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Trainee Health Psychologists
Name
Olivia Palmer
Education
- MSc Health Psychology
- MSc Human Nutrition
Work experience
Digital NHS First Health Coach - Second Nature
Placement organisation/department
Trainee Health Psychologist, Staff Health and Wellbeing Team at Devon Partnership Trust
Summary of placement
Leading on a Bystander at Work Training intervention designed to prevent harmful behaviours at work. Assessing the needs of staff across the trust to underpin the development of the staff health and wellbeing plan and ongoing, supporting the staff health and wellbeing team with delivery and impact measurement of the plan. Design and delivery of an Embrace Your Plate programme for staff across the ICB to support individuals with behaviour change around food and eating.
Work related interests
- Behaviour change in clinical settings (primarily weight management and endocrinology)
- Reducing weight stigma across the NHS alongside an understanding of the necessity to be aware of it to improve health outcomes
- Raising awareness of the benefit of including health psychology in clinical settings to improve patient outcomes
- Passionate about inclusive leadership alongside compassionate leadership, an advocate for making sure that everyone is ‘in the room’
Personal interests
I’m a Mum of two teenage daughters, I live in South Devon and love being outside whenever possible. I also love spending time with my family at home. Nothing beats a movie night. I have also recently rediscovered my love of music thanks to Dr Kat Branch at UWE.
Name
Dr Clare Austin
Education
- Psychology BSc Degree: University of Central Lancashire (2010)
- MSc Health Psychology: Liverpool John Moores University (2013)
- PhD in Sport and Exercise Sciences entitled, ‘Evaluating the Health and Wellbeing Benefits Associated with Outdoor Interventions: Informing the Development of Natural Health Services’: Liverpool John Moores University (2020)
Work experience
My previous experience has included a variety of research roles evaluating a range of health and wellbeing projects. I have also been very fortunate to work in partnership with academic institutions and community organisations to inform future practice and policy-making. I completed my PhD in partnership with The Mersey Forest and Liverpool John Moores University evaluating the health and wellbeing benefits of nature-based interventions to inform future Natural Health Services.
More recent roles have involved working in the charity sector as both a practitioner and a manager within the Lancashire Wellbeing Service. During this time, I delivered ‘Connect 5’ Mental Health Training for the Royal Society for Public Health to fellow colleagues and external health care professionals across Lancashire. This training improved health care professional’s confidence and autonomy in handling conversations surrounding mental health with the people they interact with on a daily basis.
Prior to my role as a Trainee Health Psychologist, I worked as a Multi-Specialist Advocate enabling vulnerable adults’ to have involvement in decisions around their health and social care.
Placement organisation/department
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital.
Summary of placement
At the beginning of my placement, I worked within Lancashire and South Cumbria resilience hub to support the development of a new high quality specialist health psychology service, delivering behaviour change and psychological interventions to staff and volunteers within care homes to facilitate behaviour change and encourage psychological resilience.
My placement at East Lancashire Hospitals Trust is within the Emergency Department to gain a greater understanding of frequent attenders and high intensity users to inform workforce transformation, more effective intervention pathways, increase ED staff capability and address unmet needs within this population.
I also work within Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital’s Long Covid Clinic where I will be utilising ACT-based support groups to help patients manage their Long Covid symptoms.
Work related interests
Current research interests include workforce redesign, behaviour change, the physical and mental wellbeing benefits of nature-based interventions and long-term conditions, specifically ME/CFS and Long Covid.
Personal interests
As someone who is extremely passionate about behaviour change and health promotion, I try to ensure I maintain my own health and wellbeing. I enjoy running as an excellent way to keep fit, enjoy nature and boost my mental wellbeing.
Name
Moa Sundstrom
Education
- MSc Health Psychology at King’s College London, 2021
- BSc (Hons) Psychology at Abertay University, 2020
Work experience
Prior to working as a Trainee Health Psychologist, I worked in primary care as a Social Prescriber where I supported people with a range of problems such as loneliness, financial distress, and behaviour change (mainly diet and exercise). Before this I worked as a Clinical Trials Assistant in the NHS on various COVID vaccine and antiviral trials. Throughout my undergraduate degree I also worked as a Support Worker and Healthcare Assistant.
Placement organisation/department
Primary Care Training Hub at NHS Kent and Medway ICB.
Summary of placement
The Training Hub offers training, education and support for the current and future primary care workforce. There is a big focus on retaining the current staff and upskilling where possible. The hub also offers training and interventions for staff in primary care, all of which aids them to deliver high-quality care and reduce health inequalities. As a Trainee Health Psychologist there are many opportunities for me to contribute to this for example by training staff in Health Psychology and behaviour change techniques.
Work related interests
My work-related interests include preventative healthcare, health inequalities and NHS staff wellbeing – particularly how to support staff living with one or several chronic illnesses.
Personal interests
Outside of work I enjoy spending time outdoors and going to gigs with friends as live music is a big part of my life. I also love reading.
Name
Helena Lee
Education
- Psychology Degree - Sheffield Hallam University
- Health Psychology Masters - Derby University
Work experience
Previous NHS roles:
- Specialist Support Worker and Occupational Therapy Assistant in the In-Reach and Home Treatment Team (older adult mental health crisis team working in the community)
- Senior Research Assistant - working on the Multicentre Study of self-harm in England
Placement organisation/department
Derbyshire Community Healthcare Services - working in the Psychological Insights Team based in Chesterfield.
