Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Andy Erskine

Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Andy was appointed as Deputy Chief Operating Officer in July 2021. He previously worked in a variety of leadership roles within our operating divisions. He also held a role to help develop mental health plans across Surrey Heartlands and Frimley Health Integrated Care Systems. He enjoys taking on new challenges and supporting service changes (such as the Community Transformation Programme or the development of Safe Havens). Andy is a qualified social worker and was previously a manager within adult social care at Surrey County Council. He started his career as a volunteer playscheme worker for children who have learning disabilities for a local charity. Qualifications: LLB Hons (University of Manchester); Diploma in Legal Practice, Diploma in Social Work and Post-Graduate Certificate in Strategic Leadership.

Ben Mensah

Chief Operating Officer

Ben has more than 20 years' experience in the NHS across senior clinical and operational leadership roles. Before joining the Trust, he was Director of Same Day Emergency Care at North London NHS Foundation Trust, where he led urgent and emergency mental health services across multiple boroughs. He has previously served as Managing Director for Children and Young People's Mental Health Services and co-led the development of the core CAMHS offer across North Central London in partnership with Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. Ben has experience working across all age groups and a range of specialist mental health services, with a strong focus on improving patient outcomes, experience and service transformation. In 2025, he was recognised as Inclusive Leader of the Year at the National BAME Health & Care Awards.

Cheryl Newsome

Chief People Officer

Cheryl joined us in 2021 after some years of working outside the NHS. In her previous role, she was the Director of Human Resources for the not-for-profit organisation Certitude, a leading adult social care provider for people living with learning disabilities, autism, mental health support needs and their families and carers. They support over 1,600 people in 15 London boroughs. Cheryl worked for Certitude for four years and was a member of their Board and Executive Leadership Team. Before this, Cheryl held several other HR leadership roles stretching back to 1999, including HR Director at Royal Holloway University; Director of HR Consultancy, Organisation & Staff Development at University College London; Director of HR for Lewisham College; and HR Director of both The Learning Trust and The Terrence Higgins Trust. Cheryl began her career in local government and the NHS.

Claire Clifford

Director of Hospitals and Specialist Services

Claire became the Director of Hospitals and Specialist Services in 2023. Before this, she worked extensively in the Learning Disability Division and then the Mental Health Division for Surrey and Borders. Claire is passionate about providing quality person-centred care for all and involving families and people who use services at every level of the organisation. She is keen to work with staff to ensure they feel valued and supported in the division. Claire has a nursing background and is registered as a Learning Disability Nurse and a Mental Health Nurse. She joined the trust in 1996 and has worked as a ward manager, modern matron, service manager and Associate Director. She also trained as a DBT Therapist and has completed a MSc in Healthcare Leadership.

Clare Scott

Chief Nursing Officer

Clare, was previously the Chief Nurse at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. Clare is a dual‑registered learning disability and mental health nurse, and has a strong background in clinical practice and professional leadership. She has worked in senior nursing roles across systems and organisations, leading the Nursing Workforce Programme across North Central London and as Director of Nursing in Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust. Qualifications: Registered Learning Disability Nurse, Registered Mental Health Nurse, B.Sc in Health and Social Care, M.Cs in Clinical Forensic Psychiatry, Nye Bevan Executive Healthcare Leadership Award.

Dr. Emma Whicher

Chief Medical Officer

She has previously worked as the Medical Director of South West London and St Georges NHS Trust, as London Regional Medical Director at NHSI, as Medical Director at North Middlesex University Hospital, leading the trust response to Covid with executive colleagues and Clinical Director of Transformation at North London Partners ICS, leading the transformation of paediatric, maternity and neonatal services in NCL. Throughout she has continued to practice clinically as a psychiatrist. She has led large strategic projects including as Co-chair of the London Strategic Clinical Network for Mental Health, the development of the London Health Based Place of Safety Standards and the implementation of 7-day service standards in London. Qualifications : BA Cantab; MB, BS - University of London; MRC Psych; MSc in Clinical Psychiatry - University of Leeds; MSc in Addictive Behaviour - St George's Hospital University of London. Working with People who use Services, Families, Primary Care, Acute Trusts, and the Voluntary sector to improve care.

Georgina Foulds

Director of Neighbourhood Mental Health Services

Working closely with partners across primary care, social care, voluntary organisations and local communities, we provide joined-up support tailored to people's needs and goals. Alongside community mental health services, we also offer specialist support, including early intervention, perinatal mental health services, talking therapies and health psychology services. Georgina qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1991 and has worked in mental health throughout her career. She has extensive experience across a broad range of mental health services, with a particular focus on community and crisis services. Georgina has a strong track record of leading innovation and delivering large-scale transformation programmes. Prior to taking up her current role, she led the Surrey Heartlands Community Mental Health Transformation Programme from 2022, driving improvements in the delivery of integrated, community-based mental health services.

