Jo is a chartered Health Psychologist and Lactation Consultant working with families across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire in the perinatal period. Jo is employed by Sirona Care and Health who hold the contract to deliver the Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting and School Nursing) Services in these areas.
Archives: People
Health Visitor and Clinical academic fellow. Previous Practice Development Nurse and Health Visitor in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Nurse Activity Manager with Médecins Sans Frontières in South Sudan, Sierra Leone, and Ethiopia. His master’s research titled ‘Exploring Glasgow parents’ views of the Equal Protection from Assault (Scotland) Bill’ used a mixed methods approach. The findings were presented at the Community Practitioner and Health Visitor Association conference, published in the Community Practitioner journal, and summarised in a blog for Children 1st.
His PhD research explores how new parents respond to childhood illness and make decisions to use urgent care services.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-j-sweeney
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sweencj
Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher-Sweeney-8
CV
Qualifications
- 2022 – 2025 PhD, University of Edinburgh
- 2017 – 2018 Master of Public Health (merit), University of Glasgow
- 2012 – 2013 BSc Hons Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) (2:1), Glasgow Caledonian University
- 2011 Diploma in Tropic Nursing, University of Liverpool
- 2005 – 2008 BSc Adult Nursing, Bell College
Responsibilities & affiliations
Member of the Community Practitioner editorial advisory board. Peer reviewer for the Community Practitioner and Journal of Health Visiting. PGR rep for Nursing Studies in the University.
Ruth Realff, Professional Development Officer, Learning and Development
PGCE, V150 NMP, BN(Hons), RHV, RN
Lindsey Hill, iHV Virtual Tech Host & Training Admin
Laura Nelson, Business & Operations Manager
Responsible for:
- Business and operational management
- Financial and budget control
- Supporting the CEO
- HR
Dr Michelle Moseley, Director of Programmes (Learning and Development)
Erin Bell, Design and Publications Officer
Responsible for:
- Developing creative concepts
- Managing publication design and layout
- Ensuring visual consistency and maintaining a strong brand identity
- Coordinating with teams
- Handling document revisions
Grace Houston, Professional Development Officer, Perinatal & Infant Mental Health
BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing, SCPHN – HV, MSc Psychology
Responsible for:
- Supporting the national and international work of the iHV Mental Health team
- Supporting Director of Innovation and Research, and Mental Health Lead, to develop iHV Perinatal & Infant Mental Health strategy, projects and practice development
- Supporting the production, delivery and quality assurance of iHV mental health training programmes
- Supporting engagement and co-production with parents and professionals in relation to mental health projects
Kieran supports our work around fathers’ mental health, bringing much greater attention to the needs of dads, who can frequently get overlooked in services which have traditionally been built around the needs of women and their babies. Using a combination of his own lived experience and the latest evidence and knowledge from his role as Operations Manager for Dad Matters – HomeStart HOST, Kieran has co-designed and co-delivers the iHV Fathers and Perinatal Mental Health training programmes alongside our iHV Mental Health team. His outstanding ability to connect with fathers during such a critical period transforms individual lives and influences best practice in health visiting, with the aim of improving perinatal care for all fathers and their infants.
Leanne uses her own experience to ground our work in the profound reality of lived experience of perinatal mental ill-health. Leanne has consistently demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the iHV and to health visiting through her active involvement in numerous initiatives – supporting our policy work, joining key roundtable discussions, knocking on the door of Downing Street with her daughter Miley as part of the campaign “A Fight for a Fair Start”, and leading a petition calling for more health visitors. Her dedication to co-production and her consistent support has made a tangible impact on the wellbeing of families.
