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Personal profile

Biography

I am the Deputy Programme Director for the UEA Clinical Psychology Doctorate programme (ClinPsyD), within the Department of Clincial Psychology and Psychological Therapies in Norwich Medical School. 

I am proud to be a Clinical Psychologist, and proud to have the opportunity to support the training and development of tomorrow's workforce through my role at UEA. I am passionate that we create a workforce ready to serve the NHS, with Clinical Psychologists who have the potential to become expert clinicians and effect change in the way we deliver services to people with mental health problems. 

I firmly believe that Clinical Psychology research, and the resultant clinical practice that derives from this research, has huge untapped potential to make our services more effective, and to help us understand complex clinical problems more meaningfully. 

I am keen to promote the development of clinicians who are 'workplace ready' and come to the NHS with the right values. We need clinicians who are not afraid to 'speak up' and be able to prioritse the needs of the often vulnerable individuals we work with. We need clinicians who are driven by the desire to understand complex problems better, and who prioritise evidence over ideology. We need clinicians who will work effectively with other professionals, and seek to understandand improve wider systems that influence healthcare delivery. 

With all this in mind, then, I am delighted to be supported by such a able and fantastic team of staff within our department. I am, too, constantly inspired and proud of the excellent work of our trainees. I hope that, together, we can do 'our bit' for developing and promoting the delivery of effective and meaningful healthcare and treatments for people with mental health problems in East Anglia. 

Career

Prior to joining UEA in September 2016, Peter was Head of Secure Services Inpatient Psychology, and Consultant Clinical Psychologist, at South Essex Partnership NHS Trust. This encompassed a service management role for psychology provision in all secure services within the trust, including a large low/medium secure unit in South Essex and two low secure units in Luton and Bedfordshire. As a Clinician working within this service, Peter gained significant experience in the assessment and treatment of offenders with mental health problems, including experience in using CBT for Psychosis on an individual basis within this population. 

 

At UEA, Peter's role encompasses a leadership role in regards to the practice placement elements of the Clinical Psychology programme, as well as management and strategic responsibilities for a number of other elements of programme delivery. 

 

Expert Witness Work

Peter has experience in providing reports and giving evidence in courts in both criminal and civil cases. In particular Peter has experience in completing assessments of risk for clients with complex histories of mental health difficulty and offending behaviours. Particular interests include assessments of clinical presentations of psychosis and personality disorder, as well as assessments of response style and factitious presentations (e.g. malingering). Peter has undergone specialist training in the application of a number of different clinical measures (including the International Personality Disorder Examination (IPDE), Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R)), as well as structured assessments of risk (e.g. the HCR-20 for general violence and RSVP for sexual violence). Assessments for courts include assessments on effective participation within trial proceedings, clinical assessment and analysis of offending to contribute to understanding of mens rea, assessment of risk, and detailed clinical assessment to understand clinical vulnerabilities relevant in the commissioning of the offence, at interview, or in trial. 

Peter has had experience in providing evidence in a range of court settings including Crown Courts, Magistrates Courts, Family Courts, the Coroner's court, and Mental Health Review Tribunals. Peter has also acted as an independent psychologist in assessment of clients for the Parole Board and given evidence in this context.

 

Safeguarding Adult Reviews

Since 2018, Peter has acted as the Independent Author for three Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs) for Essex, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire Safeguarding Adult Boards. These reviews considered clients where, prior to death, there had been a wide range of safeguarding concerns relating to issues including complex mental health problems, multi-agency working, homelessness and institutional practice. 

 

Availability 

Please contact Peter directly for current availability to act in the above matters. Any such work would be formally commissioned through UEA Consulting Partners. 

Please note that Peter keeps a full university diary and it is unlikely he will have availability in any case for any work that requires a rapid turnaround. 

Teaching Interests

Psychosis (particularly within a forensic context)

Personality disorder especially narcissism and formulation-driven approaches to assessment

Approaches to forensic assessment

Risk assessment of offending and violence

Safeguarding in complex mental health

Mental Capacity Act and Assessment

 

Academic Background

BA Experimental Psychology - Oxford University - 2002-2005 (First Class)

DClinPsy - Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, King's College London - 2006-2009

LLM - Northumbria University - Mental Health Law, Distinction - 2018

SFHEA - Senior Fellowship, Higher Education Academy

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 5 - Gender Equality
  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Education/Academic qualification

Master of Laws, Northumbria University

Sep 2015Sep 2018

Doctor of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry

Oct 2006Sep 2009

Bachelor of Arts, University of Oxford

Oct 2002Aug 2005

Keywords

  • Psychology
  • clinical psychology
  • forensic psychology
  • mental health law
  • psychosis
  • schizophrenia
  • mental capacity
  • safeguarding
  • personality disorder
  • risk assessment

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