My research, teaching and practice interests involve mental health social policy and practice. This includes a focus on person-centred and rights-based approaches to mental health social work, such as strengths based recovery-oriented practice and supported decision-making.
I am interested co-producing research with people who have lived experience, such as those with mental health problems who have experienced compulsory admission to psychiatric hospital.
I am a member of the Centre for Applied Health and Social Care Research, Kingston University & St. George's University of London.
My doctoral research was undertaken at the Centre for Social Work Innovation and Research, University of Sussex. My doctoral thesis involved a hermeneutic phenomenological study on how social work Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) use the law in practice. This involved an in-depth qualitative study, across three different London boroughs.
I am a registered social worker. I remain active in practice as an Advanced Social Worker and Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP). My career has focused on the mental health field of social work practice. This has involved practice in community mental health teams; specialist community services for people experiencing psychosis; and as a forensic social worker, working in regional secure services and in the community. Prior to qualifying as a social worker I worked in the voluntary sector in the fields of mental health and a harm minimisation community drugs service.
Senior Lecturer. Course Leader Master of Social Work and Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work.