The UK Addiction Treatment Centres Management Team

Eytan Alexander, experienced first-hand the destructive powers of addiction. Eytan understands that addiction has no boundaries, knowing that it can affect anyone, regardless of their age, sex, education, or upbringing. Finding recovery himself is the driving force behind UKAT. Eytan believes that no individual would have sunk so low or become so hopeless to not find recovery.

Eytan is passionate about his recovery and this is reflected in the environment he has created as well as the therapies delivered at all UKAT centers. Many of the staff and counsellors that work at UKAT centers are in recovery themselves. This offers them a unique advantage in understanding and treating the dysfunctional thinking and subsequent behaviours of our clients.

Eytan is a successful businessperson with strong family values. He has a successful career working in one of the City’s leading financial institutions that spans some 20 years. It was during this time that he himself found recovery ,coming to appreciate the true value of the simple things in life.

Eytan has an inspiring and unwavering passion for helping others find recovery. Taking this to the next level was the inspiration behind UKAT

After gaining experience over a period of 7 years, of group work, one-one, care planning, aftercare, family groups and day programmes she went on to be responsible for all aspects of programme design and management. Sue was then instrumental in setting up a group of treatment centres in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. She was responsible for project management, CQC Compliance, programme design and operational issues across all sites ensuring that all elements of the treatment process were focussed on the best possible client care.

Prior to joining UKAT Sue worked for a treatment centre in Suffolk taking responsibility for all CQC Compliance, management and supervision of senior staff and overseeing the development and continuous improvement in all aspects of client care. She was also involved in the development of a number of projects to provide work and social opportunity for those clients in secondary and tertiary care.

“It is inspiring to see a company that truly puts its clients at the heart of its business”

As Head of Operations, Ben is responsible for overseeing services and ensuring that service delivery is safe, effective and of the highest standard. Ben believes quality assurance, safety and excellence are crucial; and is committed to ensuring that every client, their family and loved ones, receive the very best of care at UKAT services.

“Treatment will be individually tailored to meet the needs and goals of every client in our care; giving every client the very best start to their recovery.”

Ben has had 20 years operational and regulatory experience across three sectors heavily accountable under government legislation.

Ben has a wealth of experience and a proven track record managing services for the treatment of addiction. Ben has been operationally responsible for various well known services for a number of years;CQC registered manager of various sites and set up a number of residential rehabs.

“I am really excited to be working alongside some remarkable people who are committed and driven towards providing the very best of care for our clients”

Matthew then trained as a 12 step therapist and worked in various residential services delivering groups, family interventions and lectures based on the Minnesota model.

In 2012 Matthew graduated from Lancaster University with a degree in substance misuse management, he then went on to manage both residential rehabilitation services and clinical detoxification services in the North West. Over the next few years Matthew progressed to become the CEO of a national charity with a portfolio of fourteen substance misuse services.

Matthew has a vast experience of working within various commissioning environments managing statutory business development and contract implementation.

Matthew’s primary focus is to build awareness about UKATs unique capabilities among prospective clients, and develop and maintain relationships with current and past clients. As an advocate of the group’s vision to enrich the spirit and performance of the organisation, and its purpose to positively impact our client’s recovery journey by creating thriving organisational cultures, Matthew finds his work rewarding and fulfilling.

“As we watch the industry mature and new commissioning practices developing, I look forward to seeing the group embrace these challenges and establish itself as the market leader in residential rehabilitation and detox. The infrastructure and foundation of the UKAT group augurs well for its future growth”

In 2010 David was tasked with setting the standards of quality and compliance across a group of 14 community and residential addiction treatment facilities. This was achieved through applying the standards set out in the Health and Social Care Act, CQC guidance, NICE guidelines and Health and Safety law, creating a quality assurance system that enabled quality and compliance to be achieved and improved across all services.His substance misuse working careers started following qualifying in addictions psychology and counselling at London South Bank University, firstly working as a therapist specialising in group work and then as a centre manager.

David joined UKAT in October 2016; he strives to achieve excellence in the standards of care for all clients through an effective and innovative quality assurance system and robust clinical governance.

Registered Mental Health Nurse (Bournemouth University, 2000)
Independent Non-Medical Prescriber (Oxford Brookes University, 2007)

Geoff brings with him a wealth of clinical experience of addiction treatment in a variety of settings and has extensive prescribing experience in both community and inpatient settings.

As an experienced manager Geoff is skilled at leading large multidisciplinary teams and is particularly interested in developing staff teams to deliver high quality, evidence based interventions.

Geoff is driven by his passion to support people to be the best version of themselves and promotes this approach within his team.

During his down time Geoff indulges his interest in canine psychology and can often be found leading his pack on walks through the Wiltshire countryside. Geoff is an avid snorkeler and likens the experience to flying.

Taner began his journey working with teenagers in schools traveling around the country facilitating drug awareness for the government campaign FRANK. Taner was then given an opportunity to work as a project worker for a local Drug & Alcohol Service based in Essex called Open Road, managing a busy drop in centre & the recruitment of volunteers. From there Taner went on to work for WDP where he eventually turned to management to help lead the way with innovative ideas in moving the ever changing sector forward.

