Imogen Rushworth

Dr,

  • 0.28 Medical School

Personal profile

Biography

I have a longstanding interest in clinical psychology. I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Sheffield from 1989 to 1992 then was awarded a scholarship by the Centre for Human Nutrition at the University of Sheffield to undertake a PhD in functional medical disorders from 1992 to 1995.  Following this I immediately gained entry to clinical psychology training and was awarded my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 1998 from the University of East Anglia Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology.  

Once qualified I initially worked in Child and Adolescent mental health services in Cambridge, working first in an inpatient adolescent eating disorders service, before moving to an outpatient Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. I  then returned to a research role as a Postdoctoral Research Clinical Psychologist at the University of Cambridge Institute of Public Health.  There I worked with internationally renowned Health Psychologists to develop behaviour change interventions for chronic health conditions, including diabetes and smoking cessation.  Concurrently I maintained clinical practice during, working first in a Diabetes Clinic and then a Smoking Cessation service, to link directly research and theory to practice.  This experience led to an on-going interest in the field of Clinical Health Psychology, theory and practice, and enabled me to gained Chartered Health Psychologist status as well as Chartered Clinical Psychologist status.

I have been continued to combine my clinical my research expertise since moving to UEA. I joined the UEA Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology as a Clinical Tutor/Clinical Lecturer in 2004, becoming a Clinical Associate Professor in 2016. I am currently the Deparmental and Programme Wellbeing lead, overseeing pastoral support systems for staff and trainees in the Department, as I am passionate about supporting the wellbeing of our trainees and of the staff delivering training.  I strongly believe this is a fundamental aspect of Programme and Departmental provision.  In the department I have also held roles as Admissions Lead from 2011 to 2018 with lead responsibility for selection procedures, Lead for trainee Personal and Professional Development, and Lead for organisation and administration of the Programme OSCEs .  I oversee and coordinate provision of the PPD and pastoral support systems for trainees during the course, engaging with external supervisors to ensure robust support systems to enhance the trainee learning experience and promote resilience throughout the duration of training.  I continue to work clinically, working part time in clinical practice in Norwich with adults.  

I am an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, registered with the British Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapists, recognising expertise in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

Key Responsibilities

Departmental Roles

  • Programme Wellbeing Lead; 2019 - 
  • Programme Accrediation Lead; 2018 - 2021
  • Programme OSCE Lead; 2018 -
  • Head of Admissions and Selection for the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology with lead responsibilities in overseeing all selection, recruitment and admissions procedures for entry to the ClinPsyD; 2011 - 2018.
  • Chair of the ClinPsyD Selection Committee; 2011 - 2018
  • Vice Chair and Secretary to the Programme Executive Team, 2013 - 2017
  • ClinPsyD Joint Training Committee - current
  • ClinPsyD exam board; 2011 - 2018
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Diploma exam board; 2013 - 2017

 Enterprise and Engagement Activities

  • Co-Director of Training, UK Association of Clinical Psychologists
  • Member GTiCP Trainee Wellbeing and Planetary Subcommittees (2022 - )
  • Member British Psychological Society Professsional Standards Uit (2019 - )
  • Secretary, Executive Committee, National Group of Trainers (GTiCP) in Clinical Psychology (2020 - 2021)
  • Treasurer, Executive Committee, National Group of Trainers (GTiCP) in Clinical Psychology (2018 - 2021)
  • Treasurer, Executive Committee, National Group of Trainers (GTiCP) in Clinical Psychology (2018 - 2021)
  • Chair of National Group of Trainers (GTiCP) in Clinical Psychology Selection Tutors’ Subgroup (2015 - 2018)
  • Consultant to Norwich Integration Partnership Refugee Support Services
  • Admissions Subgroup Chair on Management Board of GTiCP (2015 - 2018)
  • Board member of National Clearing House Committee in Clinical Psychology (2015 - 2018)
  • UEA Representative to the Division of Clinical Psychology East of England Branch Committee (2013 – 2016)
  • Member of the FMH Admissions Executive (2014 – 2015) and of the Medical School Admissions Committee (2015 -2018)
  • Engagement with external stakeholders in all processes relating to admissions to the programme (2011- 2018)
  • Engagement with external stakeholders in provision of practice placements for the ClinPsyD (2004 – date)
  • Widening participation initiatives involving schools’ liaison and outreach activities (2013 – 2018)
  • Consultant to the Young Mind’s Charity (2015 -date)

