Pat Hobson

Her professional journey began in 1994, when she first stepped into the field of dementia care, a commitment that has shaped her career and influenced practice across the health and social care sectors. Throughout her career, she has held a range of senior and leadership roles within the NHS, private hospitals, charities and care homes, where she has championed person-led and person-centred care and applied a variety of theoretical models in real-world dementia practice. Her work has not only improved standards of care but has also influenced organisational culture and policy in services supporting people living with dementia.

Pat has been instrumental in implementing a range of theories in dementia from medical, social, behavioural and psychosocial models with a key focus on identifying the best evidence-based practice that empowers people living with dementia and their loved ones. Since 1996, Pat has focused on and implemented Tom Kitwood's person-centred theory, and has also implemented Gemma Jones' Behavioural Stages of Dementia Care, David Sheard's Feeling Matters Most Model, Dawn Brooker's VIPS, Jane Verity's Spark of Life Approach, as well as a number of other dementia models. Pat developed her own Unique Life, Unique World, Unique Environment Model of Dementia Care that focuses on providing a seamless pathway for people living with dementia and their loved ones, which she delivered to a number of care homes from 2009-2014. She explored this model in her dementia book published in 2019. In 2025, Pat reviewed the UN and WHO policies in relation to their commitment to dementia care, more so the role of NGOs and the global perspective of dementia, health inequalities, and the role of enablement, which she examined in detail in her fourth edition dementia book published in October 2025.

In 2006, Pat expanded her focus to safeguarding, working mainly with care homes and older people/dementia care, and then in 2015 moved back into the NHS and worked with highly complex cases involving individuals and families with no recourse to public funds, engaging with hard-to-reach and marginalised communities, as well as complex mental health and learning disabilities and/or autism, where there were no defined pathways. Her safeguarding expertise is grounded in a deep understanding of risk, rights, and the need for culturally responsive approaches to protection and care.

Pat has worked extensively at the interface of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) with safeguarding, and adults and children safeguarding legislation, developing an in-depth understanding of legal frameworks, risks, and rights-based approaches and outcomes, which are examined within the context of the 'think family approaches.' In 2025, Pat completed a scoping review of the gaps in the UN safeguarding children and adult policies to examine how safeguarding was viewed across the world.

Her expertise also extends to conducting mental capacity assessments, safeguarding investigations, and development and involvement in supporting legal teams and Commissioners in Court of Protection proceedings. Pat is a Best Interests Assessor and an Expert Witness in dementia care, safeguarding, management of complex cases and nursing.

Pat has also worked alongside commissioners (NHS England and Integrated Care Boards) and regulators (Care Quality Commission) across the public and private sectors to address gaps in regulatory requirements and compliance, across all domains to meet statutory responsibilities.

A recognised expert in her field, Pat has developed innovative models and care pathways across dementia, safeguarding, and complex case management tools. Her contributions extend beyond service delivery; she has worked across public, private, and charitable sectors, providing strategic and governance-level support as well as operational and frontline leadership. In addition to her consultancy work, she is also a lecturer in nursing, dedicated to educating, coaching and mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals through PMH Consultancy and Education Academy. As a published author, she continues to influence national and international conversations with her dementia book and journal articles cited in various academic resources and guidance, as well as podcast appearances. Pat has also presented at international conferences in dementia care, as well as national conferences in safeguarding and patient safety.