Episode 09: The Power of Thinking Spaces in NHS Leadership with Dr. Matt Walsh

Episode 12: Rethinking Youth Violence: From Punishment to Prevention with Dr. Suchitra Bhandari

What if the most powerful thing we could do about youth violence isn't to respond to it but to stop it from happening in the first place? In this episode of London in Mind, host Dr. Estelle Moore sits down with Dr. Suchitra Bhandari, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Director of North Central London Vanguard Services for Violence Reduction, for a conversation that challenges everything we think we know about how communities keep young people safe. Dr. Bhandari works across five North London boroughs, bringing together healthcare, education, law enforcement, and community organisations in a genuinely collaborative effort to address the root causes of violence rather than simply respond to its consequences. At the heart of this work is a shift in thinking that is as simple as it is radical: treating violence not as a criminal justice problem but as a public health one. Something that can be understood, prevented, and ultimately reduced when we attend to the psychological, social and environmental conditions that give rise to it. This is a conversation full of warmth, honesty and real-world wisdom. Dr. Bhandari talks about what trauma-informed practice actually looks like on the ground, what it takes to build genuine trust across agencies with very different cultures and priorities, and why working alongside young people themselves, rather than doing things to them, changes everything. She also shares what culturally responsive support means in practice, and how crisis moments can become turning points rather than endings. About Dr. Suchitra Bhandari Dr. Suchitra Bhandari (Suchi) is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Director of North Central London Vanguard Services for Violence Reduction at North London Foundation Trust. With fifteen years of leadership in psychological therapies, most recently as Director of Psychological Therapies for Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust, her clinical expertise spans community psychology and complex adult mental health, always with a focus on dismantling the barriers that health, racial and social inequalities create. In 2015, Suchi founded Project Future, a holistic, psychologically-informed mental health and wellbeing service for young people affected by serious youth violence, social marginalisation and gang affiliation. In 2021, her leadership secured an NHS England bid to expand that model across all five North Central London boroughs. The work has since won six nationally prestigious HSJ awards. Recognition not just of professional excellence, but of what becomes possible when young people, communities and partner organisations are genuinely valued as collaborators. She was also awarded the London NHS Leadership Recognition Award in 2017 for Leading Systems Transformation. Get in touch: For enquiries, please contact Suchitra's PA at amanda.ardeman3@nhs.net About the Psychological Professions Network The Psychological Professions Network (PPN) is a multi-professional membership network commissioned by NHS England that brings together professionals, living experience advisors and partners from across provider trusts, integrated care systems, higher education and local communities, to champion workforce development and innovation to maximise the impact of psychologically informed approaches on public health and healthcare delivery. PPN London is focused on strategic initiatives and leadership to enhance mental and physical health outcomes and workforce resilience throughout the capital. About the Host Dr Estelle Moore is a clinical and forensic psychologist with over 30 years’ experience in NHS forensic services. She currently serves as Director for Psychological Professions (Chief Psychological Professions Officer) at West London NHS Trust, Head of Psychological Services at Broadmoor Hospital, and Chair of PPN London. Her clinical and research interests include trauma-informed care, treatment of complex post-traumatic stress, restorative justice in forensic settings, and building workforce resilience across health and social care. Find out more: https://ppn.nhs.uk/ [https://ppn.nhs.uk/] Produced by Winter Audio [http://winteraudio.co.uk]

Episode 11: Strategic psychological support for major trauma with Dr. Idit Albert

