Introduction
My professional background as an occupational therapist in social care underpins my research with an extensive and applied knowledge of practice. As an occupational therapist I worked in a variety of roles including in community neurological services, older peoples' team, mainstream community team and rapid response. I began my career in social care as a homecare worker and I therefore have a thorough and experiential understanding of front line social care provision.
My research expertise lies in the field of social care research, particularly applied to evaluative research methods and with older adults. As part of two NIHR fellowships, I have received methodological training in clinical trials, systematic reviewing and qualitative research. I currently use these mixed methods approaches across the research I lead and collaborate on.
I am a committee member of NIHR Research for Social Care.
Qualifications
Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, 2019
PhD, University of Nottingham, 2016
MPhil, University of Nottingham, 2013
BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy, University of Derby, 2004
BSc (Hons) in Health and Human Sciences, University of Durham, 1999
Professional Memberships
Health and Care Professions Council
British Association of Occupational Therapists
Previous Positions
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, Northumbria University
Senior Research Fellow, University of Nottingham
NIHR Clinical Trials Fellow, University of Nottingham
NIHR Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Nottingham
