Dr. Katharine A BSc (Hons) Psychology, DClinPsy, CPsychol HCPC Registration No. PYL02048 DBS Registration No. 001556765881 PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERTISE Professional Qualification Chartered Clinical Psychologist Areas of Expertise Assessment of adults, adolescents and children Attachment Children in care Parenting assessments Personality assessments (Adolescents and Adults) Abuse & Neglect physical, emotional and/or sexual Domestic Violence Mental health including depression and anxiety Self Harm/Suicidal ideation Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Substance Misuse Learning difficulty / disability Cognitive function assessment Adolescent Forensic Mental Health & Youth Offending (Arson, Sexualised Behaviour/Offending, Risk of Violence, Risk of recidivism) Risk of absconding Risk of Sexual Exploitation Eating disorders (Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge eating, Overweight, EDNOS) (Adolescents & Adults) Autism/Asperger s Good cultural knowledge of working with individuals and families of African origin (I speak Twi, a local Ghanaian language) and Afro-Caribbean origin. Foreign language speakers/use of interpreters (including interpreters for the deaf) I undertake independent comprehensive assessments in a variety of areas and write high quality reports for the courts relating to children, parents and other family members. RELEVANT EXPERIENCE I have worked extensively in a number of different settings developing specialities in working with children and adults, in the areas of general mental health, Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Eating Disorders, Specialist Foster Care and Children in Care. I have worked within the NHS and the private sector and currently work independently providing high quality assessments and psychological treatments to children, adults, families and couples. I provide training and consultation to care staff working with children in care homes, foster carers and to occupational health departments of blue chip companies. Training sessions I have developed and
delivered include: Post Traumatic Stress Disorders, Childhood Development and Attachment, Stress and Conflict in the Workplace, Eating Disorders in Adolescents in care. I am competent in utilising psychological assessment techniques; both structured (e.g. Psychometrics) and unstructured (e.g. Clinical interviews). I have conducted numerous assessments and produced reports informing care planning to support Local Authority placement planning processes, Multi Agency Public Protection proceedings (MAPPA), Family Court cases within private and public law and Mental Health Tribunals. I adopt a holistic approach to my work meaning there is significant consideration given to the complex interaction of multiple factors and their impact on functioning. I have worked within a variety of settings including High Secure Hospitals, Children s Secure Units, Community-based outpatient departments, inpatient wards and residential provisions for adolescents and adults. I am skilled at forming working relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and within highly emotionally charged situations in order to quickly engage people in assessment and therapeutic work. I am able to work in ways that are culturally sensitive to individuals from African backgrounds. I have a strong interest in working with adolescents and the systems around them including family, schools, foster carers, care organisations, health systems and local authorities. As part of my routine practice I regularly observe and prepare reports regarding the impact of factors such as attachment on the development of children and young people. As a result I have developed an in-depth understanding of the nature of static and dynamic factors influencing risk in areas such as offending, sexual exploitation and self-harm. I ensure my continued professional development through attendance at conferences and training events and reading of psychological and allied health journals. I have additional training in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT). For full details of work history please refer to the attached Appendix. REPORTS I have considerable experience of preparing comprehensive psychological reports of a high standard. These have been used in a variety of contexts to inform key decision making. These reports have covered the following areas: Public Law assessments of children and adults Assessment of parenting Assessment of attachment Assessment of family dynamics Assessment of risk (violence, sexualised behaviour, arson, sexual exploitation & self-harm) Abuse & Neglect PTSD in children and adults Anxiety and depression in children and adults Mental health of children and adults Cognitive and neuropsychological assessments QUALIFICATIONS, TRAINING & RESEARCH 2005 2008 Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (l-who, University of Nottingham) 2000 2003 BSc (Hons) Psychology (2:1) (University of Nottingham) 1997 1999 A-Levels Clarendon College, Nottingham: English Literature (A), Geography (B) and Psychology (B) 1994 1997 International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSEs) 9 Subjects A- C (Herman Gmeiner International College, Ghana, West Africa) Further Professional Training and Development
Introductory Training to Cognitive Analytical Therapy (ACAT) March 2010 EMDR Training Level 1 (EMDR Works) September 2010 EMDR Training Level 2 (EMDR Works) March 2011 NSPCC Child Sexual Abuse Programme March 2012 TEACCH (Treatment & Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children) (Westminster Special Schools: Professor Gary Mesibov) March 2013 Court Skills Training for Experts (Carter Brown Associates) March 2013 MEMBERSHIPS & PUBLICATIONS Professional Memberships Registered member of the British Psychological Society with full chartership status Member of the Division of Clinical Psychologists (DCP) Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION I have full enhanced DBS clearance. I hold personal professional indemnity insurance. I hold a clean driving licence.