Summary of placement
Possible areas I will be working in are around staff wellbeing and MECC (making every contact count) / quality conversations.
Work related interests
Mental health (specifically older adults, perinatal, workplace stress, self-harm and suicide), living with long-term conditions, pain management, grief and bereavement.
Personal interests
I love spending time with family and friends, reading, going to the gym and walking round the park. I also have dwarf hamsters called Jalapeño and Pepper.
Name
Kate Hurst
Education
Psychology BSc, Health Psychology MSc, ICF Diploma in Integrative Coaching
Work experience
- Previously worked as an Assistant Psychologist for Macmillan at University College London Hospital and Kings College Hospital - providing emotional and psychological support for cancer patients through group seminars and 1-1 telephone support
- Most recently worked as Assistant Psychologist for a Staff Support Hub in Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Trust - improving health and wellbeing of health and social care staff via webinars and publishing articles in the staff newsletter
- I currently offer limited private work as a Psychological Coach - providing 1-1 support to individuals who are struggling with self-doubt, lack of fulfilment or direction in their career/life, struggle with decision making and feel easily overwhelmed. I also design and deliver group workshops for employees at businesses to improve their mindset, health and wellbeing
Placement organisation/department
National Workforce Skills Development Unit, Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.
Summary of placement
I will be supporting the Workforce Redesign Unit on projects to achieve their workforce transformation and redesign goals. I will lead consultancy projects, design and deliver psychological interventions, conduct research and provide teaching and training for health professionals.
Work related interests
- Designing and delivering evidence-based psychological interventions that educate and empower individuals to take control and optimise their own health and wellbeing
- Psychologically supporting individuals with physical health conditions for example, my MSc dissertation was a qualitative research design exploring the psychological impact of experiencing a stroke as a young stroke survivor
- Neuropsychology - for example, of stress; how stress impacts mentally/physically, what we can do to reduce physiological impact of stress and cognitively reframe relationship with stress
- Motivational interviewing. Received training in NHS / MSc and applied to 1-1 consultations with patients to enhance healthy behaviour changes
Personal interests
- I love getting out in nature and going on long walks. Particularly enjoy a weekend away in the Lake District/ Brecon Beacons walking and finding cosy pubs
- I enjoy keeping active and try to do some form of movement everyday like a gym class, Pilates, yoga or walking
- I like hosting friends for dinners and trying out new cooking recipes
Name
Khudayja Datoo-Jaffer
Education
University of Portsmouth:
- BSc Psychology (with clinical placement year), completed in July 2020
- MSc Health Psychology (with integrated placement), completed in October 2022
Work experience
I consider myself very lucky to have worked in a variety of settings within and outside of the NHS: cancer care, traumatic brain injury, perioperative medicine, and multiple research roles. And, of course, a random stint as an NGO Press Officer!
Placement organisation/department
- Organisation: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Trust (ESNEFT)
- Division: Strategy, Research and Innovation
- Team: Population Health Management
Summary of placement
Using the COM-B model, I aim to support with the design, delivery and evaluation of workforce behaviour change projects within ESNEFT and our local Integrated Care System (ICS). Projects may include:
- Upskilling staff in preventative strategies (e.g. Making Every Contact Count)
- Exploring health inequalities in the local rural and coastal communities
- Supporting Trust staff in improving their health and wellbeing
- Improving the understanding of effective messaging amongst staff communications in a range of health areas
These are common priorities across organisations and ICSs in the East of England, and so additionally have the potential to be replicated at the regional level.
Work related interests
I am passionate about supporting staff wellbeing and delving into innovative approaches to caring better for our carers. I also have a growing interest in maternal health and inequalities, preconception care and pregnancy loss experiences.
Personal interests
When I am not working or volunteering, you are likely to find me on a badminton court or in a boxercise class. Having said that, nothing beats stealing moments during my day to curl up with a spellbinding book and fill my cup!
Name
Govundeep Singh Sidhu
Education
- MSc Health Psychology - University College London
- BSc Psychology - Leeds Beckett
Work experience
- Public Mental Health Lead
- Public Health Intelligence Analyst
- Business Systems Analyst
- Application Support Analyst
Placement organisation/department
- Organisations: Hull University Teaching Hospitals
- Departments: Organisational Development and Psychological Services
Summary of placement
- Applying health psychology approaches to support the organizational development team's bespoke workforce development projects in challenged specialities
- Using the COM-B Framework to design and deliver interventions to support the workforce in implementing changes to working ways
- Designing and delivering teaching sessions to educate staff on how they can implement behaviour change strategies to improve their wellbeing
- Conducting screenings and providing low-intensity psychological staff support sessions
- Supporting trust-wide staff health and well-being improvement schemes
Work related interests
- Psychologically supporting those with long term physical health conditions
- Developing and implementing interventions that aim to change, hindering beliefs, behaviour and establish new habits
- Utilising theory and evidence to encourage health behaviours such as exercise, a healthy diet and health checks/self-examination particularly
- Behaviour change policy development
Personal interests
I’m a big sports fan and enjoy trying new activities. I’m a keen gym goer and having completed a few running events, I’m planning on a destination marathon next.
I love music and go to as many concerts as possible. I like to read to learn but admittedly more likely to watch the movie adaption before picking up the book.