Host Dr. Estelle Moore is joined by Dr. Idit Albert, clinical lead of the NHS London Major Trauma Psychology Network, to discuss the transformative impact and challenges of embedding psychological care within London’s trauma response systems. Together, they explore how integrating psychosocial principles into emergency planning, supporting survivors and staff, and developing evidence-based systems can drive lasting recovery and resilience for London communities. Download and listen about how psychological approaches are making London more resilient, and discover opportunities to join the conversation. Episode Themes: * The psychological impact of trauma extends well beyond the initial crisis, requiring long-term care and recovery pathways. * London now has psychology teams embedded in major trauma centres to provide proactive support from hospital admission through post-discharge. * Collecting patient feedback and training healthcare staff helps shape ongoing improvements to trauma psychological pathways. * The network fosters a community of wellbeing leads across police, ambulance, and healthcare services to standardise support for responders. * Survivors and bereaved families play a vital role in shaping the design and delivery of psychological care to better meet their actual needs. * Embedding psychological care into emergency planning is a relatively new but increasingly prioritised field within health systems. * Strategic coordination allows faster scaling up of psychological support during major incidents, benefiting both individuals and wider communities. Here is the link for the Psychology Response Framework to Major Incidents in London: NHS England — London » Publications – London Major Trauma Psychology Network [https://www.england.nhs.uk/london/london-clinical-networks/our-networks/violence-reduction/london-major-trauma-psychology-network/publications-london-major-trauma-psychology-network/] About Dr. Idit Albert: Dr Idit Albert is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Lead for the Pan-London Major Trauma Psychology Network, a joint role across the NHS London Violence Reduction Programme, NHS England and West London NHS Trust. She leads the integrated psychological care model across London's four Major Trauma Centres, established in 2023. Previously, she held the post of Consultant Clinical Psychologist and PTSD Lead at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. and was an Academic Director in Clinical Psychology at King's College London. Her wider experience includes leading psychological responses to major incidents and international trauma work. About the Psychological Professions Network The Psychological Professions Network (PPN) is a multi-professional membership network commissioned by NHS England that brings together professionals, living experience advisors and partners from across provider trusts, integrated care systems, higher education and local communities, to champion workforce development and innovation to maximise the impact of psychologically informed approaches on public health and healthcare delivery. PPN London is focused on strategic initiatives and leadership to enhance mental and physical health outcomes and workforce resilience throughout the capital. About the Host Dr Estelle Moore is a clinical and forensic psychologist with over 30 years’ experience in NHS forensic services. She currently serves as Director for Psychological Professions (Chief Psychological Professions Officer) at West London NHS Trust, Head of Psychological Services at Broadmoor Hospital, and Chair of PPN London. Her clinical and research interests include trauma-informed care, treatment of complex post-traumatic stress, restorative justice in forensic settings, and building workforce resilience across health and social care. Find out more: https://ppn.nhs.uk/ [https://ppn.nhs.uk/] Produced by http://winteraudio.co.ukWinter Audio [http://winteraudio.co.uk]

Episode 10: Rethinking Critical Incident Debriefing and Trauma Support in Healthcare

In this episode, host Dr. Estelle Moore welcomes Professor Neil Greenberg, a leading psychiatrist and trauma specialist, to explore how healthcare systems can better support staff after critical incidents. Drawing from his extensive military and NHS experience, Neil discusses why traditional psychological debriefing may inadvertently cause harm, and how trauma risk management (TRiM) offers a much safer, more effective, peer-led approach in healthcare settings. Tune in to learn more about this approach and how it can benefit staff across all healthcare settings. Episode Themes: * Introduction: How to improve dealing with trauma in healthcare settings * Professor Neil Greenberg shares his journey with the Royal Marines and the development of peer-led trauma support packages * Evidence shows that traditional debriefing models not only failed to help but could cause additional harm to staff after traumatic events * How TRiM empowers teams within organisations to advocate for peer support over outsider intervention * Professor Neil Greenberg explains how TRiM was translated for use beyond the military for the NHS * Most trauma reactions improve over time with social support and reduced pressure * The call for better staff wellbeing and priority access to mental health support for healthcare workers. March on Stress TRiM Training and Resources [https://www.marchonstress.com/] The home of TRiM in the UK, and the organisation Professor Greenberg co-directs. All services are developed under the watchful eye of leading international PTSD and occupational health expertise, and all work is backed by the latest research. https://www.marchonstress.com/ About Professor Neil Greenberg: Professor Neil Greenberg is Professor of Defence Mental Health at King's College London and one of the UK's foremost experts in psychological trauma and occupational mental health. He served in the United Kingdom Armed Forces for more than 23 years, deploying as a psychiatrist and researcher to hostile environments, including Afghanistan and Iraq, and it was during this time that he became one of the driving forces behind the development of TRiM. He also runs March on Stress, the leading consultancy for evidence-based trauma support in the UK, and has published more than 400 scientific papers, advised the NHS, and shaped international guidance on mental health in the workplace. About the Psychological Professions Network The Psychological Professions Network (PPN) is a multi-professional membership network commissioned by NHS England that brings together professionals, living experience advisors and partners from across provider trusts, integrated care systems, higher education and local communities, to champion workforce development and innovation to maximise the impact of psychologically informed approaches on public health and healthcare delivery. PPN London is focused on strategic initiatives and leadership to enhance mental and physical health outcomes and workforce resilience throughout the capital. About the Host Dr Estelle Moore is a clinical and forensic psychologist with over 30 years’ experience in NHS forensic services. She currently serves as Director for Psychological Professions (Chief Psychological Professions Officer) at West London NHS Trust, Head of Psychological Services at Broadmoor Hospital, and Chair of PPN London. Her clinical and research interests include trauma-informed care, treatment of complex post-traumatic stress, restorative justice in forensic settings, and building workforce resilience across health and social care. Find out more: https://ppn.nhs.uk/ [https://ppn.nhs.uk/] Produced by Winter Audio [http://winteraudio.co.uk]

