Qualifications

2013:   PhD in recognition of a programme of work entitled ‘Developing Systemically Oriented Secondary Care Mental Health Services’ (University of Plymouth) 
1993:    Diploma in Family and Marital Therapy (University of Exeter)
1998:    Statement of Equivalence of Overseas Qualifications (British Psychological Society)
1985:    M.A. (Clinical Psychology) (University of Cape Town)
1984:    B.A. (Honours) (Psychology) (University of Cape Town)
1981:    Bachelor of Social Science (University of Cape Town)
 

Professional Registrations 

Health Professions Council (Practitioner Psychologist No. PYL03123) 
Register of Chartered Psychologists (No. 32725) 
British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (No. 893732)   
(accredited as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist 1998 - 2019)

Employment History Overview

2023 – Present:  Founder & Director, Collaborative Solutions Consulting and Psychology Services LTD.
2021 – Present:  Hon Senior Lecturer, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter.                    
2020 – 2023:  Head of Outcomes, Innovation and Research, Healios Ltd.
2018 – 2020:  Head of Clinical Services, incl. Head of Quality, Governance & Safety, Healios Ltd. 
2016 – 2017:  Lecturer, University of Exeter, HEE funded regional FI course (EIP Access & Waiting Times Standards).
2015 – 2019:  South West EIP Programme Clinical Lead, NHS England (secondment).  
1996 – 2013:  Partnership teacher with the University of Plymouth Faculty of Health & Social Work.
1994 – 2019:  Consultant Clin Psychologist, Clinical Lead & Senior Operational Manager, Somerset Partnership NHS.
1988 – 1994:  Clinical Psychologist, Somerset Health Authority.
1987 – 1988: Lecturer (part-time), Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town; Sessional Clinical Psychologist, UCT Child Guidance Clinic; Locum Clinical Psychologist (Forensic Unit), Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital.

Skills and achievements

Mental health service development, management, leadership and training:

Experience at senior management levels in the NHS and in a private sector organization. 
Operational management and clinical leadership of a digital CAMHS service in its startup phase.
Worked closely with the founder and CEO of a health tech start-up during 4 years of rapid scaling. 
Developed county-wide specialist services and provided clinical leadership and management to Assertive Outreach, Early Intervention in Psychosis and CAMHS-AMHS transition services.
Pioneered a Health Education England funded regional training course to enable the Access & Waiting Times Standards for family interventions in psychosis; delivery of 4 courses 2016-2017. 
Developed 1-year University of Plymouth, ENB and AFT accredited Family Interventions in Psychosis (F.I.R.S.T.) course to develop Somerset-wide services 1996-2010, with subsequent consultation/training to Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust (F.I.R.S.T. course) & Oxleas NHS F.T. (family inclusive practice).

Extensive experience of corporate and clinical governance, compliance and strategic decision making:

Chaired NHS trust Practice Standards Group (2011-2012) and Psychosis Best Practice Group (2012-2018).
Chair of the Ethics Committee and Director, The Association for Family Therapy, UK (1999-2003).
Involvement in commissioning; as well as national governance, quality improvement & training initiatives.
National leadership and governance roles in priority clinical areas: first episode psychosis, carer inclusive practice, family intervention.
Invited to contribute to 6 national Expert Reference Groups which set clinician training competencies and minimum standards for the delivery of clinical services.
Pioneered a regional clinical quality improvement initiative using appreciative enquiry.
Member of the South West Mental Health Act Approvals Panel (2010-2013)

Track record of innovation and involvement in research:

International reputation in psychology, digital mental health, service development, training, family intervention, psychosis.
Currently the Review Editor for digital mental health for the journal Frontiers in Digital Health; published 50+ scientific papers; 90+ presentations at academic conferences.
Led a range of audit, evaluation, service development and research projects which increased the range and quality of services, and enhanced Healios’ reputation.
Developed a Clinical Outcome Strategy and initiated development of personalized therapeutic interventions.
Co-designed new digital initial assessments, autism assessments, clinical interventions & clinical pathways. 
Chief Investigator in an MHRA approved RCT of a mobile phone app mental health intervention for epilepsy.
Co-investigator or principal investigator in 6 national research trials.
Pioneering work in the Family Intervention field recognized in 7 national reports.
Mental Health Award, NHS Health & Social Care Awards 2004 Highly Commended; Chairman’s Award, Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 2018.

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Career History

Healios Ltd.
Head of Outcomes, Innovation and Research                     
Responsible for the development, governance, and management of clinical outcomes across the organisation; the development and implementation of the publication strategy; and enhancement of Healios’ clinical and innovation reputation. Line management of two research psychologists, 4 specialist CBT therapists and 13 Assistant Psychologists/ Wellbeing coaches.
-Led a range of audit, evaluation, service development and research projects at Healios which have been disseminated via 21 presentations at academic conferences & 3 peer reviewed scientific publications (+ 5 publications in the pipeline).
-Developed a Clinical Outcome Strategy and redesigned the system for clinical outcome assessment.

Healios Ltd.
Head of Clinical Services, incl. Head of Quality, Governance & Safety/ Safeguarding operational lead
Responsible for the development, clinical leadership and management of internet based mental health assessments and interventions delivered in partnership with NHS trusts. Shaped the strategic clinical direction and ensured the safety and quality of all clinical services. Advanced best practice, innovation and continuous improvements within clinical divisions. 
- Recruited clinicians and managers to facilitate a large-scale increase in the range and volume of service delivery.  
- Line management of 6 Team/Service Managers & professional supervision of 4 Clinical Leads.
- Represented Healios in academic, public & commissioning arenas. 
-Chaired the Risk Governance Committee.
-Ensured clinicians had access to information, support & supervision regarding clinical risk, safeguarding, mental capacity      and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
- Section 11 Audit lead

Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Lead & Senior Operational Manager.             
Senior Operational Manager for Somerset Team for Early Psychosis (STEP; 2003-2018), Carers’ Services (2013-2018), Older Adult Psychology (2014- 2018) & Connect18 (2017- 2018):
- Provision of strategic and operational management, budgetary responsibilities for 4 county-wide services. 
- Establishment of Connect18 transitions service (recruitment, training, development of operational guidelines/SOPs). 
- Member of Mental Health & Learning Disabilities directorate committee and out of hours manager on-call rota.
Consultant Clinical Psychologist (Adult Mental Health) & Head of Psychology 
- Development of annual service level agreement and job plans in laison with service managers & Director of Operations. 
- Provision of regular management supervision sessions, including annual appraisals.  
- Co-ordination and monitoring of Clinical Governance and Audit initiatives. 
- Facilitation of quality assurance and audit programs. 
Clinical lead for 0-25 service, Family Inclusive Practice/Triangle of Care (2013-2018) & Early Intervention in Psychosis services:
- Redesign of transition pathways from CAMHS to adult services; development of the clinical model; hiring, training and management of Connect18 service (5 clinicians). 
- Lead for Triangle of Care, chair of trust-wide Triangle of Care Steering Group, accountable for ToC Quality Account targets in community health as well as mental health services. 
- Development of the first episode psychosis service model, consultation, training & recruitment (2000-2003). 
- Accountable for the quality of early intervention services, including negotiations with CCG, Service Development & Improvement meetings, redesign of RiO to capture Access & Waiting Times data, audits.