Trustees
Clare Knight - Chair of Trustees
Clare’s background is nursing. She worked as an adult and children’s nurse in London before training as a health visitor, working in London and Surrey.
Clare has many years’ experience in direct work with children, young people and their families, supporting emotional well-being as well as physical and developmental issues.
More recently Clare worked as a senior manager in children’s community health services, working closely with partner agencies to address inequalities and improve outcomes in both the immediate and the wider determinants of health. During this time Clare gained knowledge and experience in transforming services whilst continuing to reflect on the impact of change for families and practitioners, to ensure such changes were positive for all involved. Clare has a wide breadth of knowledge including supervision, teaching, governance, Human Resources and finance management. Clare hopes to utilise these skills to support Counselling Plus.
In 2019 Clare moved to Hastings and returned to her roots as a health visitor, currently working in and around Hailsham -she is slowly finding her way around all the villages between Hastings and Hailsham…
Clare has been a scout leader for many years and is also a School Governor. She enjoys walking and gardening and is becoming better at sewing although crochet is beyond her at the moment! Clare enjoys a challenge and is currently steeling herself for cold-water swimming.
Janet Beale
Janet has worked in the field of learning disabilities and severe mental health and challenging behaviours for over 40 years.
She first qualified as a Social Worker in the London Borough of Bromley and went on to manage several residential homes within this specialist area. She holds an M.Sc. in Therapeutic Counselling from the University of Greenwich and has also worked towards the Advanced Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy for people with a learning disability. Janet was the first Service Manager at Counselling Plus between 2001 and 2004, leaving the service to work within the Kent and Medway Primary Trust as Acting Head of Psychological and IAPT Services.
She is a MBACP accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist and has worked for at least 22 years as a Therapeutic Counsellor/Psychological Practitioner and Clinical/Reflective Supervisor for both the NHS, Primary Care Trust, and Voluntary/Charity Sector. She also has a busy private practice within the Romney Marsh area.
She holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Education delivering the CPCAB Level 4 Counselling Diploma/CPD and Psychology courses within Kent Adult Education and works as a sessional tutor for Christ Church University delivering Modules for the MA in Counselling, Coaching and Mentoring, and Forensic Investigation/Psychology of Crime.
In her spare time, Janet sings within the tenor section for the Haywardians Choir, who dedicate their time to raising funds for charity organisations, and within her local Church Choir. She enjoys fishing and outdoor activities and has worked towards her private pilot’s license to fly helicopters.
Sue Manwaring
Sue Manwaring is a qualified youth and community worker with many years’ experience setting up and running a range of projects and interventions for young people.
Sue currently is lead Trustee at Xtrax Young People’s Centre. She works supporting learners undertaking relevant qualifications to enhance their careers and practice for East Sussex County Council as well as delivering programmes of professional development as a freelance trainer for various organisations across Sussex. Sue’s work had given her an in depth understanding of the mental health issues faced by young people and families and recently become a trustee for Counselling Plus to make a contribution to the much-needed local service. Sue also has a wide experience of volunteering and as a paid worker with charities in areas as diverse as mental health, training and HIV and AIDS support. Sue has lived in Hastings for many years and loves being part of the local community. She has raised a family here which consists of 4 daughters and 9 grandchildren.