Meet the team

Our team are working to ensure that all children and young people get the right support at the right time so that they can live a happy and fulfilled life.

The Children and Young People Services/SEND team at NHS South Yorkshire-Sheffield are working to ensure that all children and young people get the right support at the right time so that they can live a happy and fulfilled life. 

We work alongside local authorities and health providers, as well as other stakeholders including parent/carer groups, children and young people and their families and schools to make sure that health services for children and young people in hospitals, GP surgeries and the community consider the needs of the whole person.

We want to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people across Sheffield from 0-25 years of age and to reduce any inequalities in health through: 

  • Effective early identification of needs with appropriate assessments
  • Services that meets the needs of our young people
  • Smooth transition across Education, Health and Care at every stage of a young person's life, through to adult life
  • Communication and engagement between young people, families, and their services
  • Skilled leadership and staff capabilities to delive the services
  • Visit our projects section to see what we are doing to meet these commitments
SEND Sheffield Michelle.jpg
Name:   Michelle Racey
 
Job role:    Designated Clinical Officer (find out more about Michelle's role and duties here)
 
How my work supports services for SEND:   My role is to ensure that health services are understand and meeting their requirements around SEND across Sheffield.
 
Favourite food: Shepherd Pie
 
Dislike: Baked Beans
 
Hobbies: Life casting
 
Favourite film: Heat
 
Fun fact: A patient’s favourite request was getting me to say “40 butterflies” on repeat at every visit.
 
My mental health care: Long walks with the dog
 
 
Name:   Sapphire Johnson
 
Job role:   Head of Commissioning for Children, Young People & Maternity Services
 
How my work supports services for SEND:    I work as part of a team in the NHS and the Local Authority to commission health services (things like community therapies) to support children and young people with SEND.
 

Favourite food: Jam doughnuts

Dislike: Liquorice

Hobbies: Walking my dog, running, I love watching live music and sport

Favourite film: Grease 2

Fun fact: I once played tennis on centre court at Wimbledon

My mental health care: Long walks, hot bubble baths and hugs with friends!

 

Name:  Pippa Lord

Job role:    Commissioning Manager for Children, Young People & Maternity Services

How my work supports services for SEND:   As a team we all work closely together and support each other. I support the DCO to make sure that our local NHS services work with Sheffield City Council SEND services, and to ensure that children and their families are supported as they move into adulthood. 

Favourite food:   I’m vegetarian, Georgian food and love all things spicy.

Dislike:   Shopping for clothes.

Hobbies:   I always have a sketchbook with me. I love to paint. 

Favourite film:  Normally something dystopian. 

Fun fact: I once got lost in a Sumatran jungle. 

My mental health care: Regularly reaching out to a friend in text or in person, and my dog is my great companion. 

 

Name:  Harriet Myers

Job role:   Commissioning Manager

How my work supports services for SEND:   Overseeing the Sheffield-wide Speech, Language and Communication Programme and supporting the Physio, Occupational Therapy and Sensory Service 

Favourite food:   Sunday dinners

Dislike: Rainy weather

Hobbies:  Running, Squash, Hiking

Favourite film:  Matilda

Fun fact: I have been skydiving before

My mental health care:   I love to go on hikes with my dog to unwind

 

Name:  Amy Weston

Job role:   Commissioning Manager (Learning Disabilities and Autism all ages)

How my work supports services for SEND:    I work with Sheffield’s services that support children and young people with a learning disability or autism access.

Favourite food:    Pizza!

Dislike:  Spicy food!

Hobbies:  Walking my dog Frank and meeting up with friends and family.

Favourite film:  Avengers

Fun fact:  When I was in nursery I wanted to be a power ranger when I grew up!

My mental health care:   I like to have a bubble bath with a cup of tea!

 

Name:  Rachel Dillon

Job role:   Strategic Programme Manager within the NHS. I work across the Sheffield Place to support large scale reviews and change programmes. 

How my work supports services for SEND: I’m currently Strategic Programme Manager for the CYP Neurodevelopment Transformation Programme. The main aims of the programme are to improve early identification, support to families with or without diagnosis, improve services working together in schools and the community, improve the assessment process and improve support for neurodiverse CYP and their families in schools. The majority of the CYP we are aiming to improve services for, will have SEN.  Partners involved in the programme are Sheffield Childrens NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield City Council, NHS South Yorkshire ICB, Sheffield Parent Carer forum, Education, and Healthwatch.

Favourite food: Ice Cream

Dislike: Ignorance 

Hobbies:  Watching films, Cycling, Walking, Swimming, Gardening, Piano Playing, 

Favourite film:  Love Actually

Fun fact: 

My mental health care: See hobbies above.

 

Name:  This post is vacant

Job role:   EHCP Complex Case Manager

How my work supports services for SEND: This post helps to coordinate the health element of the EHCP assessment process, and works closely with the cyp and their families with EHCPs who have high medical needs. 

Favourite food: 

Dislike:  

Hobbies:  

Favourite film:  

Fun fact: 

My mental health care: