Dawn Jessop

Dawn is a Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN), having qualified with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from York University, York, United Kingdom, in 1995. She holds an MA in Mindfulness-Based Interventions, from Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom (2020), and an MSc in Addiction Studies from Paisley University, Paisley, United Kingdom (2011). She also holds Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) qualifications in leadership and management.

Dawn has extensive clinical, operational and leadership experience across a broad range of healthcare settings; forensic secure services, community drug treatment services, prison healthcare, within both the public and private sectors. Most recently, as National Director of Nursing and Quality across the United Kingdom, she held responsibility for healthcare in more than 60 prisons, immigration healthcare centres and community treatment pathways, encompassing mental health, substance misuse and primary care services.

Dawn has a particular passion for holistic approaches to mental health and wellbeing. Her published work focuses on screening for anxiety and depression among people who misuse drugs, and she holds a teaching qualification in Mindfulness. An experienced educator, coach and nurse leader, she is committed to the principle that supporting and developing staff and teams underpins high-quality clinical care.