Barbara Chavunduka is the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) Manager and commenced nurse training in 1992 to become a Mental Health Nurse and gained a Diploma in Nursing Studies in 1995. Continuous professional development is very important to Barbara and she continued her studies for a Bachelor of Nursing Studies at Coventry University gaining her degree in 1997. She relocated to Manchester in 2000 and started working for Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust in 2001. During her time in the Trust, Barbara had the opportunity to progress academically attaining a Post Graduate Diploma in Community Nursing in 2003 at Manchester Metropolitan University and a Master’s of Science in Dementia Care at Manchester University in 2010.

Barbara’s interest has always been in dementia care and the majority of her work experience has been within dementia services. It is important to her to be proactive in her role to ensure that the Memory Service provides the best care they can for service users and carers. The Royal College of Psychiatry has accredited the service for the past 6 years due to its outstanding work.