Building resilience in children and staff teams

Nell Nicholson/Nimisha Deakin – Headteacher/Outreach Lead

Nell Nicholson has been a teacher since 1992 starting her career in the East End of London. She worked in inner city mainstream schools learning her craft and developing her interest and skills in how to reach and teach those who struggled to learn and thrive in the mainstream system. At the turn of the century she took up a headship in a Pupil Referral Unit supporting children with behavioural issues to get back to mainstream education. She is currently the headteacher of Gloucester House, the Tavistock Children’s Day Unit and Outreach Service. She has been in post since 2005 and has passion and commitment for education and mental health collaborations to support the development of children with complex and severe social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

Nimisha is a CAMHS (Children Adolescent Mental Health Services) nurse working predominantly in schools across London, supporting children and young people with social, emotional, and mental health difficulties. Nimisha’s expertise is working within complex multi-agency networks. Her work in Gloucester House Outreach Service involves supporting young people with complex needs and networks, so they can remain engaged in education.

Nimisha has over 25 years of experience working in mental health services. Having qualified as a mental health nurse in 2003, Nimisha has worked with children and families in a range of services, including inpatient, community, early intervention for children with first-onset psychosis, and school services. In 2005 Nimisha joined a pioneering service set up in London Borough of Hackney to deliver integrated mental health services in schools, later joining the national Targeted Mental Health in schools teams initiative.

Find out more about Gloucester House.