Andy trained as a nurse in 1987 and has held Director posts in the statutory, independent and professional sectors. He has held and continues to hold a number of senior advisory positions to statutory and non-statutory organisations and remains on a number of national advisory boards. His previous roles include Clinical Director for Forensic services and Clinical Director for adult mental health services. He left the NHS in 2014 and works with his Associates as independent consultants to mental health services across the UK and abroad, (AndyJohnstonAssociates).
Andy has contributed to many national programmes/publications influencing the direction of travel for mental health services over the years and is an Editorial Board member of two international peer-review scientific journals. He also has over 25 years’ experience as a trainer and senior lecturer in conflict resolution and physical intervention.
Andy has reviewed over 50 services spanning 8 European countries over the last decade. He held Executive Secretary and Director of Operations roles within the National Association of Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (NAPICU) Executive from 2002 until May 2013. Having stood down after 11 years he remains an Executive member with a number of portfolios
