Jo has some 35 years’ experience in the healthcare sector, training as a nurse and progressing to become Macmillan Clinical Nurse specialist at the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre at Bristol Royal Infirmary.
During her time as a Macmillan Nurse, Jo set up a counselling service for cancer patients and their families within the United Bristol Healthcare Trust. She was also appointed as Nurse Consultant and Advisory Board member by Dimbleby Cancer Care charity, set up by TV and radio current affairs presenters Jonathan and David Dimbleby to enhance palliative care.
Jo was then appointed Director of Vine Counselling, which provides affordable mental health support to people in the West of England community.
Today at Vine, she has been commissioned to lead the development of a major mental wellbeing community-led project focussed on 11-18 year olds. She also facilitates therapy consultations for cancer patients working on behalf of Breast Cancer Now.
She is also a senior counsel at JBP Associates, a leading national strategic communications consultancy, where she advises clients’ managers and mental health leads on how to effectively communicate and engage with colleagues who are suffering from mental illness of some kind.
Jo holds a degree in cancer care, a postgraduate diploma in counselling and is a qualified mental health first aid trainer.
She is active in the local community, volunteering for field hospital services at the British Red Cross, supporting the local primary school as a parent helper and being a Brownie Leader.