“I have learnt so much on the frontline and never forget the challenges some people face when their addiction takes hold. The support from services I have witnessed and the members in the team enabled me to progress in the sector and work in many areas with young adults, adults, professionals, homelessness & mental health”

Taner’s main area of expertise was managing Substance Misuse / Health & Wellbeing Services in London for one of the largest Drug & Alcohol Charity’s in the UK Turning Point working alongside the NHS & London Health Trainer Service In Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham.

As a qualified Integrative Counsellor & psychotherapist Taner brings a therapeutic approach alongside his management style.

“It’s important to be your true authentic self, take Addiction seriously but not yourself. I promote this within my teams who then encourage this with our clients. This was advice I was given when I was on my own journey of recovery, learning to really laugh again is so freeing & natural that no chemical can ever substitute”

As one of the latest members to join the management team Taner is excited to be part of a very diverse team and is looking forward to growing with the UKAT Group.

For the ensuing five year, Connor worked in a prison setting, offering group and individual therapy as well as managing the drug and alcohol rehabilitation unit. During this period of time, he studied experiential psychotherapy at the University of East Anglia, a program of study created to inform more readily as to the nature of change in the human organism and how any such change might better be facilitated. During his career, Connor has also practiced in both statutory and private day care and residential settings. During his time working in the midlands, he undertook a further period of study at Warwick University, qualifying with an advanced diploma in the supervision of counsellors and psychotherapists. He is currently the clinic manager at The Recovery Lighthouse in Worthing, where it is his responsibility to oversee the day to day running of the clinic and ensure that we deliver safe, innovative and effective addictions treatment to our client group. Connor says that working with the team at The Recovery lighthouse gives him great pleasure, as the entire team have an enthusiasm for recovery that reaches out and touches the client group the team seek to assist.

Having had more than enough personal experience of the vagaries of addiction and with some 17 years of working within the field of addictions treatment, it continues to be his goal to do all he can to be of service to those seeking to address their addictions and make positive changes in their lives, and, of course, in the lives of those close to them.

Tom’s previous roles have included working in a supported accommodation environment and also as a Team Leader in a Tier 3 structured day care centre. Tom is a qualified NLP practitioner and has NVQ’s in Health & Social Care, Team Leading and Management as well as certificates in Counselling. He is currently pursuing further studies in Management and aims to develop his practice further through additional studies in Dual Diagnosis.

Chris relishes the challenges involved in his work and enjoys the opportunity to offer his clients a new way to live. He brings both his professional qualifications and his invaluable personal experience of years in addiction and recovery to the task.

After completing her Diploma in counselling at Birkbeck University in London she undertook a 3 year Msc in addiction psychology and counselling at London South-bank University.

Post qualification she started working as a counsellor, Snr counsellor and then became the centre manager for TTP Communities in Luton, which was a quasi-residential rehabilitation centre .Rosie was to remain with TTP for 8 years until its closure in 2015.

She then went on to gain employment with the NHS in Luton as Clinical Lead at Reconnect which offered community based support for all those affected from addictions ,including families.

Rosie was with Reconnect for 2 years; however her commitment to the 12 step model of recovery from addictions led her back to working in Residential Rehab.

As part of her professional development Paula is currently studying towards a BACP Diploma in Integrative Counselling and QCF Level 5 Management and is looking forward to utilsing these skills and values in the workplace
Paula is a skilled mindfulness and meditation practitioner, as a participant and meditation leader, practices yoga on a regular basis and is a qualified auricular acupuncturist. This encompasses a holistic approach to her physical, mental and emotional well-being.

“I decided the time was right to integrate the skills I had acquired in the business sector to the values I live by in my personal life, the 12 Step Programme has empowered me to grow emotionally and spiritually, and it is a humbling experience to witness individuals follow the same path.
I am proud to be part of Recovery Lighthouse and the UKAT approach to addiction treatment”.

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.

Michael is responsible for the day to day management of the team and has many years of experience in this particular role. He believes that building a good solid relationship with the family and the client is fundamental to the individual’s long term and ongoing recovery. His role is to assist families in the delicate process of getting their loved ones into treatment and to support the family unit as a whole. Michael ensures that the whole process is as seamless and stress free as possible for all that are involved.

Previously a Head Counselor of a therapy team and Managing Director for a well-known chain of treatment Centre’s, Michael is BACP registered and a very able and experienced therapist. He believes that entering the correct treatment program can provide a platform to a long and happy recovery

I’m driven by a passion for helping others in to abstinence based recovery. I’m lucky that my professional role allows me to do this on a daily basis. To watch them grow, to watch them recover and the positive impact that has on their families, is something I never take for granted or tire of

Michael himself has been in recovery many years and so has an in-depth understanding of the issues that addicts and their families face. He has the ability
to quickly establish a trusting and understanding relationship with an individual, where perhaps their families are unable.

Previous to her current position Linda has worked as a Finance Manager for our National Health Service, Management Accountant with the UK’s largest independent provider of health and social care and Finance Analyst for a well-known Blue Chip company. She believes her previous experience in the healthcare finance field provide her with the vast knowledge to fulfil her position with confidence and attention to detail.

Linda is a proud member of the Association of Accounting Technicians.

Away from the business Linda is a mother of two boys, she enjoys travelling, skiing and spending time with family and friends.