Episode 09: The Power of Thinking Spaces in NHS Leadership with Dr. Matt Walsh

What does it actually take to lead well in the NHS? Not just to manage, but to truly lead, with humanity intact and purpose still burning, even when the pressure feels relentless? In this episode of London in Mind, host Dr. Estelle Moore sits down with Dr. Matt Walsh, whose remarkable career has taken him from GP to Chief Executive, for a conversation that is as honest as it is inspiring. Dr. Walsh is a leader who has thought deeply about what it means to attend to people and why the quality of our listening and the spaces we create for genuine thinking might matter just as much as any strategy or structure. He speaks with refreshing candour about his own journey, the moments that shaped him, and why vulnerability, far from being a weakness in leadership, is often where the most important work begins. This is a conversation full of practical wisdom too. Dr. Walsh and Dr. Moore explore what it looks like to build a coaching culture, to model the behaviours you want to see, to hold the balance between performance and compassion without losing either, and to find and protect genuine joy at work, even on the hardest days. Because joy, as this episode quietly insists, isn't a luxury or an afterthought. It's a sign that something is working. Whether you're leading a large organisation, a small team, or simply trying to bring a little more purpose and kindness to the work you do every day, this episode will leave you feeling seen, encouraged, and ready to lead a little more like yourself. Key Resources and Further Reading: Institute for Healthcare Framework for Improving Joy in Work [https://www.ihi.org/library/white-papers/ihi-framework-improving-joy-work] https://www.ihi.org/library/white-papers/ihi-framework-improving-joy-workA practical white paper that outlines four steps leaders can take to improve joy in work and workforce wellbeing, alongside a framework of nine critical components for building a genuinely engaged workforce. https://www.ihi.org/resources/white-papers/ihi-framework-improving-joy-work About Dr. Matt Walsh: Dr. Matt Walsh is a GP, reflective practitioner, and executive coach whose career spans 25 years in general practice and GP training, senior NHS leadership roles across West Yorkshire, and seven years as Chief Executive of NHS Calderdale CCG. He now works as a coach and mentor as an associate with Oasis Human Relations, and supports aspiring clinical and managerial leaders through the Inspiring Leaders Network. https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-walsh-9a803927/His approach is a whole person approach, rooted in deep listening, and he is known for creating safe, supported, and gently challenging environments where real reflection becomes possible. https://oasiscoaches.oasishumanrelations.org.uk/matt-walshHe is also co-chair of the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance, bringing together the worlds of health and the arts to explore their shared potential. https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-walsh-9a803927/At the heart of everything he does is a simple but powerful belief: that most of the time, we already have the answers within us. We just need the time, space and support to find them. About the Psychological Professions Network The Psychological Professions Network (PPN) is a multi-professional membership network commissioned by NHS England that brings together professionals, living experience advisors and partners from across provider trusts, integrated care systems, higher education and local communities, to champion workforce development and innovation to maximise the impact of psychologically informed approaches on public health and healthcare delivery. PPN London is focused on strategic initiatives and leadership to enhance mental and physical health outcomes and workforce resilience throughout the capital. About the Host Dr Estelle Moore is a clinical and forensic psychologist with over 30 years’ experience in NHS forensic services. She currently serves as Director for Psychological Professions (Chief Psychological Professions Officer) at West London NHS Trust, Head of Psychological Services at Broadmoor Hospital, and Chair of PPN London. Her clinical and research interests include trauma-informed care, treatment of complex post-traumatic stress, restorative justice in forensic settings, and building workforce resilience across health and social care. Find out more: https://ppn.nhs.uk/ [https://ppn.nhs.uk/] Produced by Winter Audio [http://winteraudio.co.uk]

