I’m a multidisciplinary developer and researcher with knowledge and experience spanning Psychology, Computer Science and Health Informatics.  I am presently located at Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit working in Innovation Services.

Research Activities

My PhD research was based in the University of Sheffield’s Centre for Assistive Technology and Connected Healthcare (CATCH) and looked at how digital could be implemented more effectively in NHS Mental Health services such as IAPT.  I also investigated how system usability effects our ability to connect (expectations, therapeutic alliance) with therapeutic chatbots.

I have a continued interest in therapeutic chatbots but have also recently expanded my research interests into NHS staff resilience. I have been working with Ultimate Resilience to develop online resilience training for NHS healthcare staff.

Industry Activities

I have over 20 years experience designing and developing systems for public and private sector organisations.  These include the National Health Service (University Hospital Birmingham, South Staffordshire and Shropshire Foundation Trust, Burton Hospitals, The Regional Capacity Management Team), education (Birmingham Metropolitan College), councils (Staffordshire, Birmingham and Wolverhampton), retail (Argos Direct, Bibendum Wines Ltd) and video games (WaterMelon Corp).

For five of those years I worked developing mental health systems at both a local and regional level. These systems served over 1.5 million service users.  I am a champion of free healthcare and proud to have worked in the NHS.

Other Activities

In addition to my developer and research actives.  I have worked as part of NHS England’s Digital Innovation and Adoption in Psychological Therapies Expert Reference Group (D-IAPT ERG) tasked with helping the NHS to adopt digital technologies within its psychological therapy IAPT services and also contributed to the Topol Review which looks at the digital future of mental healthcare and its workforce.