Kate Mellor
Brain Injury Social Work Group
Kate is a Registered Social Worker, qualifying in 2009 and has developed extensive experience across a range of health and care settings. Her early practice was in fostering, where she also discovered a passion for delivering training. Eventually this led into social work education as a Senior University Lecturer, (following qualification as a Primary Teacher). She maintains a connection with fostering as Vice-Chair of the Panel for a small independent fostering agency on the south coast.
In early 2021 Kate sustained a brain injury through a stroke – something that was, unsurprisingly, life-changing. Although she initially returned to her Senior Lecturer role after 14 months away, ultimately this shaped the next stage of her career, leading to working for Headway Sussex where she now has lead responsibilities for Hospital Liaison, Staff Training & Development and Volunteers.
Kate is passionate about using her lived experience constructively to support individuals and families facing similar challenges. Her work also includes delivering ABI education and training to pre‑ and post‑qualifying staff in Adult Social Care teams and third‑sector organisations, both for Headway Sussex and independently.
Alongside this, she returned to lecturing on various health & social care modules (including social work) with the Open University in January 2025.
Kate’s lived experience also led her to contribute to a pioneering research project, Heads Together, aimed at raising awareness of ABI and supporting the learning and development of social workers and allied health professionals. In addition she is a Trustee of the Brain Injury Social Work Group (BISWG) and a member of the steering group for SABIF (Sussex Acquired Brain Injury Forum). More recently she also joined the SQuIRe (Stroke Quality Improvement in Rehabilitation) Social Work Community of Practice.
As a Volunteer and Speaker for the Kent Surrey Sussex Air Ambulance (whose help she required) she enjoys the opportunity to talk to various fundraising and community groups about this service.
Outside of this, Kate particularly enjoys living near the coast and sitting by the beach with a latte listening to the sound of the waves!
