Kate originally trained as a paediatric nurse before becoming a health visitor in 1975. Until the early 90s she worked as a health visitor before setting up a community health project for teenage mothers in Nottingham. In the mid-90s Kate worked in public health development and become a public health consultant for children in Sheffield.

In 2000, she joined the Department of Health as the Government’s Deputy Chief Nurse (England) leading on children, public health and primary care nursing policy. In 2006 she co-authored ‘The Healthy Child Programme’ (the universal public health programme from children 0-5). Kate remained in Government leading the introduction of the Nurse Family Partnership Programme in England starting with 10 sites in 2007 to 80 sites serving 9000 families by 2012. In May 2012 Kate left the Department of Health to work part time as Senior Advisor, Nurse Family Partnership International, University of Colorado and promote evidence based prevention and early intervention in the first years of life.

She is a Trustee and Fellow of the Queen’s Nursing Institute and Honorary Professor at Kings College London. She was awarded a CBE in 2011.