Sandra Mpofu

I qualified as a mental health Nurse in 2003, and since 2005 I have worked with young people and children in both in-patient and community settings. I had the opportunity to work in a specialist Neurodevelopmental assessment team for 10 years, which focused on mainly assessing and treating young people with ADHD and autism.

While working within the ADHD field, I have developed an interest in how ADHD can have an impact on families. I have completed my first year in Systemic Psychotherapy in order to support my work with families in the future.

I am registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and Royal College of Nursing. This helps me to continue practicing safely and ensure I adhere to standards of care and ethics. I am constantly updating myself with new information and advancements to enhance my day-to-day practice.

Throughout my career, I have developed my clinical skills by committing to continuous training. I was involved in developing a city-wide pathway for neurodevelopmental difficulties and involved in a city-wide referral triage process. This meant that young people were better placed with the right team to meet their needs. As well as this, it also reduced the number of referrals being placed on a waiting list.

I hope to take part in research as part of my professional development. This will allow me to contribute to the on-going advancements in the ADHD field which I believe is important.

Outside of work, I thoroughly enjoy getting involved in charity work. I recently did a skydive to raise funds for the Sheffield children CAMHS team. I have also participated in charity walks to raise funds for Kubatana (together as one). This is a charity that helps underprivileged people access medical support in Zimbabwe. Their aim is try and reduce the number of premature deaths from treatable illnesses.

When I’m not involved in charity work, I enjoy attending different activities in my church. As well as this, I enjoy travelling and hiking in the Peak District as this helps with managing my own emotional and psychological wellbeing.