Exciting times for WWTW's Head Start programme

We are delighted to welcome Donna Barnes to the Head Start team as Senior Clinical Practitioner.

Donna brings over 15 years of NHS experience as a Registered General Nurse, with a specialist background in cardiology, acute care and patient recovery. Alongside her clinical expertise, she has mentored colleagues, developed patient education initiatives and championed mental health and wellbeing within high-pressure environments. Her calm leadership, commitment to compassionate care and ability to build trust have made her a valued colleague and advocate throughout her career. 

As the wife of a military veteran, Donna brings lived experience and a personal understanding of service and recovery, which fuels her dedication to trauma-informed and holistic care. She is particularly interested in rehabilitation for veterans, including the psychological impact of trauma, chronic pain and moral injury, and looks forward to working collaboratively with colleagues across disciplines. Outside of work, Donna enjoys family life with her two sons, two dogs and a cat, and finds balance through walking, reading and travelling. 

As part of Donna’s appointment, we are also enhancing the clinical capability of the Head Start programme to reflect the nature of demand. Alie Salford will take on the role of Clinical Lead, with Donna joining as Clinical Nurse. Together, their leadership strengthens our model, ensuring clinical rigour and long-term sustainability. While strengthening services, we remain committed to maintaining impact, adapting to the needs of those who come to us directly from the community and require assessments before therapy. Having tested and refined specific delivery approaches, we are confident in our ability to balance efficiency with excellence, enabling us to provide veterans with the depth and quality of care they deserve.