Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP), Liverpool City Council

Doreen Broadfoot is an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) whose employment with Liverpool City Council spans 42 years.

Beginning her career in a nursery she qualified as a social worker, becoming a Nursery Centre Manager. When her nursery closed, Doreen became a Mental Health Social Worker and then an AMHP. In 2003 mental health services were reconfigured into teams with colleagues from the health service and she was seconded into a community mental health team.

But the bare facts of her service do not show the dedication, hard work and support she gives both to service users and her colleagues.

Every team should have a Doreen. She's the one taking urgent referrals at 4pm on Friday without complaining. She was praised by a judge in childcare proceedings for the support she gave to a mother with mental health difficulties. When she retires this year, she will be a huge loss. Doreen represents all that is best in public services.