Episode 8: Why Reflective Practice Matters More Than Ever

What if the most powerful thing a healthcare team could do together isn't clinical at all but simply sitting down, slowing down, and actually talking about how they feel? In this episode of London in Mind, host Dr. Estelle Moore is joined by two guests who have spent their careers making that very thing possible: Dr. Anna Maratos, Trust Head of Psychotherapy at Central and North-West London NHS Foundation Trust, and Dr. Rachel O’Beney, consultant clinical psychologist, group analyst, and member of the Pressing Pause team. Together, they trace the journey of reflective practice from something that once sat at the edges of individual support into something far more expansive, a genuine tool for transforming team cultures, shifting how organisations function, and changing the experience of everyone who works within them. This is a rich, layered conversation that doesn't shy away from the harder truths: the unspoken tensions that quietly build in teams, the way distress can get silently passed around a group and land on one person's shoulders, and why creating real space for difficult feelings isn't a sign of weakness in a healthcare setting it's one of the most sophisticated things a team can do. There’s warmth and even laughter here too, because Dr. Maratos and Dr. O’Beney understand that healthy defences, good boundaries, and the saving grace of humour are all part of the picture. They share practical wisdom on facilitation, supervision, and what it actually takes to build the kind of trust where honest reflection becomes possible, for managers and doctors, just as much as anyone else. If you've ever wondered what it might look like for your team to genuinely grow stronger together, this conversation is a wonderful place to start. Key Resources and Further Reading: Group and Team Coaching: The Secret Life of Groups [https://www.routledge.com/Group-and-Team-Coaching-The-Secret-Life-of-Groups/Thornton/p/book/9781032465876], Christine Thornton. An insightful guide to the hidden dynamics that shape how groups really work. Essential reading for anyone facilitating reflective practice or leading teams through change. The Art and Science of Working Together [https://www.routledge.com/The-Art-and-Science-of-Working-Together-Practising-Group-Analysis-in-Teams-and-Organisations/Thornton/p/book/9780367182588], Christine Thornton. A deeper dive into group analytic thinking applied to real organisational settings. Practical, rigorous, and genuinely illuminating for those wanting to understand what's really happening beneath the surface of team life. Therapy Groups Online [https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftherapygroupsonline.co.uk%2F&data=05%7C02%7Csarah.adams48%40nhs.net%7Ca7b3428d42d6403ce97008dda77bb1b5%7C37c354b285b047f5b22207b48d774ee3%7C0%7C0%7C638850871876076272%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=taCobRtp6vv%2Ff7y6GwH92z8q%2FGx6JNiyew0Q5qPKDRc%3D&reserved=0] https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftherapygroupsonline.co.uk%2F&data=05%7C02%7Csarah.adams48%40nhs.net%7Ca7b3428d42d6403ce97008dda77bb1b5%7C37c354b285b047f5b22207b48d774ee3%7C0%7C0%7C638850871876076272%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=taCobRtp6vv%2Ff7y6GwH92z8q%2FGx6JNiyew0Q5qPKDRc%3D&reserved=0Affordable, accessible analytic therapy groups running once and twice weekly. A welcoming option for anyone ready to do some of their own reflective work in a supportive group setting, wherever you are in the country. Group Analysis Face to Face [https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.groupanalyticgroups.co.uk%2F&data=05%7C02%7Csarah.adams48%40nhs.net%7Ca7b3428d42d6403ce97008dda77bb1b5%7C37c354b285b047f5b22207b48d774ee3%7C0%7C0%7C638850871876090505%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vZ0zf8H5J7BNRTYRBMS3mQOXKcQEEW7X4iLzkNGqSKw%3D&reserved=0] In-person analytic therapy groups for those who want the depth and connection of meeting together in the room. A powerful complement to the reflective work we explore in this episode. NHS Education for Scotland Reflective Practice Toolkit [https://wellbeinghub.scot/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NWH_Reflective-Practice-Toolkit.pdf] A