Bio

I'm Debra and I'm here to listen to you. I am here to help you discuss your views and concerns and to help you to explore your options and rights, without pressure. I have worked as a practice manager for over 8 years and have a further 13 years management experiencing in the banking sector. I have experienced and overcome many challenges in my professional career, and I hope that I can help others in their own challenges so they can see the wood for the trees. I appreciate the practice manager role can be isolating but there is support available and sometimes we just need someone to listen and not offer suggestions. I am an experienced coach who is passionate about helping others, that's why we become practice managers. Sometimes there are challenges along the way and I can be your confidential sounding board who will listen and support you without judgement and if you want coaching support we can do that, too. The only agenda is your agenda.

Bio

Frank has practised psychological therapy for over 40 years. He has worked in the Health Service, Social Services, Higher Education and independent practice. He has trained as a counsellor and as a CBT therapist. He has published a number of books, including Counselling for Anxiety Problems (Sage, 2003), Beck’s Cognitive Therapy (Routledge, 2009) and CBT: Foundations for Practice (Sage, 2013). He is particularly interested in working with stress, anxiety and depression and although he specialises in CBT, he likes to take a wider view on what might be helpful for individual clients.

Bio

Harriet has been working as a PM since 2010, and is now in her third PM position, as a Business Partner at Gloucester Road. She has worked with and in, a variety of general Practices in both Bristol and Somerset, including a rural practice, a deprived area and with patient lists ranging from 6,000 to 21,000. She understands the differing dynamics of general practice, the cultures and the challenges. Having started her early Career as an adult guidance worker and Careers advisor, she then worked for 12 years in education and social care management before moving into primary care. Having this background has given her qualifications in clinical supervision, advice and guidance, counselling, and teaching, training and assessing. Having the background of working 1:1 with clients has been transferred into her role as a leader, coach and mentor of staff. She now runs a large Practice with a varied team and is part of the North and West Bristol locality. She also holds a postgraduate management diploma and is a fellow of the institute of leadership and management. Harriet is passionate about professional support and is part of the safehouse team because she champions colleagues being able to access such support on a peer level.

Bio

Judy formerly trained as a GP and then completed training in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. She has worked as a psychotherapist both in the NHS and privately for the last 20 years. She has an interest in supporting doctors and facilitates a number of Balint groups. She offers short and long term psychotherapy to individuals with a variety of difficulties including work stress and offers supervision to a range of psychotherapists and health care professionals.

Bio

I am a GP partner in Bristol working 7 clinical sessions and 1 session as a director at the LMC. I regularly work in the OOH setting. I am married to a GP who works as a locum and for a private company who provides NHS services. I have taken over the lead role for pastoral care at the LMC. Being a GP is a tough job and the only way that we can best look after our patients is to look after and invest in ourselves. Sometimes we need support and an opportunity to talk to an independent fellow colleague who understands the pressures that we face to find the best way forward for ourselves.

Bio

I currently work as Nurse Advisor for Somerset LMC and GPN Respiratory Specialist at Wells Health Centre. I have 16 years primary care experience and 2 years experience as a COPD Specialist Nurse covering the whole county. I have recently been awarded the Queen's Nurse title. I originally trained at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London and after qualifying I moved to the Bristol area for work and to continue my education at UWE. I worked in the cardiac catheter lab at the BRI and various medical and surgical wards. I took a year away from clinical work to run BNA Nursing Agency in Bristol and Bath as branch manager which taught me a lot of managerial and recruitment skills. I missed working with patients and wanted to move into a community role. Initially I became night sister at a local nursing home however this was not where I wanted to stay and eventually got my dream job as a General Practice Nurse in Cheddar. I soon realised that practice nursing was an amazing job with the potential to learn new skills and work independently. Having asthma since childhood I was drawn to respiratory work within primary care and undertook diploma modules in both asthma and COPD. I later became a lead nurse and had the honour of supporting 'new' practice nurses and healthcare assistants develop into highly skilled professionals. I have also experienced stressful situations and understand how nursing has changed over the past few years. I am caring and a very good listener. Sometimes you can become overwhelmed by work and you may find it helpful to contact someone who understands which is where my role as advocate fits in

Bio

I have worked as a GP for many years and understand the challenges of front line work in General Practice. I also have additional training and experience in psychotherapy. At difficult times stress, anxiety or depression can feel overwhelming whether this is work related or as a result of other problems. I can offer a space to listen, support and think together to find helpful ways forward