Family Ambassador Service

Find out more about the Family Ambassador team and what they do.

Quality and governance lead

Shamiso Mposhi

Shami has worked as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse for the 0-19 Service, briefly as Quality Lead for the NHFT Children’s Services, and as Patient Safety and Mortality Practitioner for NHFT. She is now acting as the Quality and Governance Lead for the East Midlands Provider Collaborative within AED, CAMHS and perinatal inpatient services.

Throughout her career, Shami has been passionate about the delivery of high-quality care, and ensuring that all people who use services and their parents/carers are included in the decisions surrounding their care.

Shami says: "It’s an honour to be leading the Family Ambassadors, who share the same passion and are championing parent/carers voices for continuous quality improvement."

Family Ambassador lead

Beth Houston

With a background in mental health and over two decades of service, Beth brings a wealth of experience and compassion to the role of Family Ambassador Lead. Having spent nearly 10 years as an inspector with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and another decade as an NHS manager, Beth brings a deep understanding of the healthcare landscape and a commitment to ensuring high standards of care.

As a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist, Beth combines professional expertise with personal insight, having navigated the mental health system as a mother of a child who has accessed services. This lived experience adds to Beth's passion for supporting families and advocating for their needs.

In addition to her professional role, Beth volunteers as a bereavement counsellor at a local hospice, offering comfort and support to those in their most vulnerable moments. This volunteer work reflects Beth's dedication to making a positive impact both within and beyond the NHS. In her spare time, Beth enjoys walking with her dog in the countryside and spending time with friends and family.

Beth is committed to promoting a supportive and empathetic environment for families, ensuring their voices are heard and their journeys are respected.

Family Ambassadors

Denise Tenney

Denise has a beautiful daughter who has complex emotional and mental health needs, alongside neurodiversity. Her daughter has accessed CAMHS tier 4 wards and has transferred to Adult Mental Health Services. Denise says: "It’s a privilege that I can use ‘our’ lived experience to support and offer HOPE to families and carers."

Denise has worked as a carer peer support worker in the adult crisis pathway. She brings a wide range of experience and is recovery focused. Denise joined the Family Ambassador programme in May 2023. In these roles, she has supported many families and carers and is passionate about helping people through some of their most challenging times. Denise says: "I totally get where parents/carers are coming from, as I have been through the journey myself."

Denise enjoys being in nature, running, yoga, and taking care of her cavalier dogs. Denise is currently studying for her foundation degree in coaching.

Lucy Lane

Lucy joined the Family Ambassador programme in January 2024. She is passionate about using her lived experience to support other families going through similar experiences and promoting positive changes within CAMHS services.

Lucy is married with two adult children and worked in secondary education SEND before joining the team. Lucy loves to explore new walks with her cockerpoo, Jasper, at weekends and follow training videos to teach him cheeky tricks!

The seaside is Lucy’s favourite place, and she is keen to swim in the sea on every visit... even in gloomier weather!

Lucy’s youngest daughter has autism and complex mental health and has been an inpatient within tier 4 services before transitioning to adult mental health services within the community. Lucy truly understands the challenges brought about by supporting a loved one with complex needs, and feels privileged to offer hope and guidance to inspire other families along their inpatient journey.

Lorraine Aldridge

Lorraine is a mum of four, along with Ollie, the cavapoo. Lorraine has previous experience as a hairdresser, beautician, and teaching assistant. 

In her free time, Lorraine loves walks with Ollie and her family, and of course a picnic as well.

Lorraine has many years of experiences with supporting family members with emotional and physical mental health needs. Being able to understand and support her family and friends has made a massive impact on all of their journeys.

Joining the Family Ambassador team in December 2023, Lorraine wants to give hope and optimism to all parents and carers. She says: "We don’t just stand in your shoes, we walk in your shoes with you."

Christopher Clarke

Chris graduated in 2017 with a master’s degree in psychology. He has worked in various healthcare settings and has previous experience as a carer and family support lead on an inpatient ward.

Chris has a younger brother with ASD and complex learning disabilities. He has acted as a carer for his brother throughout his life and has become familiar with outpatient CAMHS and learning disability/autism services.

In his free time, Chris enjoys staying active at the gym, painting miniatures, and gaming.

He joined the Family Ambassador team in early 2024 and is passionate about supporting parents and carers. He brings a wealth of experience with his years spent in carer and family support and having a family member with Special Educational Needs.