Julie Gaze

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer

Julie joined the NHS in 1992 as a graduate management trainee and has since held multiple operational and strategic roles. She started with Surrey Hampshire Borders, our founder Trust, as Service Development Manager in 1998 and when the Trust merged with North West Surrey and Surrey Oakland's (to form Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust) Julie was responsible for the merger and integration. Julie was Director of Corporate Affairs until November 2011 when she took the role of Assistant Chief Executive. Since April 2017 Julie has been the Director of Governance and Planning, and her responsibilities in this role include our Board and Council, as well as our corporate governance structure and the strategic planning for our annual operational plan. Julie has a degree in English Literature and Language from the University of Reading and holds a certificate from the Institute of Health Management.

Justine Leonard

Director of Children and Young People's Services

Justine was appointed to the role of Director of Services for Children and Young People in September 2017. She started her NHS career in 1992 when she qualified as an Occupational Therapist at Brunel University. With a passion for mental healthcare Justine brings extensive clinical, operational and strategic experience of the full range of mental health services including Children and Young People's Services, Adult Mental Health, Dementia Care and Specialist Services. Previously, Justine was a Service Director at Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust for over 13 years. More recently she worked with South Kent Coast and Thanet CCG's, together with GPs and other primary care colleagues, in the development of Enhanced Primary Care Services. Qualifications: Diploma of the British Association of Occupational Therapists (DipCOT), College of Brunel University (1992), Post Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Management, Salomons, Christ Church College and Canterbury University (2001), Nye Bevan Programme – Leading Care 111, NHS Leadership Academy Award in Executive Healthcare Leadership (2015).

Philippa Alisiroglu

Director of Learning Disability Services and Neurodiversity

Philippa is a qualified social worker and was appointed as Director of Services for People with Learning Disabilities in November 2017. She has extensive experience of partnership working, commissioning, and creating new models of care. Philippa was previously responsible for running provider services across five London boroughs, and has held senior roles in Surrey County Council and Croydon Council. Her areas of interest include recruitment, retention and succession planning, and she is looking forward to supporting our Director of Workforce in delivering their strategy. Qualifications: Diploma in Social Work, BA Hons in Health and Social Care, Diploma in Management Studies.

Prof. Helen Rostill

Deputy Chief Executive/Chief Therapies Officer

Helen joined the Trust in 2012 as Director of Innovation and Therapies and was promoted to Chief Innovations Officer & Chief Therapies Officer in December 2014. In 2021, Helen was appointed Deputy Chief Executive. Helen's responsibilities include Research and Development, Digital and Psychological and Allied Health Professions. Helen was seconded to the Surrey Heartlands Executive Board to lead mental health strategic commissioning from 2021 to 2023 and led the mental health portfolio across Frimley ICS from 2016 to 2024/25. Helen is the lead for the Surrey Heartlands ICS Health Tech Accelerator which involves a partnership with the University of Surrey, the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Academic Health Science Network, and industry. In addition, Helen provides strategic leadership for the Trust regarding the integration of mental health within the Neighbourhood Health Agenda, linking with East and West Surrey Alliance Boards and also North East Hampshire, and leads on large scale transformation at system and organisational level. Helen is a consultant clinical psychologist and began her career in learning disability services, followed by roles in the National Schizophrenia Fellowship and a multi-agency child, young people and family service. She was a senior lecturer in clinical psychology at the University of Birmingham for 10 years. Qualifications: B.Sc. (First Class Hons) in psychology from the University of Birmingham, awarded clinical doctorate (Clin PsyD) in 1997, Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership. Fellow at the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence between 2018 and 2022. Completed the Institute of Health Improvement Quality Leaders programme in 2023. Level 7 Diploma (with distinction) in Strategic Management and Leadership.

Roshan Patel

Chief Finance Officer

Roshan is Chief Finance Officer, appointed in November 2024, and is an experienced NHS finance leader with more than 20 years' service across commissioning, provider, system and national roles. Since joining the NHS through the National Graduate Training Programme in 2002, he has built a career spanning acute, mental health and system leadership. He has held Chief Finance Officer roles across North East Hampshire and Farnham CCG, a wider group of CCGs in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board. Before joining Surrey and Borders, Roshan served at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, where he led the organisation's financial recovery programme. He is particularly recognised for his expertise in financial improvement, strategic planning and partnership working, with a strong appreciation of the different priorities across the health and care system. Roshan is an Associate Member of CIMA, holds a BEng (Hons) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Bath, and has completed the King's Fund's Building Collaborative Leadership across Health and Care programme.

