Publish date: 1 June 2023
Ian Gough, Mental Health Practitioner for Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Team, is retiring after 26 years in the NHS.
Prior to joining the NHS, Ian served for 17 years in the Army, as a Royal Engineer. This was here that he picked up the nickname Spike, something that is still in use today by many that have worked with him.
When he left the Army, he was at a bit of a loss as what to do although qualified in many trades. A chance meeting with a charge nurse from Arnold ward convinced him to apply for the position of Nursing Assistant on Blake Ward at Ashworth Hospital. He was successful he started in October 1995.
After completing his NVQ level 3, his ward manager put him forward for his nurse training. He passed the secondment process he started at John Moores University in 2001 until 2004.
Once qualified, Ian became a staff Nurse at the Low Secure Unit, Rathbone hospital. During his time there he held the positions of Charge Nurse and Deputy Unit Manager and qualified as NVQ Assessor and Mentor. He was also infection control and student link nurse.
Ian’s penultimate move was to the Dispersed Intensive Housing Scheme (DISH). He became the Care Coordinator to a number of service users under the catchment area of Crosby, Waterloo and Bootle CMHT’s with severe and enduring complex mental health needs.
Ian then Joined the Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Team (CJLDT) working across the custody suites and courts of Merseyside offering advice and support to the police, solicitors, barristers, Judges and Care Coordinators/CMHT’s. He offered advice around alternative strategies to enable service users to be diverted from the Justice System and receive the appropriate care within a community setting.
It was during this time that Ian was able to join Mersey Care’s Veterans Service, forging links with third sector services that support veterans within the community and to help the Trust gain awards for the Armed Forces Covenant on employing Veterans.
Ian would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff he has met and worked with, and for the friendship and support he has received not only during the time he has worked within Mersey Care but during his physical health problems. Ian is due to be discharged from Clatterbridge Cancer Centre to his hometown of Lincoln, so is currently unable to organise a retirement party. If his physical health issues allow, he will return to Liverpool for one, with an open invite to all staff and ex-staff who know him.
Note from Dave Leigh
"I would just like to say. It’s been a privilege to have known and worked with Ian. A genuine, honest caring person who I will miss greatly. Ian and I also worked together supporting veterans in the community. Ian will also be immensely missed by the Veterans Community. A pleasure to have served with him."