Raf Hamaizia

Lived Experience Lead

Cygnet Healthcare

Biography

Raf Hamaizia is a leading mental health and social inclusion expert within the United Kingdom, with a track record in engagement, policy, quality improvement, campaigning and organisational culture change.

As an Expert by Experience Raf uses his perspective as a former service user, to aid his professional and academic experience within a variety of organisations across health and social care. This has included the development of policy and guidance with NICE (National Institute of Health and Care Excellence), Royal College of Psychiatrists, Care Quality Commission and the NHS.

Raf is the Expert by Experience Lead with Cygnet Healthcare overseeing the organisations Co-production structures. Prior to this Raf was an Expert by Experience with the Care Quality Commission (regulators) where he participated in over 150 inspections.

He was one of 12 chairs on the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act for the Department of Health and Social Care (United Kingdom). He has an MSc in Mental Health Recovery and Social Inclusion from the University of Hertfordshire.