Maria is tutor on our level six online course.
She qualified as a Children’s Nurse in 2004 and has worked with children and families in the NHS since qualifying. She currently works as part of a multidisciplinary NHS hospital-based team, as the Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist for both inpatient and outpatient sleep diagnostics services. As part of her role Maria runs nurse led sleep clinics for children who present with behavioural sleep disorders, parasomnias, circadian sleep disorders and complex sleep difficulties associated with a variety of co-morbidities. Her growing areas of interest include the effects of sensory processing disorder upon sleep, demand avoidance and Autism and CBTi (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia).
Maria is passionate in promoting the importance of sleep and has led on the implementation of World Sleep Day promotions, Southampton Sleep for Health in Hospital initiative working group for her NHS Trust, and developed a parental sleep booklet, now widely used in primary care settings and two Hospital NHS Trusts. She is currently collaborating with colleagues within her Trust and plans to develop and provide sleep talks to local schools and universities.
Maria also recently completed the Oxford University mindfulness for life course and is currently obtaining a level two certificate in Counselling.
She feels that these elements very much compliment her current work with children and their families.
Maria is registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, is a member of the British Sleep Society, World Sleep Society and the International Paediatric Sleep Society.
Sleep Training for Professionals