The UK Addiction Treatment Centre’s Management Team

Daniel Gerrard - UKAT - Managing Director
Daniel Gerrard
Chief Executive Officer
Daniel’s vision for UKAT was and always will be to provide world-class treatment in comfortable and affordable facilities. He strongly believes that every person suffering from addiction should have access to the help they need.

Following over 20 years as a derivatives trader, Daniel set up a successful online marketing company servicing many PLCs in the UK.

Daniel’s own experiences with addiction led him to the behavioural health field in 2009.

In 2010, he trained as a counsellor at Regent’s College and the Minster Centre in London and was certified as an interventionist with The Pennsylvania Certification Board, working with families who wish to get their loved ones into treatment.

In 2010 Daniel also founded one of the largest addiction treatment directories in the UK and in 2014 became a founding shareholder and Managing Director of UKAT.

Daniel’s passion and purpose are to help people start their journey to recovery from addiction.

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Paula-Standord-COO-UKAT
Paula Stanford
Chief Operating Officer
Paula brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for leadership to her role at UKAT. She is driven by a clear vision to make UKAT an employer of choice, where quality care and robust governance are always at the forefront. Her leadership style is focused on fostering an environment where team members feel empowered, supported, and aligned with the organisation’s mission to provide exceptional care.
Paula is excited to contribute to UKAT's continued success and growth. With her strong commitment to excellence, she will ensure that the highest standards are maintained in every service provided, reflecting her belief that quality and governance are key pillars in delivering meaningful support to those in need. She feels privileged to join the UKAT team and is eager to bring her expertise to enhance the organisation's impact.
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Sue Davis - Chief Financial Officer
Sue Davis
Chief Financial Officer
Sue joined UKAT in 2022 as Group Financial Controller after spending 5 years in the same role for a well-known residential and supported living adult social care provider. Her appreciation of the importance of 24/7 first-class treatment delivery and the role that a company’s financial department plays in this sets her apart from the rest.
Her experience spans across many pivotal departments, all responsible for the smooth running and upkeep of a business, including IT, infrastructure, and of course, finance. In her previous role, Sue oversaw the centralised financial function of the company, managing a team of Management Accountants, Credit Control, Accounts Payable and Payroll. Sue was also on the Integration Board for acquisitions and helped manage and integrate acquisitions of other care homes. It was during this time that Sue was also responsible for ensuring full GDPR compliance throughout the acquisitions and was the key liaison for all involved stakeholders, external funders and HMRC. Sue’s experience as a Group Financial Controller is second to none and she has already become an integral part of the UKAT Group.
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Dr. Mateen Durrani - UKAT - Group Managing Psychiatrist
Dr. Mateen Durrani
Group Managing Psychiatrist
Dr Mateen Durrani is on the specialist register of the GMC, and is accredited as a general adult psychiatrist by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. After completing his basic training in psychiatry, he has been working as a Consultant Psychiatrist since 1995, in the NHS and the independent sector. He joined UKAT in 2014 and is the UKAT Group Medical Advisor and consultant psychiatrist at our Sanctuary Lodge treatment centre.

Dr Durrani believes that people who are alcohol or drug dependent have become neuroadapted to continuous or repeated exposure to a psychoactive substance. A manifestation of neuroadaptation is that a withdrawal syndrome may develop when substance use ceases. There are also underlying precipitating, maintaining and perpetuating factors that need to be addressed alongside detoxification for it to be successful. The primary objective of detoxification is completion of the withdrawal process with safety and comfort. This ensures that the person can cease alcohol or drug use without experiencing an uncomfortable and potentially hazardous withdrawal syndrome and enter into a therapeutic rehabilitation program, for relapse prevention.

Dr Durrani’s expertise includes:

  • Inpatient detoxification and management of patients with drug(s) and alcohol dependence. This includes Opioids, Psycho-stimulants including Amphetamine, Crack-Cocaine, Benzodiazepine, legal highs and Cannabis.
  • Identification and management of medical and psychosocial problems accompanying substance misuse.
  • The use of drugs for preventing relapse or reducing risky behavior/harm (e.g. Methadone maintenance, anti-craving drugs Naltrexone etc.)
  • Management of special populations such as women, older adults, prisoners, black and ethnic minority groups.
  • Management of dual diagnoses in people with substance misuse, serious mental illness and common mental disorders.

For further information please contact UKAT.