Susie Gray

Executive Director of Property

Susie has applied her commercial and property background to the challenge of providing Mental Health Services in high-quality care and healing environments that support the well-being of people who use services, carers and staff. Qualifications: BSc (Hons) Urban Land Administration, Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Master of Corporate Real Estate.

Bernadette Topham

Senior Independent Director

Appointed in May 2024 for a term of three years. Bernie has held several senior roles in both local government and the Higher Education sectors. She has served as a Director of the Borough of Poole and was also Chief Executive of Eastleigh Borough Council. More latterly, she moved to the University of Portsmouth, where she was Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Vice Chancellor until her retirement in September 2023. Bernie has been involved in all aspects of senior leadership but has particular expertise in physical and social regeneration, change management and partnership working. Bernie has significant Board level experience in the charity and education sectors and Chairs a Community Interest Company and is a Director of a charitable trust in Portsmouth.

Carol Pearson

Deputy Chair

Appointed in April 2022 for a term of three years. Reappointed for a second term from April 2025. Carol qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young LLP and subsequently worked in international development. She has over 25 years of experience as an accountant. Since 2012, she has worked across several NHS clinical commissioning groups in Sussex as a lay member of the governance panel. Carol has also been a charity trustee and is currently a trustee of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute. She has written and spoken widely on health issues and is co-author of a book on a common long-term health condition. Qualifications : BA Hons (Oxon) English Language and Literature, ACA, Foundation Certificate in Transactional Analysis. Level 6 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling – Carol is an accredited member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society.

Denise Day

Non-Executive Director

Appointed in June 2023 for a term of three years. Denise has four decades of experience in technology and transformation across a range of business sectors, including Banking, Retail, the NHS, Airline and Tour Operations. She has been a panel advisor to corporations focussing on specific aspects of technology strategy and policy. Most recently, she was Chief Information Officer with dunnhumby, a global retail data science company based in London. In 2021 she was recognised in the Global 100 Chief Information Officer awards. In 1997, she was appointed Chair of Governors of Brockham Primary School. She currently volunteers as a data ethics advisor for DataKind, St Paul's Cathedral as an independent member of the Risk and Audit Committee, and works with several local community groups.

Joe Thompson

Non-Executive Director

Appointed in November 2024 for a term of three years. Joe has wide-ranging leadership experience in the transport and travel industries, having held senior roles with Strategy, Transformation, Commercial and Operational remits. He worked at Virgin Atlantic for 17 years, including 6 years as a member of the leadership team, before joining the First Bus executive team. He now combines his role at the Trust with advisory work. Throughout his career, Joe has championed a customer perspective and the intelligent use of insight to improve their experiences. He is excited by the opportunity to support the Trust in achieving this objective for service users, their families and carers. Qualifications: MA Natural Sciences, PhD Materials Science (University of Cambridge)

Karen Roberts

Non-Executive Director

Karen was appointed as an Associate Non-Executive Director in December 2024, and was subsequently appointed as a Non-Executive Director for a three year term in March 2026.

Sue Waterhouse

Non-Executive Director

Appointed in January 2023 for a term of three years. Reappointed for a second term from January 2026. Sue has worked in the NHS since 1982, initially starting as a nursing auxiliary in older age. She is a dual registered nurse in both mental health and physical health. She has predominantly worked in mental health covering a wide number of clinical areas. She has held various clinical positions and leadership roles with the latest being Director of Mental Health in the Essex area. Sue has a passion for fairness, justice and equality. She has worked regionally and nationally focusing on equality and diversity. She was the Programme Lead for gender equality in mental health for the South East region. She moved on to work nationally holding the position of National programme lead for gender equality before taking on the role of deputy director for all equality strands nationally. These roles focused on the implementation of national policy. Whilst working nationally Sue was seconded into the Home Office to work with other government departments on a cross-governmental strategy focused on violence and abuse against women and children. Sue joined Surrey and Borders Partnership Trust in January 2023 and will focus on quality and equality. Qualifications: Registered Mental Health Nurse; Registered General Nurse; Diploma in Nursing (Higher Award); Non-medical prescriber (V300); Master of Business Administration.

Prof. Roi Cohen Kadosh

Affiliate Member

He has advised national and international bodies, published widely, and led innovations that support both clinical practice and education. As an Affiliated Member of Surrey and Borders Partnership since April 2025, Roi contributes specialist expertise in psychology, neuroscience, and neurotechnology, helping to advance research, strengthen collaboration with the University, and improve outcomes for the communities the Trust serves.