My name is Alison Ford.  I am a registered Mental Health Nurse working for the Canterbury District Health Board at Totara House Early Intervention in Psychosis Service.  I completed my mental health nurse training at Middlesex University in London in 2005.  Following this, I embarked on my nursing career working for the South London and Maudsley Trust (SLaM) working at a centre of excellence, The National Psychosis Unit (NPU).   I worked on this unit for almost eight years, I also worked in the capacity as a Clinical Charge Nurse.  While working at the NPU I completed additional professional papers at Kings College London, attaining a Bachelor of Science (BSc Hons) in Psychosocial Intervention for psychosis.  I have had the opportunity to work with and be taught by well-known experts/academics in the psychosis field all of which have greatly contributed to my development as a practitioner.

I immigrated to Christchurch in 2013 with my kiwi husband and spent the first few years working in Acute Inpatient Services.   This afforded me the opportunity to learn the New Zealand health system coupled with allowing me to develop my understanding of Maori culture and Tikanga.  During this time, I began embarking on papers with Otago University to continue to develop my knowledge and craft.  Subsequently, I have completed a PG Dips in Health Sciences.  I spent time working in Adult Community Mental Health Services before joining the Totara House team.  I am a new member of the NZEIPS executive and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work nationally with colleagues in evidence-based developments, sharing of knowledge and impacting on clinical outcomes. 

Outside of work I enjoy hiking, trail running, and mountain biking.