Kath began her career at Bolton Royal Hospital, then at Prestwich Psychiatric Hospital on a secure unit for the long term mentally ill patients. During this time she was injured on duty and was unable to work for some years.

In 1989 she decided to retrain and so went back to school and completed a course in Youth and Group work. She then returned to work as a Residential Social Worker and later went on to be Senior Residential Social Worker for Calderstones NHS Trust, working in the community with adults with severe learning difficulties.