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David Peacock - UKAT - Performance and Compliance Manager
David Peacock
Head Of Performance And Compliance
David has been working in the field of mental health and addictions since 2007. In 2011 he became a senior manager and has fulfilled a number of roles since that time. Specialisms include compliance with regulatory and legal requirements, quality assurance and quality management, governance both clinical and corporate, risk management, incident management and root cause analysis, data protection, safeguarding and medicines management.
As a trained therapist David began working directly with clients. Using previous management experience David progressed meaning that he has been able to utilise his skills whilst still having a direct impact on the clients by providing safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led treatment and care. David joined the UKAT Group in 2016 when UKAT bought the organisation he was working for. Since then he has undertaken a key role in improving and developing services and treatment, and working in the senior management team. “Everyone has the ability to overcome mental health and addiction challenges with the right help and encouragement, UKAT provides a place to do this, with the right medical and therapeutic treatment in a safe and pleasing residential setting”
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Dale Conlon - UKAT - Head of Admissions
Dale Conlon
Head of Admissions

Dale has over 15 years’ experience of working in field of addiction, after gaining first-hand experience of residential treatment in 2003. Dale has worked for some of the UK largest private treatment providers, also gaining vital experience in Europe and the US.

This has created a wealth of experience when it comes to guiding the families and the clients when they are at the exploratory stage of the consideration of residential treatment and/or addiction therapy.

Dale recognises the size of the task in hand with UKAT and feels that the team ethic and working standard within the admissions, alumni, and assessment departments are second to none. “We have created a family-like feel to our workspace, which is an important background when supporting others.”

This was an unexpected journey as Dale had studied performing arts and English literature before attending drama school in the mid-’90s.

“It is an effortless decision to spend our days helping others and deepening our understanding further still.”

