Anita has worked in the health visiting service for a number of years as health visitor and practice teacher.

Anita’s current role is Lead Nurse for Health Visiting in Barnsley, a role which supports the professional development of the service in line with the needs of children and families locally and the policy agenda. As part of her role Anita is also the Early Implementer Site Lead for the Health Visiting programme in Barnsley

Alongside this work Anita is currently working on secondment two days a week to NHS Yorkshire and the Humber as Senior Public Health Nurse. This work includes leading on the delivery of the professional mobilisation agenda of the Health Visitor Implementation Plan to motivate, energise and up skill the health visitor workforce regionally. This work includes the development of a framework for practice teachers, children’s workforce competencies and the development of a regional Healthy Child Programme pathway

One of her interests is in education which was driven by her work has Barnsley community practice educator project lead. This work resulted in her gaining the MacQueen Award for "Excellence in Education in 2006.

Now Chair of the UNITE/CPHVA Education Sub Committee Anita has had the opportunity to influence developments in SCPHN education and the role of practice teachers.

Anita is committed to the belief that a well-supported, well-educated workforce is essential to developing community practitioners fit for the future. Crucial to this is strong leadership and professional development to drive innovation in practice.

Over the last year Anita has had the opportunity to be a member of the Health Visitor Taskforce which provides support and leadership to ensure that the new health visiting service model will be universally adopted by 2015.