Thurstine Basset trained as social worker and worked as a community worker and social work practitioner, mostly in the mental health field. he is now an independent training and development consultant and runs his own company, which is based in Brighton. He works for national voluntary agencies, such as Mind, together and the Mental Health Foundation. With the Richmond Fellowship, he is the joint course leader for its Diploma in Community Mental Health, which is accredited by Middlesex  University. He is a Visiting Fellow at the University of Brighton. He has written mental health learning materials, many of which are published by Pavilion Publishing, with which he works in an advisory role. He likes to walk and watch cricket.