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Sumit Lakhina - UKAT HQ - Head of Performance Marketing
Sumit Lakhina
Head of Performance Marketing
Sumit joined UKAT in 2021 after working in the online gambling industry and seeing the impact addiction can have on families. He joined the business with a vision to raise UKAT’s profile and increase the message of successful recovery across multiple platforms.
After completing a Masters in Business, he went on to lead a successful career as a performance marketing professional with over a decade of experience, including exceptional paid media, in-App marketing campaigns and advising start-ups and SMEs to build and scale up their marketing plans. Sumit is responsible for overseeing the strategic and tactical marketing direction and growth of UKAT. He is passionate about deploying first-class and innovative digital marketing strategies to build more awareness and visibility of UKAT’s brand to reach the masses. He leads the Digital Marketing team, including content creation, organic and paid media strategy development and execution.
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Claire Havey - UKAT - Head of Communications
Claire Havey
Head of Communications
Claire has worked for UKAT for 5 years and in that time has been solely responsible for the plentiful and positive national, regional and trade media exposure, cementing UKAT as the addiction industry’s expert voice. Her focus is to raise the awareness of positive recovery from addiction through the media and to reduce societal apprehension, stereotype and stigma around those suffering from addiction.
She is pivotal in lobbying Government and Council leaders to allocate more financial investment into statutory treatment and support services in a bid to ensure that drug and alcohol help is accessible for all. She is also responsible for UKAT’s Education and Corporate affiliate programmes launched in 2020. Having worked in Marketing for over 10 years, Claire has come from a background in professional business services and has a fantastic understanding and grasp of how important strong communication strategies- both internally and externally- are for an organisation in leveraging the brand to its highest potential. Any and all media enquiries should be sent to media@ukat.co.uk
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Sebastian Vidler - Head of Business Development
Sebastian Vidler
Head of Business Development
Sebastian Vidler is a compassionate healthcare visionary whose journey began in 2011 when he stepped into the world of private hospitals. With an unwavering commitment to enhancing the quality of life for individuals, Sebastian transitioned his focus towards later living and the transformation of person-centred care at home, delving into the realms of live-in and domiciliary care.
A relentless pursuit of knowledge and a passion for profoundly impacting the lives of those in need paved the way for Sebastian's deep exploration into the complexities of physical complex needs in healthcare. In 2023, he embarked on an inspiring journey into the heart of mental health, further solidifying his reputation as a forward-thinker in the healthcare industry. Sebastian's dedication to dementia care is remarkable, having championed this cause for over a decade. His exceptional skills and expertise have seen him collaborate with Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and eldercare consultants, culminating in creating the first-ever delirium pilot programme that seamlessly transitions patients from the hospital to their homes. His unwavering love for making a difference is what truly sets Sebastian Vidler apart. He doesn't merely view healthcare as a profession but as a calling to bring comfort, dignity, and solace to those in need. Sebastian's story is one of commitment, innovation, and heartfelt service to humanity, making him a valuable asset to the UKAT team.
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Emma Pont
HR Manager
Emma joined UKAT in 2024 with over 20 years of working in HR at various levels and across different sectors including 9.5 years working in adult health and social care.
Part of her background includes working in addiction treatment for a well known charity for 4 years and in elderly care for 5.5 years. Emma is Chartered MCIPD qualified after completing her CIPD qualifications in 2017. Emma is an avid learner and always working on her next academic challenge. Emma is looking forward to building a new HR function for UKAT and is focused on ensuring that UKAT is an employer of choice.
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Sophie Wragg
Data Quality Manager
Sophie is a valuable addition to the UKAT team. She began her journey with the organisation in 2022 as the Personal Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer and progressed into her current Data Quality Manager role.
Her professional journey has been marked by 7 years of dedicated service in Senior Compliance Officer roles, demonstrating her commitment to maintaining the highest standards of compliance and operational efficiency. Prior to her role at UKAT, Sophie gained valuable experience in the Education Recruitment sector. This diverse background equips her with a wealth of skills, encompassing areas such as Marketing, HR, Compliance, Administration, and Account Management. Sophie's multidisciplinary expertise allows her to approach her responsibilities with a holistic perspective, ensuring that every facet of the organisation runs smoothly. Sophie's unwavering dedication is evident in her role, where she identifies areas of the business that require her data-driven insights to improve processes and productivity within UKAT. Sophie's meticulous attention to detail and strong work ethic is also demonstrated by her external information research, which UKAT uses to improve corporate culture, staffing standards, client needs, and the recruitment process. Sophie plays a pivotal role in contributing to ongoing business drivers and initiatives, with her commitment to excellence making her an integral part of the UKAT team, contributing to the company's continued success and growth.
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James McCarthy - Quality Assurance Manager
James McCarthy
Quality Assurance Manager
James is a Registered Mental Health nurse with experience working with clients with addictions and eating disorders. He progressed into the role of Director of Clinical Services for a hospital providing services to CAMH’s, acute mental health and eating disorder clients.
After progressing the hospital's CQC rating from “Requires Improvement” to “Good”, he moved into Quality Improvement overseeing quality initiatives for over 40+ hospitals, care homes and outpatient clinics. He is dedicated to ensuring that clients feel safe and comfortable during treatment.
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Mark Collins - Operations UKAT - Facility Manager
Mark Collins
Facilities Manager
Mark is a professional, enthusiastic and highly motivated individual who has a background of over 20 years as a Financial Derivatives Trader and 8 years as a Property Professional.
He is someone who thrives under pressure and able to adapt to an ever-changing landscape. Mark brings with him property knowledge and an eye for detail. A real team player, someone that is a target orientated individual who can build long term business relationships at all levels. Mark always looks to deliver a quality service and is always focused on customer satisfaction being the forefront of the business
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Jonny Hughes - Management Accountant
Jonny Hughes
Management Accountant
Jonny is a qualified accountant with 10 years experience in audit & accounts practice. Making his first move into industry with UKAT as management accountant, overseeing the centre's monthly management accounts, involvement in cash flow forecasting and annual budgeting process.
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Faith Noone - Operations Manager
Faith Noone
Senior Operations Manager
Faith joined UKAT in November 2020 as an addiction counsellor. Facilitating groups, 1:1’s and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. Her previous roles included supporting adult survivors of Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking and 14 years in the NHS as Failsafe coordinator for a national screening programme.
Faith completed an Integrative Counselling Degree First Class in 2020 (BSc Hons). Faith is a positive advocate for recovery appearing in TV/Radio segments for The one Show and Granada Reports highlighting and promoting the incredible work that the staff do across UKAT working in the addiction/recovery field. Faith was promoted in July 2021 to Senior Counsellor managing the therapy team. In November 2021 Faith transitioned into the role of CQC Registered Manager and continued to be passionate about providing safe, effective care for all clients who enter the centre. Faith was promoted to Operations Manager in February 2024 and now works closely with four centres within the UKAT group. Sharing her experience, knowledge and skills with other managers on improving processes and procedures within current guidance.
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Nick Dunkley
Operations Manager
Nick has many years’ experience working management and leadership roles within the hospitality industry and the field of substance misuse and has attained a BA Hons in Business Management with Human Resources Management as a specialism.
He has held multiple posts and has developed safe systems of work and clinical governance processes to ensure that both Staff and Clients are kept safe, He has experience of working within regional operational management overseeing multiple sites and contracts including implementations. “I feel passionate about giving people the opportunity to grow and develop within their role and I am skilled in tapping into where people’s passions lie and providing them with the training and opportunities to develop”. Nick has a vast knowledge and understanding of safeguarding processes and recognises the complexities and challenges faced by clients, their families, and society as a whole. Using evidenced based and effective care to maximise the potential of Clients and keep them safe.
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Johnny Beggache
Johnny Beggache
Operations Manager
Johnny joined UKAT as a support worker at Primrose Lodge in the summer of 2015. He has a passion for helping those with alcohol and substance misuse and has experience working with several other organisations such as local councils, churches and support agencies.

