Qualifications/Background

I completed my BSc in Psychology at QUB and then an MA in Culture and Colonialism at NUIG. Having worked for several years in Special Schools in Ireland and Scotland, I applied to the Doctorate in Educational, Child and Adolescent Psychology, and completed training in 2009. My first post as an Educational Psychologist commenced in September 2009 and this role continues to the present time. As an Educational Psychologist I work with children with special educational needs from two to 19 years.

DECAP Responsibilities and Teaching

I have the role as Year 1 Tutor for the DECAP Programme. My teaching focus includes topics as follows: Severe Learning Difficulties/ Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties; Using the WISC V/ WIAT III in Educational Psychology practice; Evidence-Based Practice for Literacy; Digital Technology and Special Educational Needs; Nurture Groups. I provide professional and academic supervision on an individual basis for trainee Educational Psychologists in each year cohort. My responsibilities also include development of the Leadership Curriculum within DECAP, and representation of the course on the British Psychological Society Northern Ireland Division of Educational and Child Psychology (DECP NI). Recently I have taken on the role as course lead for implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

External interests/Community Service

My key community involvement is with regard to the development of local and national Green initiatives.

Research and Scholarship

My research interests relate to my areas of specialist experience as outlined below.

I contributed to Department of Education (DENI) school improvement projects as follows: “Signature Literacy Project” (2014), to enhance skills of post-primary school staff in assessment of literacy needs; “Early Years Pilot B” (2015), to promote evidence-based practice amongst early years practitioners supporting children with social, emotional and behavioural needs.

I collaborated with colleagues from Educational Psychology and the Department of Finance to conceptualise and acquire funding for the “Immersive Technology and Autism Project” (2018 – 2020). This public/ private sector joint initiative aimed to improve educational outcomes for pupils with autism, funded through the Small Business Research Initiative. A series of research projects based on co-design principles resulted in the development of virtual reality and augmented reality based learning tools to address the needs of pupils with autism, which are currently being evaluated.