Appendix Work History March 2011 Present Chartered Clinical Psychologist (Independent Practice) Consultancy and therapy provision to residential children s units (including educational provision where relevant). Consultancy and training to Specialist School for pupils (Primary & Secondary) with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Design and delivery of training events, e.g. Child Development and Attachment, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Managing Stress and Conflict to Care Workers, Teachers and Allied Health Professionals. Conduct assessments and deliver reports highlighting areas of need and treatment options to support care and pathway planning. Psychological therapy for moderate to severe mental health problems in adults and children. Training and consultancy to occupational health departments and employees of blue chip companies. Medico-legal assessments and reporting to solicitors for use in Court (cases undertaken include those pertaining to Family, Employment, Criminal and Immigration law). January 2010 March 2013 Chartered Clinical Psychologist Clinical Psychology Associates Direct therapeutic work with young people with severe and enduring mental health difficulties in supported or semi-independent living. Liaison, consultancy and training to staff teams and the multi-professional network supporting young people in care settings (residential schools, supported and semi-independent living). Providing psychological therapy for mild to moderate mental health problems in adults and children. Conducting forensic, neuropsychological and cognitive assessments. Preparation of reports for the courts in family, criminal, immigration and litigation proceedings and mental health reviews and tribunals. November 2009 February 2011 Chartered Clinical Psychologist Trafford Healthcare NHS Trusts (Individual Therapist, Me2 Fostering Project) Delivering therapy to adolescents (12-18 years) with severe emotional and behavioural and/or severe delinquency who are in need of out-of-home placements. Conducting risk assessments. Neuropsychological and Cognitive assessments. Building therapeutic relationships with hard-to-reach young people. Working closely within a multi-disciplinary team to deliver a treatment package within the whole system surrounding a young person. Liaising with members of the multi-professional network. Working across healthcare, social care and youth justice settings to deliver interventions. Evaluating the effectiveness and efficacy of the Multi-dimensional Therapeutic Foster Care (MTFC) model. October 2008 October 2009 Chartered Clinical Psychologist 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust (Eating Disorders Team) Adults and adolescents (16 years 65 years) assessment, formulation and delivery of evidencebased psychological treatment for a variety of Eating Disorders including: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Obesity and EDNOS.
Delivered interventions to individual clients, families and indirectly through members of the multi-professional network. Conducted risk assessments and personality assessments. Provided consultation to other health professionals involved in a client s care. Provided verbal and written reports of clients progress to relevant professionals. Evaluated outcome of interventions using standard psychometric and non-standard methods. Contributed to service planning and development. Researched service performance and client experience. February 2009 October 2009 Chartered Clinical Psychologist Sheffield Children s NHS Foundation Trust (Locum, Sheffield Forensic CAMHS) Provision of psychological assessment, formulation and evidence-based interventions to children (10-16 years) in secure children s home. Problems worked with include those related to youth offending (e.g. violence and aggression) and welfare issues (e.g. sexual exploitation). Conducted risk assessments. Conducted neuropsychological and cognitive assessments. Delivered indirect and direct interventions. Contributed to care planning both within the unit and in the wider community-based professional working. Delivered consultation to care staff and other professionals working with a child. Designed key packages for use by the care staff with children in their care. Contributed to the evaluation of service provision. Provided teaching to care staff around psychological theories and models. September 2005 October 2008 Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Trent Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (I-WHO, University of Nottingham).