Johnny’s a university graduate from the Organisation and Management course at the Institut National of Commerce, Algiers University and has a First Class Honours Degree in Mathematics (BSC in Mathematics from the London Metropolitan University) which he achieved whilst in recovery. His NVQ 3 and his NVQ 5 (QCF Management in Adult Social Care) are from City and Guilds.

His work experience includes years in the Catering and Hospitality field, leadership positions in the Landscaping and Gardening field, as well as volunteer positions in Homeless Action in Barnet. His journey changed because Johnny suffered from addiction. He’s been sober for over 12 years and is now working to help those who are just starting their journey discover the right path to long-term recovery.

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Lucy Bradbury
Centre Manager Banbury Lodge
Lucy began working in the field of substance misuse in 2013. Since this time she has worked in various roles in community and custodial settings supporting adolescents and adults with a number of complex needs.
Lucy remains passionate about supporting individuals to achieve their potential and live substance free lives. Lucy joined UKAT as Centre Manager at Banbury Lodge in 2024 and looks forward to a new challenge.
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Kerry Dare - Senior Therapist
Kerry Dare
Centre Manager
Kerry joined UKAT in February 2023 as a trainee Person Centred Counsellor. Kerry's previous role included working within the homeless community, supporting clients with addiction and accommodation issues. Kerry completed a Person Centred Counselling Degree (BsC Hons).
Kerry has compassion, empathy and drive to help clients who are starting theirjourney of recovery.
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Jagoda Perzanowska - Clinic Manager at UKAT London Clinic
Jagoda Perzanowska - Mphil., PGDip Psych
Clinic Manager at UKAT London Clinic
Jagoda is the Clinic Manager at UKAT's new London Clinic, where she is responsible for ensuring the highest standards of client care and delivery. With a unique blend of therapeutic and entrepreneurial skills, Jagoda brings a fresh perspective to the mental health space. The UKAT London Clinic is aiming to revolutionise mental health by bringing together talking therapies with wellness through innovative outpatient programmes.
Prior to working in the addiction field, Jagoda completed two degrees and a master's degree. She specialises in interpersonal group therapy. She has designed and facilitated group therapy across Prison, Probation, and Rehab settings, providing her with a deep understanding of the challenges individuals face when struggling with mental health issues. In addition to her experience in the addiction and mental health field, Jagoda founded her own technology business and successfully delivered for a diverse range of clients. This entrepreneurial background has given her valuable management, interpersonal and compliance skills that she brings to her role as Clinic Manager. Jagoda has a real passion for new and innovative treatments and is always seeking to stay ahead of the field in the latest treatments and bespoke services. Confidentiality is of the utmost importance to Jagoda, and she works tirelessly to ensure that all client information is handled with the utmost care and professionalism. With her unique background and skillset, Jagoda is well-positioned to lead the UKAT London Clinic into the future, providing cutting-edge treatment and delivering the highest standards of client care.
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Sarah Deaville - Oasis Bradford - Deputy Centre Manager
Sarah Deaville
Deputy Centre Manager

Sarah has been working in the Substance Misuse Field for over four years. Sarah started working for Oasis Recovery in December 2013 and has worked her way up from Support Worker to Recovery Coach.

Sarah qualified as a Social Worker in July 2013 which involved different placement experience including; a Learning Mentor in a Primary School, a Mental Health Support Worker in a Mental Health Hostel and a Support Worker for a Community Drug and Alcohol Team.

Sarah has also completed her ASYE in regards to her Social Work Qualification and Person Centred Counselling Training.

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