Meet the AMBIT Programme Team

I am the joint Programme Lead for AMBIT at Anna Freud. As a Mental Health Nurse and Systemic Practitioner, I have specialised in work with young people with multiple, risky problems in both outreach and secure settings, utilising the AMBIT approach. I have contributed to a number of key publications and the development of AMBIT, and have trained and consulted with hundreds of workers in AMBIT in the UK and internationally.

Laura jointly leads the AMBIT programme. Laura qualified as a Clinical Psychologist in 2010 and has since specialised in working with young people and their families in community outreach services. Laura worked as a therapist on the Multi-Systemic Therapy START trial in the UK and has also held clinical lead roles in a range of innovative multi-agency projects.

James is joint Deputy Director for the AMBIT programme and is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist. James first became connected with AMBIT in 2011 as the lead psychologist in a regional adolescent inpatient service, helping develop the AMBIT model on the unit, then moving into training others in the approach. James leads on the evaluation of the AMBIT program and jointly leads the AMBIT international study group.

Rebecca is joint Deputy Director for the AMBIT programme. She progressed to this role having become a Lead Trainer in 2019. Her journey into AMBIT started in 2014 whilst working for Wandsworth Local Authority. In the 18 years she spent in Wandsworth, Rebecca’s roles included work as a team manager in the Evolve Team (who support young people and young adults impacted by gangs, youth violence and exploitation), and as a Youth Offending Team Practitioner.

Dickon is a Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and has worked for 30+ years in the NHS, where he leads a team for young people with substance use and multiple other needs, and is Mental Health Lead for the planned new Cambridge Children’s Hospital on the Addenbrookes site. He has been Medical Director and Designated Safeguarding Lead at Anna Freud for 20 years. He co-founded AMBIT, and he now works as a consultant to the AMBIT Programme at Anna Freud.

Peter is a clinical psychologist who has worked in child mental health throughout his career. He currently works as a Consultant to the AMBIT team at Anna Freud. He worked in the NHS as Clinical Director of Islington CAMHS, and was concerned about the children and young people with major needs who did not come to the main services that were provided. This led him to join a group at Anna Freud who were concerned about the same issue, which resulted in the development of the AMBIT approach. He has been involved in publishing two books on AMBIT.

Verity is a Registered Mental Health Nurse and has worked in the NHS in an AMBIT influenced Specialist Drug and Alcohol Service for young people with substance use, mental health and multiple other needs. Verity started working in the AMBIT Programme Team as an Assistant Trainer in 2018 and moved into a lead trainer role in 2023.

Dr Kate Budge is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist currently working within NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Kate has experience of working with children and young people across health and social care, alongside youth justice settings, within community, crisis, and inpatient services. Kate joined the AMBIT programme in 2022 as an Assistant AMBIT Trainer and supports the programme team with delivering training.

Gema Hadridge is a SWE registered Social Worker. She works as a lead trainer in the AMBIT team, and runs trainings within the Early Years and MBT-F at Anna Freud. She also is a social worker in an adolescent social work team in Brighton & Hove. Gema’s practice and training is influenced by her work as a social worker and mentalization practitioner. She is also trained in systemic practice and Theraplay®.

Anthony Scott is a qualified counsellor/psychotherapist with 20 years of experience working face to face with young people, families and communities in both statutory and voluntary services. He has extensive experience working with people at risk of offending, serious youth violence, as well as designing and delivering training which is respectful, truthful and challenging. His training enables professionals to understand institutional racism, unconscious bias, how these nuances impact BME communities, and the role that generational trauma plays in how people and families present to services.

Catherine is a social worker and systemic practitioner who trained and has spent the majority of her practice in child protection. Catherine completed an action research project as part of a master's programme based on using the AMBIT model to create meaningful therapeutic relationships with young people at risk of exploitation. Since then, she has been applying the AMBIT model to continue to try to engage and build trust with young people as well as to facilitate integrated multi-agency working between the Local Authority and CAMHS.

Ash is an Assistant AMBIT Trainer. His journey with AMBIT began in 2019 when he trained at Anna Freud in his role as Head of Therapeutic Operations for the Violence Intervention Project. His passion for AMBIT stems from a rich understanding of the value and importance of supporting Teams to stay well connected and to cultivate a culture of learning. Ash is currently exploring the potential of AI in this area of ‘learning at work’.

Anna has 25 years' experience working with children and families, and is currently managing a local authority team supporting children and young people's emotional wellbeing and mental health. Anna is working to build AMBIT approaches into her team and networks. She is also currently studying Systemic Practice at The University of Leeds.

Anna Rickards is a qualified social worker and worked as a practitioner and a team and service manager in a range of different settings including child protection, early help, CAMHS and palliative care. Anna initially undertook AMBIT training in 2022 and has been integrating AMBIT ideas into her support approaches with teams ever since.

Catherine Fraser-Andrews has been teaching for 25 years and has experience in mainstream middle and secondary schools, adolescent inpatient units, and specialist provisions for neurodiverse young people. Catherine has trained in AMBIT whilst in an inpatient unit and has embedded AMBIT in her work with vulnerable children in schools. She is studying for a doctoral degree in inclusive education at Cambridge University, bringing elements of AMBIT into classroom pedagogy.

Assistant AMBIT Trainer

Mercy is the AMBIT Project Manager, whose previous employment background has included working within mental health services, community development and the EDI sector. Mercy joined the AMBIT Programme in 2023.

Briony joined the AMBIT team in 2023 after completing her MSc in Gender and Sexuality studies. She has previously worked in the early years sector and is passionate about work that breaks down barriers and emboldens young people to use their voices.