Academic Background

Educational and Professional Qualifications:

  • Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, University of East Anglia
  • PhD, University of Sheffield
  • BSc, Special Honours, University of Sheffield
  • Chartered Clinical Psychologist and Chartered Health Psychologist (HCPC)
  • Accredited Cognitive and Behavioural Therapist (British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies)

Key Research Interests

Currently my main research interests are on trainee wellbeing and related issues.  I am interested in the impact of shared disclosure of mental health concerns whilst on training, both by trainees and course staff, and the facilitative experience of this on training. More broadly I am interested in self disclosure by professionals working in therapeutic settings or in training for these professions.  I am also involved in research exploring the experiences of forced migrants and professionals working with them.  I have retained an interest in Clinical Health psychology, particularly gastrointestinal conditions and diabetes.   I have broader interests informed by her dual experience in Clinical and Health Psychology, researching the interface between Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology, particularly in using therapeutic tools from each to inform practice in the other. 

Research Words: Trainee wellbeing; Self disclosure; Refugee and migrant psychological health and wellbeing; Clinical Health PsychologyBehaviour change interventions

Teaching Interests

The majority of the teaching I do is on the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology, though I also contribute to workshops for placement providers and supervisors to the programme delivered regionally, to the University of Essex Clinical Psychology training programme and have been a consultant to and provider of workshops to the Young Mind’s charity as part of their Mental Health First Aiders training. 

I am particularly interested in how trainees can use knowledge of the “self” in their clinical work and in the interface between the personal and professional in working with clients, which is related to my role as Lead for the provision of Personal and Professional Development (PPD) systems for the Programme.  I am also passionate about creating awareness of impliciat biases and priviledges, and the impact and influence of these on the therapeutic processes, and on issues of power and boundaries in clinical work.

She is an advisor to Trainee Clinical Psychologists and supervisors trainee doctoral research theses, and PhD and Masters students in the Medical School and Social Work.

Postgraduate Research Student Supervision

  • Self disclosure by mental health professionals
  • Trainee Clinical Psychologist wellbeing
  • Refugee and forced migrant experiences
  • Psychological aspects of physical health conditions

Teaching Activities

  • Module Organiser for Evidence-Based Practice and Values: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; Personal and Professional Skills and Values
  • Teaching on PPD and Core Clinical Psychology modules 

  • Personal Professional Skills and Values Case Discussion/Peer Supervision Group lead 

  • Year Tutor 

  • Academic advisor and research supervisor

  • Organisation and facilitation of supervisor training workshops for regional placement providers

I also have an interest in widening participation in Clinical Psychology at the level of GCSE and A level students, informed by my previous work as Admissions Lead for the Programme.  I am a member of the BPS Directory of Career’s Service Volunteers, an outreach programme to schools, and was a member of the Health Education East steering committee for Health Ambassadors, which works with FE institutes to promote careers in the NHS.  I have contributed to UEA Summer Schools, and Outreach events, given careers presentations to local schools, was involved with the Young Minds charity to promote careers in mental health and have delivered careers presentations to undergraduates in the Department of Psychology at UEA.

Career

  • Clinical Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, 2016 -
  • Clinical Tutor and Clinical Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, 2004 - 2016
  • Programme Accrediation Lead; 2018 -
  • OSCE Lead; 2018 -
  • Personal and Professional Lead for the Clinical Psychology Doctorate, 2004 -Admissions for the Clinical Psychology Doctorate, 2011 - 2018
  • Senior Clinical Psychologist, St Giles Therapy Practice Norwich, 2005 - date
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, 2001 - 2004
  • Clinical Psychologist, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust 1999 - 2005
  • Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust / University of East Anglia, 1995 - 1998
  • PhD Student, University of Sheffield, 1992 - 1995

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions