Neil James

PhD, BSc(Hons), PGCE, RNLD, RNT, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

About

I have developed my experience and knowledge of people with a learning disability and autism by working in assorted care settings that have afforded me the opportunity to understand the differing complex issues that surround caring for people with multifaceted needs. This has also included working with people who have come into contact with the criminal justice system and those who have been detained under mental health legislation.

These environments have been varied in character and have included an adolescent mental health unit, specialing contracts supporting people with challenging needs, a prison and privately run homes/hospitals for people with a learning disability and other complex needs (for example, mental health and/or autism) who require specialist services.

I have worked within a residential home and as a community nurse with both roles requiring me to work collaboratively and effectively with people with learning disabilities, family carers and members of the multi-agency team so that the best possible service delivery is identified and provided.  The role of community nurse involved me undertaking all the responsibilities associated with managing a diverse and complex caseload and meeting peoples needs, supervising junior staff, staff training, deputising for the Team Leader and working jointly in a multi-disciplinary team. This role also involved undertaking risk assessments, writing care plans,  developing interventions and working with people with learning disabilities and their carers (formal or informal) in order to understand and meet individual needs.

I was Senior Lecturer and Branch Tutor for the learning Disability nursing programme at the Unit for Development in Intellectual Disability, University of South Wales and facilitated teacnnnnhing on pre and post-registration nursing and other courses at Diploma, Degree and Masters levels.

I have been the course director for the learning disability nursing programme and also the Director for Practice Education since being here at the School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia.

I am currently the Faculty of Medicine and Health's Associate Dean for Learning, Teaching and Quality and have also undertaken a secondment as the Associate Pro Vice Chancellor (APVC) Education and Curriculum from January 2021-June 2022.

As the APVC I took an institutional wide lead in supporting the work of the Pro Vice Chancellors to give academic support and impetus to strategy and policy, ensuring that actions arising out of the Strategic Plans are implemented effectively.  Working closely with academic and professional services staff across the University in facilitating the growth of new and existing activities and capabilities in the education and curriculum portfolio area, driving excellence, supporting, and influencing the experience of end users, companies, and other partners.

As Associate Dean for Learning, Teaching and Quality I have strategic leadership and responsibility for the quality of the Faculty’s learning and teaching and ensuring that there is compliance with UEA and Regulatory Body Policies.

Main teaching areas:

Main areas of interest and teaching are:

Learning disability nursing; Mental health needs of people with a learning disability and/or autism; Forensic issues and People with a Learning Disability and/or autism; Mental Health law; Challenging behaviour; Staff Support; Phenomenology; Interpretative phenomenological analysis; Psychological, sociological and philosophical concepts to understand the lived experience; Qualitative Research; Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome; Family Carers; Parents who have a learning disability.

Shortlisted for Lecturer of the Year Student Nursing Times Awards 2014

Nominated for Lecturer of the Year RCN Wales Awards 2016

Publications

Walsh, A. and James, N. (2021) ‘Women’s perceptions of body image post-mastectomy: a literature review’ doi: 10.7748/cnp.2021.e1801

James, N., Thomas, S., Richardson, S., Henry, K. and Higgins, S. (2021) ‘New & Emerging Roles – Workforce Recommendations – Addressing unmet needs within Learning Disability and Autism Services: Phase 2 Report’ To be published on HEE website: Exploring new roles in Learning Disabilities and Autism services | Health Education England (hee.nhs.uk).

 James, N., Thomas, S., Richardson, R., Henry, K. and Higgins, S. (2020) 'Exploring the future needs of Learning Disability and Autism Services – to meet the objectives of the NHS Long Term Plan: Phase 1 Report' A Health Education England commissioned project accessible at: Exploring new roles in Learning Disabilities and Autism services | Health Education England (hee.nhs.uk).

Chester, V., James, N., Roger, I. and Grace, J. (2020) 'Mental health problems in people with intellectual or developmental disabilities: The involvement of family and carers', in Bhaumik, S. and Alexander, R. T. (Eds) Oxford textbook of the psychiatry of intellectual disability - A textobook for psychiatric trainees and professionals.

Guest Editor of the Journal of Intellectual Disabilites Special Issue on International Perspectives of the Experiences of Family Carers (September 2019), 23(3): 287-468.

Martin-Saez, M. and James, N. (2019) ‘The Experience of Occupational Identity Disruption Post-Stroke. A Systematic Review and Meta-ethnography’ Disability and Rehabilitation. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2019.1645889. [Epub ahead of print]

James, N. (2016) ‘Undertaking research with family carers’, in Glasper, A. and Rees, C. (Eds) Nursing and Healthcare Research at a Glance, Chapter 74, Wiley Blackwell, Chichester.

James, N. (2016)‘Family carer’s experience of Assessment and treatment Units’ Llais 119, September 2016.

James, N. (2016) ‘Supporting carers’ during assessment and treatment unit admissions’ Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities 10(2): 116-127.

James, N. (2015) ‘Family carers’ experience of the need for admission of their relative with an intellectual disability to an Assessment and Treatment Unit (ATU)’ Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 20(1): 34-54.

Northway, R. Parker, M., James, N., Davies, L., Johnson, K., Wilson, S. (2015) 'Research teaching in learning disability nursing: exploring the views of student and registered learning disability nurses' Nurse Education Today35(12): 1155-60.

Moyle, J. and James, N. (2015) ‘Role of reasonable adjustments in improving care: a case study’ Learning Disability Practice 18(2): 32-37.

James, N. (2014) 'Importance of good relationships between carers and professionals' Learning Disability Practice 17(8): 25-37.

