high standards of care, and encourage involvement from service users and carers.

Dr Rebecca Lasseko - Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Director

Rebecca completed her Psychiatry Core and Higher training from Yorkshire and Humber deanery and she is on Specialist register as a General Adult Psychiatrist. She has a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from Makerere University in Uganda, Master of Science in Psychiatry and Master of Public Health from Leeds University. She is a member of Royal College of Psychiatrists and Regional Specialty Representative for Rehab & Social for the Yorkshire Region.

Prior to joining Cygnet Hospital Harrogate in April 2022 Rebecca worked as a clinical lead for service development strategy group for inpatients wards and rehabilitation in Leeds and York Partnership Foundation Trust. She has extensive experience of working as a Consultant Psychiatrist in a wide variety of settings including substance misuse, rehabilitation, community mental health teams and acute wards.

Rebecca is passionate about patients care and advocate for mental health wellbeing of her patients. In her spare time, she volunteers in various charities to improve health in her community.

Trudy Chapman - General Manager

Trudy joined Cygnet Harrogate in 2015, initially on a temporary contract. She took over managing the HR department in 2016 and then became Administration Manager. Following a promotion to General Manager in 2019 Trudy is now responsible for running all of the non-clinical side of the hospital including estates, catering, admin and housekeeping.

Trudy is passionate about delivering a safe and comfortable environment for patients and staff and is committed to ensuring the hospital runs as smoothly as possible.

Sophie Kirkman - Haven Ward Manager

Sophie joined Harrogate in 2010 as a bank support worker whilst completing her nurse training. She briefly left to work in elderly services after qualifying before re-joining in 2014 as a Staff Nurse. Sophie became Clinical Team Leader in 2016 and was promoted to Ward Manager in 2024.

Sophie is passionate about motivating and empowering the team and delivering high standards of patient care.

Stephen Aidoo - Sanctuary Ward Manager

Stephen began working as a nurse in Ghana in 2018, moving to the UK in 2020. He began his career as a RMN at Cygnet Hospital Stevenage. A year later, Stephen was promoted to Clinical Team Leader and worked in both secure and acute services. As a Clinical Team Leader, he mostly worked in the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit at Cygnet Hospital Wyke from 2023.

Stephen became the ward manager in 2024 for Sanctuary Ward, the female acute unit at Cygnet Hospital Harrogate. In every service he has worked in, Stephen has a strong commitment to providing patient-centred care, inspiring others, and providing high-quality care.

Neil Voakes - Occupational Therapy Lead

Neil has worked as a qualified Occupational Therapist for Cygnet Health Care since 2007. Neil has experience of working across multiple service lines including Acute, PICU, Low Secure and Personality Disorder. In 2019 Neil completed a post graduate certificate in Sensory Integration level 3 to gain Sensory Integration Practitioner status. Neil is currently employed as a Regional Occupational Therapist Lead and Head Occupational Therapist at Cygnet Hospital Harrogate.