Samantha Birds

My qualifications include a Foundation Degree in Education and Learning Support; BSc (Hons) Psychology and I qualified as a sleep practitioner (The Sleep Charity). I have worked in children’s health since 2018 and joined Sheffield Children’s Sleep Team in February 2020 as a Specialist Sleep Practitioner.

Prior to working in the hospital environment, I spent 10 years working in secondary education, initially as a teaching assistant before becoming a learning mentor supporting young people both with their mental health and their achievement of educational goals.

I provide professional but empathetic telephone support for the parents and carers of young people who are experiencing paediatric sleep disorders. My main aim is to provide advice and guidance on the implementation of good sleep hygiene with an overarching goal of aiding the development of healthy sleep patterns and routines under the support of an excellent multidisciplinary consultant led team. As part of my role I support others within the team and ensure that I keep up to date with current literature and research that is relevant to my role within the Sleep Team.