Ambassador Biographies
Ali Ayliffe-Jessup
Nursing Associate Ambassador
Ali qualified as a Nursing Associate in January 2024. Ali has a BEd (Hons) degree in teaching and was a reception teacher for 13 years. After raising two children, Ali started working at Southwell Medical Centre and has been there for twelve years training as a Health Care Assistant during that time. The Nursing Associate Apprenticeship route was an ideal opportunity to develop her career and she began it in January 2022.
Ali is keen to promote the Nursing Associate role as a career pathway in Nursing and how the role can enhance primary care workforces. Ali promotes the benefits of health lifestyle choices to her patients and keeps active herself by walking, running and circuits classes.
Simran Bhardwaj
Physician Associate Ambassador
Bio coming soon...
Laura Bryden
First Contact Practitioner / AHP Ambassador
Laura is one of two First Contact Practitioner / AHP Ambassadors to join our ARRS Ambassadors team. She qualified as a Physiotherapist in 2005. Initially working as a rotational Physiotherapist in a large NHS hospital and later moving to specialise in musculoskeletal health as a Physiotherapist employed by the military. In 2015, she took some time out to study for an MSc and on completion she took a job as a trainee Extended Scope Practitioner. After five years of working in a musculoskeletal interim triage service, she wanted a change and so moved to work as First Contact Practitioner (FCP) in primary care, employed by PICS. A job she has learnt to really enjoy. When she is not at work, she tries to stay fit and calm with running and yoga.
Rachel Burrows
Interim Nursing Associate / Trainee NA Ambassador
Desi Gillespie
First Contact Practitioner / AHP Ambassador
Desi is one of two First Contact Practitioner / AHP Ambassadors to join our ARRS Ambassadors team. In her Primary Care role, Desi currently works as a First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP) working towards Advanced Clinical Practitioner – MSK via the NHS England e-Portfolio route. Within her Occupational Therapist (OT) clinical lead role, she supports all OTs, physical and mental, through the NHS England FCP Roadmap. She leads the recruitment, line-management and development of FCP Mental Health OTs in Primary Care including starting Band 6 Developmental posts.
She has a BSc(Hons), MSc Sports and Exercise Medicine, MSK Peripheral Joint Injector, has completed the FCP Roadmap, and is a Roadmap Supervisor. She has experience working in elite sport including England Netball, GB Paralympic Shooting, alongside working in Primary Care.
Charlotte McIvor
Digital, Business and Transformation Manager Ambassador
Somshun Nessa
Health and Wellbeing Coach Ambassador
Somshun is our ambassador representing the Health and Wellbeing Coaches. Her role is to increase the awareness of the health and wellbeing service across Nottingham and Notts. She hopes to educate the multi-professional workforce about what the service offers and how to refer.
Somshun has a BSC (Honours) in Nutrition Health and Lifestyles. Her background and passion are in community development and nutrition. She is passionate about the health and wellbeing role and believes this intervention can make a difference to a patient’s long-term health by minimising the need of seeing a GP.
Darcie Parry
Care Coordinator Ambassador
Care Co-Ordinator Ambassador focusing on spreading awareness of the Care Co-Ordinator role. She aims to promote the benefits/outcomes available if the role is utilised correctly, training/development opportunities and the career pathways for Care Co-Ordinators.
She aims to develop a Peer Support Network so that Care Co-Ordinators can have a platform to talk about their roles and the opportunities they can access or promote in their PCNs.
Marcella Tarantini
Social Prescribing Link Worker Ambassador
Marcella is our Social Prescribing Link Worker (SPLW) Ambassador. Alongside this, she is a SPLW in Bestwood and Sherwood PCN, who connects patients with the community to improve their wellbeing, adopting a holistic approach. With compassion, active listening, and a non-judgmental attitude, she empowers patients to take ownership of their health. She contributes jointly with other health professionals to integrate and effectively address patients’ medical and non-medical issues.
Marcella has a Bsc in Psychology, MSc in Health Psychology and in the past years, she has gained experience working with vulnerable individuals, creating personalised care plans to determine their needs and goals, and advocating on their behalf to ensure they received tailored support.