New, S. and James, N. (2014) ‘Assessing the needs of offenders’ Learning Disability Practice 17(2): 14-18.

James, N. (2013) ‘Supporting families when relatives have to go into a hospital unit’ Community Living 27(2): 24-25

James, N. (2013) 'Enhancing relationships between family carers and professionals' Learning Disability Practice 16(6): 34-37

James, N. (2013) 'How families perceive the care-giving experience' Learning Disability Practice 16(3): 32-37

James, N. (2013) 'The formal support experiences of family carers of people with an intellectual disability who also display challenging behaviour and/or mental health issues – What do carers say?' Journal of Intellectual Disabilities 17(1): 5-22

James, N. (2011) ‘Working with families’, in Atherton, H. and Crickmore, D. (Eds) Learning Disability: Towards Inclusion (6th Ed.), Chapter 22, Elsevier Ltd, London.

James, N. (2010) ‘Supporting parents with a learning disability' Learning Disability Practice 13(2): 12-17.

James, N. (2009) ‘Allergies’, in Gates, B. and Barr, O. (Eds) Oxford Handbook of Learning and Intellectual Disability Nursing, Chapter 17, Section 17.12 Emergencies Section, Open University Press, London.

James, N. (2009) ‘Adverse reactions to medications’, in Gates, B. and Barr, O. (Eds) Oxford Handbook of Learning and Intellectual Disability Nursing, Chapter 17, Section 17.13 Emergencies Section, Open University Press, London.

James, N. (2009) ‘Medication error’, in Gates, B. and Barr, O. (Eds) Oxford Handbook of Learning and Intellectual Disability Nursing, Chapter 17, Section 17.14 Emergencies Section, Open University Press, London.

James, N. (2009) ‘Needle stick/sharps injuries’, in Gates, B. and Barr, O. (Eds) Oxford Handbook of Learning and Intellectual Disability Nursing, Chapter 17, Section 17.15 Emergencies Section, Open University Press, London.

James, N. (2007) ‘Adult with a Moderate Learning (Intellectual) Disability Experiencing Status Epilepticus’, Human Patient Simulator UK Program for Nursing Curriculum Integration (PNCI), METI: Florida.

James, N. (2007) ‘Adult with Profound and Multiple Learning (Intellectual) Disability and Pneumonia’, Human Patient Simulator UK Program for Nursing Curriculum Integration (PNCI), METI: Florida.

Jenkins, R., Wheeler, P. and James, N. (2006) ‘Care planning in residential settings’, in B. Gates (Ed), Care planning and delivery in intellectual disability nursing, pp. 239-254, Blackwell Publishing Ltd: Oxford.

Wheeler, P. and James, N. (2006) ‘Health and Hygiene’, in Intimate and Personal Care with People with Learning Disabilities, pp. 62-79, Jessica Kingsley Publishers: London.

James, N. and Wheeler, P. (2006) ‘Adults with mild learning disabilities: Promoting independence’, in Carnaby, S. and Cambridge, P. (Eds) Intimate and personal care with people with learning disabilities, pp. 120-132, Jessica Kingsley Publishers: London.

Jenkins, R. Wheeler, P. and James, N. (2006). “The Role of the Registered Nurse, Intellectual Disabiliy in Residential Settings” in Gates, B. (Ed). Care Planning and Care Delivery in Residential Settings, London, Routledge.

Conference presentations

James, N. (2016) ‘Family carers' experience of their relative's need for admission to an Assessment and Treatment Unit’, British Psychological Society Annual Conference 2016, April 26^th

James, N. (2015)  ‘Family carers' experience of their relative's need for admission to an Assessment and Treatment Unit’, Faculty of Intellectual Disability Annual Conference, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, September 30th - October 1st

James, N. (2014) ‘Family carers' experience of their relative's need for admission to an Assessment and Treatment Unit’, 49th Annual Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability Conference, Fremantle, Australia, November 5th-7th

James, N. (2014) Poster presentation ‘Family carers’ experience of the need for admission of their relative with a learning disability to an Assessment and Treatment Unit’, Aneurin Bevan University Local Health Board Research and Development Conference, Newport, South Wales, June 24^th

James, N. (2014) ‘An accessible education tool for ladies with a learning disability about having a smear test’, Chief Nursing Officer for Wales Annual Conference, Cardiff, South Wales, May 22^nd 

James, N. (2013) Poster presentation ‘Family carers’ experience of the need for admission of their relative with a learning disability to an Assessment and Treatment Unit’, SEATTLE Club Conference, Cardiff, South Wales, December 9^th-10^th 

James, N. (2007) ‘Programme for Nursing Curriculum Integration (PNCI): A United Kingdom Approach - Adult with a Moderate Learning (Intellectual) Disability Experiencing Status Epilepticus’, Medical Education Technologies, Inc. Human Patient Simulator 2007 Conference (HPSN 07), Tampa, Florida, February 20^th-23^rd 

James, N. (2007) ‘Using simulation to learn how to meet the needs of people with more complex issues’, UK Simulation in Nursing Education Conference, Bristol, England, June 15^th 

James, N. (2008) ‘Community Learning Disability Nursing and Multi-disciplinary teams’, Montreal, Canada, June 3^rd 

James, N. (2010) ‘You can help to make things better’, Royal College of Nursing Congress 2010, Bournemouth, England, April 27^th 

Learning disability issues. Autistic spectrum disorder. Forensic issues and people with a learning disability and/or autism. Family Carers. Parents with a learning disability. Qualitative research methods. Phenomenology. Interpretative phenomenological analysis.