practical, well-crafted resource for teams and organisations wanting to embed reflective practice into their everyday culture. The Institute of Group Analysis (IGA) [https://www.groupanalysis.org/] The home of group analytic thinking in the UK, and a wonderful place to explore further if this episode has sparked your curiosity. Whether you're looking for training, professional development, or simply want to go deeper into the ideas Anna and Rachel discuss, the IGA is a rich and inspiring starting point. About Anna Maratos Anna Maratos is Head of Psychotherapy and Joint Chief Psychological Professions Officer at CNWL Foundation NHS Trust. She is a group analytic psychotherapist who has worked in adult mental health for nearly 30 years in various roles including as a Music Therapist and Head of Arts Therapies, Systematic Reviewer, Researcher and Clinical Director. She has also set up in private practice as The Group Therapy Space. Tasked with growing an internal function to enable all 250 teams at CNWL to have at least monthly access to a facilitated team reflection space, she reached out to Christine Thornton, group analyst, organisational consultant and author of Group and Team Coaching (Routledge 2016). Christine founded the Reflective Practice in Organisations course at the Institute of Group Analysis, and together they set up Pressing Pause: Training Mental Health Clinicians to Become Group Leaders. Email anna.maratos@nhs.net Private practice: anna@thegrouptherapyspace.com [anna@thegrouptherapyspace.com] http://thegrouptherapyspace.com [https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegrouptherapyspace.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Csarah.adams48%40nhs.net%7Ca7b3428d42d6403ce97008dda77bb1b5%7C37c354b285b047f5b22207b48d774ee3%7C0%7C0%7C638850871876039488%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=MW8wy3lIhvy6MsegAVDvd4cY1R5UM8ZW%2FHl4%2FJp%2FNoo%3D&reserved=0] LinkedIn (7) Anna Maratos | LinkedIn [https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fanna-maratos-b7244b59%2F%3ForiginalSubdomain%3Duk&data=05%7C02%7Csarah.adams48%40nhs.net%7Ca7b3428d42d6403ce97008dda77bb1b5%7C37c354b285b047f5b22207b48d774ee3%7C0%7C0%7C638850871876059737%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=VFUtz5Vt3Xes%2F0DCUkrGlwzjV%2B9SwXkJ8a0fRiLQSs0%3D&reserved=0] About Dr. Rachel O’Beney Dr Rachel O’Beney is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and a Group Analyst who has worked in the NHS for over 30 years and is deputy lead Psychologist for Westminster in CNWL mental health trust. She co-runs a reflective practice training in CNWL called Pressing Pause: training mental health clinicians to become group leaders. She is very interested in using analytic ideas to inform her NHS work which includes facilitating groups, reflective practice, supervision groups, as well as working with individuals. About the Psychological Professions Network The Psychological Professions Network (PPN) is a multi-professional membership network commissioned by NHS England that brings together professionals, living experience advisors and partners from across provider trusts, integrated care systems, higher education and local communities, to champion workforce development and innovation to maximise the impact of psychologically informed approaches on public health and healthcare delivery. PPN London is focused on strategic initiatives and leadership to enhance mental and physical health outcomes and workforce resilience throughout the capital. About the Host Dr Estelle Moore is a clinical and forensic psychologist with over 30 years’ experience in NHS forensic services. She currently serves as Director for Psychological Professions (Chief Psychological Professions Officer) at West London NHS Trust, Head of Psychological Services at Broadmoor Hospital, and Chair of PPN London. Her clinical and research interests include trauma-informed care, treatment of complex post-traumatic stress, restorative justice in forensic settings, and building workforce resilience across health and social care. Find out more: https://ppn.nhs.uk/ [https://ppn.nhs.uk/] Produced by Winter Audio [http://winteraudio.co.uk]