Kelly Shortt - Hospital Manager

Kelly qualified as a Registered Mental Health Nurse in 2012 after working in care settings for a number of years as a support worker. She began her career With Cygnet Health care at Cygnet Manor as a newly qualified nurse and spent three years within the service whilst progressing to Senior nurse.

After a very brief few months away from the company she rejoined this time working at Cygnet Acer Clinic, where she commenced her first management role as Head of Care before leaving and returning back to Cygnet Manor within the same role in 2018. Kelly was formally appointed and became registered Hospital Manager of Cygnet Manor in 2019, and joined Cygnet Views as Hospital Manager in 2023.

Abi Hague - Head of Care

Abi qualified as a Mental Health Nurse in January, 2013 and started her position as Staff Nurse at Cygnet Storthfield House. In 2014, Abi transferred to Sherwood House in the capacity of a Staff Nurse, where she remained for another year. During this time, Abi supported at other sites across the region, including Cygnet Aspen House and Aspen Clinic, CAMHs, Learning Disability and Acquired Brain Injury services. She accepted a position as Staff Nurse at Cygnet Acer Clinic upon the opening of their specialist Personality Disorder service; where she eventually progressed to Senior Staff Nurse in 2016.

In 2018, Abi moved from Cygnet to the NHS, taking roles as a Lead Mental Health Nurse in East Midlands Ambulance Service and a Lead Assertive Outreach Nurse in the community. She returned to Cygnet in 2020 having secured the Head of Care position at Cygnet Manor. Abi’s main area of professional interest remained female and Personality Disorder services, and therefore she transferred back to Cygnet Acer Clinic in 2021 as a Clinical Team Leader. During this time, Abi was involved in the retool of their ward from Personality Disorder rehabilitation services to a female Acute Ward as the Ward Manager. During this time, she achieved a distinction in her Leadership and Management Level 5 qualification. She joined the team at Cygnet Views in 2023 as Head of Care.

Dr Syed Zaidi - Consultant Psychiatrist

Dr Zaidi joined Cygnet in June 2020 as Locum Consultant Psychiatrist. Dr Zaidi is a member of Royal College of Psychiatrist and has 13 years’ experience of training and working in mental health care services at a consultant level, both in the NHS and the Independent Sector. During this period, Dr Zaidi has worked in various settings including low secure and locked mental health rehabilitation setting for personality disorders and learning disability patients.

Dr Zaidi has a keen interest in social inclusion/ transforming care and promoting care and treatment for individuals within the least restrictive setting to achieve their rehabilitation goals.

Donna Harrison – Principal Forensic Psychologist

Donna is a Registered and Chartered Forensic Psychologist. Donna joined Cygnet in May 2022 and works across health and social care. She has been working in forensic services since 2004 and has experience working within the prison and probation services, secure hospitals and rehabilitation services. Donna has worked with both male and female patients presenting with a range of mental health needs, including mental illnesses, personality disorders, autistic spectrum disorder, substance misuse problems, violent behaviour and cognitive deficits, including learning difficulties.

Donna’s work has included assessment, treatment, risk assessment and structured group interventions and trauma related work. Donna is trained in a range of therapeutic modalities. Donna a fully trained Dialectical Behavioural Therapist delivering both group skills and Individual DBT (since 2008) and has also developed and delivered DBT Awareness training to increase awareness of this therapy and how best to support the patients completing the programme. Donna also contributes towards service development, staff training and staff support through regular reflective practice and formulation sessions.

Heather Davis - Occupational Therapist

Heather qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2018 where she started her career at Cygnet's day services. Heather spent the first two years as a band 5 at Cygnet's day services working with profoundly disabled patients over two sites. After two years she moved over to Cygnet Manor and Cygnet Views, where she is now based full time, working within a learning disability hospital as a band 6 specialist Occupational Therapist.

Verity Sowden - Speech and Language Therapist

Verity is a HCPC registered Specialist Speech and Language Therapist who joined the team in November 2017. Prior to joining Cygnet, Verity studied for a BMedSci (Hons) Degree in Speech Science at the University of Sheffield, qualifying in 2017. Verity is responsible for the provision of high quality assessments and interventions relating to speech, language and Communication needs of all service users at Cygnet Views.

Verity has an in-depth knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and provides resources to enable service users to engage with MCA assessments to the best of their ability. Verity also champions accessible communication and ensures Cygnet Views has an effective inclusive communication environment. As well as completing assessments and interventions for communication, Verity is dysphagia trained and provides assessment and management of eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties.