Happy festive season to you all! As the year draws to a close, it’s a time for reflection, celebration, and gratitude. This year has been one of significant growth and exciting new chapters for Portobello Behavioural Health. We have had the privilege of supporting approximately 500 clients on their journeys, a testament to the growing trust in our services and the dedication of our incredible team. I kept some focus on ethics in the industry by continuing to pressure providers not to pay referral fees for clients and for practitioners not to accept fees for clients. I was asked to speak at both UKESAD and the Masters series around this topic. As a company we are committed to continue to highlight dubious practice and promote best practice for the industry.
We made our usual rounds of providers home and abroad and as always were fascinated to see how new programmes and practices are developing around the world.
Last year we started our Neurodiverse forum which has proved very popular and this year we are also launching our CAHMS forum which like the Neurodiverse forum is open to any professional who is interested in or working with that population.
Team Updates:
Growth in Our Case Management
Our exceptional case management team has been strengthened this year. We are delighted to welcome Nicky Auguste as a Case Manager. Nicky brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to client care, and we are thrilled to have him on board.
We are also incredibly proud to announce the promotion of Jess Draper to Deputy Head of Case Management. Jess has been a cornerstone of our team, and her leadership and expertise will be invaluable as we continue to expand our services.
Coaching Continues to Grow Workforce
Jaz Dalrymple and Harry Bloomfield continued to train up new coaches with 42 new trainees coming through the training programme and some of our existing coaches attending the new Coach Resilience Workshop.
Therapy Keeps Expanding Offerings
The therapy team has been continuing to come up with new ideas and offerings for our community. Len Kleanthous ran his Inner Critic workshop, Georgina Hollick and Len Kleanthous ran DBT Groups and Georgina Porter ran a parenting group. Some of these will be run again in 2026 and we are excited for Thriving in the Kitchen which will be running on the 26th - 27th January and run by Harry Bloomfield, Becky Burnett and Marissa Carrarini.
A New Chapter: The Cardinal Clinic
The most significant news of the year is our recent expansion. In partnership with PROMIS, we have taken over the Cardinal Clinic in Windsor. This is a momentous step for us, allowing us to broaden our reach and enhance the integrated care we can offer. The Cardinal Clinic has a long-standing reputation for excellence, and we are honoured to carry its legacy forward, combining our expertise to create a leading centre for behavioural and psychiatric health. We have been working hard at making the environment as beautiful as we can, hiring in the best people we can and innovating in how a psychiatric clinic can operate. Although we are currently focussed on the adult inpatient aspect we have also opened transitional living and this year will see multiple new programmes there.
Looking Ahead
As we look to the new year, we are filled with optimism and excitement for the future. The integration of the Cardinal Clinic will be a key focus, and we are eager to see the positive impact this will have on our clients and the wider community. We remain committed to staying at the forefront of behavioural health, continuously learning, and adapting to meet the evolving needs of those we serve.
Thank you to our clients, partners, and the entire Portobello team for making this a landmark year. Your trust and dedication are the bedrock of our success.
Wishing you all a peaceful and restorative festive season.
