Qualifications/Background

I completed a BA Hons in Psychology at QUB and then a MSc in Developmental and Educational Psychology before undertaking a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at Stranmillis Teaching College.

I worked as a Primary School Teacher for a few years teaching all primary age year groups and working with children with special needs. I became an Educational Psychologist in Belfast working in all areas of the city. Within that role I worked as part of the Behaviour Support Team. I provided Psychology Support to an Educational Support Unit for post primary pupils at risk of expulsion. I became a Senior Educational Psychologist in the legacy Southern Education and Library Board (SELB) and managed the Dungannon Psychology team for 16 years. I then worked as a Principal Educational Psychologist (PEP) for the SELB for 6 years. In addition to being PEP for the SELB I was also PEP for the SEELB for two years before undertaking my current role as a QUB tutor.  

DECAP Responsibilities and Teaching

I was the Year 1 Tutor for 4 years before becoming the Placement Tutor. I help arrange placements for each of the year groups within the Education Authority (EA). I organise regular meetings with the EA supervisors and provide drop-in sessions for each of the placements. I provide individual professional and academic supervision for trainee Educational Psychologists in each cohort.

I deliver teaching on The Role of the Educational Psychologist, Special Educational Needs and Inclusion, Dyslexia, Intelligence and Bilingualism.

External Interests/Community Service

I have played and enjoy many sports. I have been a football coach/mentor for a number of underage football teams.

Professional Experience and research

During my time as an Educational Psychologist, I have carried out individual assessments and provided interventions for a number of children with literacy, behaviour and emotional difficulties such as Dyslexia, Selective Mutism and Severe Learning Difficulties and challenging behaviour. I  have provided in-service Training on a range of topics such as Stress Management, Dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Managing Behaviour and Test Administration.

I have contributed to the development of the Educational Psychology Service Action Plan following the merging of the five legacy education and library boards into the Education Authority. As part of this work I was Chair of a working group tasked with analysing and preparing a time allocation model for all schools and Educational Psychologists throughout the EA.

I have line managed a Challenging Behaviour Team within the SELB which provided behaviour support to Learning Support Centres for children who presented with challenging behaviour.

I was a Member of an inter-board Language and Communication Working Group. I had helped shape how the SELB’s Language Policy had been developed particularly with reference to inclusion.

I was part of an inter-board working group for Psychological Assessment of Dyslexia which produced guidelines for all Educational Psychologist throughout Northern Ireland.

I was a member of a Department of Education working group, ‘Irish Language Diagnostic Tools Feasibility Study’. Core recommendations which I had advised upon, based on research and theory were included in the publication of the study.

I was instrumental in setting up and managing a secondary school support centre for post primary pupils experiencing complex learning difficulties. This was in the largest post primary school in Northern Ireland. The project was based on research about the effectiveness of using classroom assistants to support pupils with SEN. Results from the study were presented at the QUB Educational Psychology 50^th Anniversary Conference.

During my career I have supervised many trainee Educational Psychologists. I have arranged and organised research carried out by trainees into issues affecting practice e.g. examining the educational outcomes of children attending Learning Support Centres, researching the pros and cons of over age retention and exploring the impact of intervention services on referrals to the Educational Psychology Service. 

In 2015 Dr Paul O’Callaghan and I published a study on a group-based CBT intervention targeted at reducing depression and anxiety and improving self-concept in primary-age children in the Journal, Educational Psychology in Practice.

Recently I was involved in an Assistive Technology Project aimed at extending the attention and interaction skills of children with ASD. This is a private/public funding initiative and funding had been obtained from the NI Small Business Research Initiative.

In 2021 I took part in the Northern Ireland Branch of the BPS Conference. This was part of a group that presented on overcoming research challenges with particular reference to the impact of Covid.

I have supervised research with trainees on the DECAP course into Mindfulness and how it might reduce anxiety for children with literacy difficulties, Mental Health Roles, Knowledge and Skills of primary school teachers, Young People’s views and suggestions for Relationships & Sexuality Education in Northern Ireland, Listening to children’s views on their social experience within Nurture Group intervention and Eliciting the Views of Children and Young People with Severe Learning Difficulties.