Linda Offord - Development Consultant

Linda first worked in mental health as a User and Carer Liaison worker where the experience of providing a lifeline for those caring for someone with a mental illness shaped her future working life. From there Linda has spent 15 years focussing on improving mental health services both in the NHS, local authorities and the voluntary sector.

She has commissioned a range of services including Child and Adolescent, Older People's Mental health services and Learning Disability services with the voluntary, private and public sectors. Linda has written the integrated health and social care Mental Health strategy for Suffolk and undertaken research projects into the causes of mental health problems in adolescents.

She has also developed promotional self help material for both carers and mental health service users and been Trustee and Chair of the local MIND group. Linda has undertaken Consultations to improve dementia and old age mental health services and worked with multi agency groups to co-ordinate the re-provision of accommodation to allow people to live more independently.