Janet qualified as a social worker in 1972, with a degree and diploma from Keele University.

After 3 years working as a generic social worker, Janet specialised in psychiatric social work by taking an MSc degree in the Department of Psychiatry at Leeds University. She went on to develop mental health and learning disability services in Birmingham. Following her marriage and the acquisition of a step-family, Janet moved to Cardiff to work in research, and at the University Hospital of Wales as a psychiatric social worker, then subsequently at an innovatory service for people with learning disabilities, called Nimrod. After moving to Cornwall, Janet performed locum work for the Adoption Agency, before working with learning disability services. She completed a further postgraduate qualification in 2005, gaining a Childcare award from Bournemouth University, specialising in the transition of young people with a range of disabilities from Children's to Adult services. Following retirement Janet became a school governor at Doubletrees.