Our Fellows
2022 Cohort

Verity Jones
University of Birmingham
Models of co-production in youth mental health
Supervisors: Dr Sarah Jane Fenton, Dr Nicola Wright, Dr Justin Waring
Verity is investigating whether co-production works in youth mental health, for whom it works and in what circumstances, by using a realist action research approach. She will be seeking consensus on a definition of the current principles of co-production in youth mental health services by a comparison study examining approaches to co-production in two youth mental health services in different contexts (e.g. UK/Australia). Methods are to be co-designed with researcher-participants (and may include: survey, interview, focus groups and photo-voice).
Bio
Since qualifying in 2017 Verity has worked as an occupational therapist in mental health services with adults and young people in Birmingham. She is currently a Wellcome trust PhD candidate investigating models of co-production in youth mental health.
Participation has been central to her work with young people both as an OT and before this as a youth participation development officer for The Woodcraft Folk (2012-2014). Her masters research comprised a qualitative study which aimed to explore occupational therapists’ perspectives on barriers and facilitators to occupation-focused practice in secure mental health settings and record consensus found using nominal group technique.
Edward Palmer
University of Birmingham
Inflammation and psychosis
Supervisors – Prof Rachel Upthegrove, Dr Jack Rogers, Prof Nicholas Barnes, Prof Zia Katshu, Prof Peter Liddle
The focus of Ed’s project is to use techniques such as big data, genetics and neuroimaging to investigate the role of inflammation in psychosis and the development of novel treatments for psychosis. His PhD is nestled within the MRC-funded Psychosis Immune Mechanism Stratified Medicine Study (PIMS), a clinical trial using an anti-inflammatory drug to try to treat the negative symptoms of psychosis.
Bio
Ed Graduated from St Georges University of London in 2017, having completed further degrees and studies in Bioethics and Medical Law at Kings College London and the University of Pennsylvania. Before starting his PhD programme, Ed was working as a NIHR-funded Academic Clinical Fellow in Psychiatry. His work combines both training and clinical practice in Psychiatry alongside academic research. As well as psychosis, Ed also has research interests in Psychedelic-Psychopharmacology and Bioethics. He sits on the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Clinical Ethics committee and is a Trustee of Tourette’s Action UK, where he is passionate about raising awareness about Tourette’s, improving access to services and empowering people with Tourette’s and other neurodiversities in the workplace.


Naomi Williams
University of Warwick
Research. Autism, Intellectual Disability (Learning Disability) and Clinical Practice in CAMHS: AIDE Study
Supervisors: Dr Hayley Crawford & Dr Helena Tuomainen
The aims of this research will be to explore clinician knowledge, training, and confidence, while examining the current psychological therapies or adaptations used in child and adolescent mental health services. Alongside, understanding the satisfaction and experiences of both parents and autistic children/young people or children/young people with an intellectual disability (also known as learning disability) when receiving support for mental health difficulties. To investigate the triage and psychological treatment pathway for autistic children/young people or children/young people who have an intellectual disability. The target population for this study will be autistic children/young people and children/young people with mild or moderate intellectual disability and a co-occurring mental health difficulty such as anxiety or low mood. A mixed methods approach will be used, implementing the following instruments, a quantitative mental health provider survey for child and adolescent mental health service clinicians, qualitative narrative interviews with autistic children/young people or children/young people with intellectual disability and their parents/carers and qualitative focus groups with key decision makers.
How competent are child and adolescent mental health service clinicians in assessing the needs of the autistic children and young people or children and young people with intellectual disabilities during triage and treatment of psychological therapies?
What are the needs and experiences of autistic children and young people or children and young people with an intellectual disability?
How are the needs of autistic children and young people or children and young people with intellectual disability considered during triage and treatment in child and adolescent mental health services?
Bio
Naomi Williams’ academic discipline is in Special Educational Needs she is the Founder & Clinical Director of Sensory Learning & Play C.I.C. an organisation primarily for Children & Young People with Additional Needs & Disabilities. Qualified since 2011 as a Social Worker, Teacher, Trainer, and Author. Currently employed by Nottinghamshire Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, Mental Health Support Team as a Clinical Specialist, where no two days are the same. Her additional expertise and experience include Leadership & Management, Bid Writing, Sleep Specialist, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and setting up local community projects, through various initiatives. She is passionate about supporting people to reach their full potential despite past experiences, backgrounds and needs. Her research interests are Early Intervention Mental Health Services, Children and Young People with Additional Needs and Inclusion.
Laurence Astill Wright
University of Nottingham
Digital Intervention to promote self management in people with bipolar disorder
Supervisors – Professor Richard Morriss, Stuart Reeves, Grazziela Figueredo
Laurence is an academic psychiatrist interested in testing new treatments through randomised controlled trials. His PhD is focused on developing and trialling a digital mood tracking app for people with bipolar disorder.
This mixed methods PhD includes piloting and refinement of the app followed by a feasibility trial alongside a nested process evaluation. This aims to create a personalised self-management tool that promotes autonomy, insight and relapse prevention in people with bipolar in collaboration with RADAR-CNS – a pan-European project that aims to better measure and predict clinical outcomes in people with mental health disorder.

Jamie Talbot
University of Birmingham
A trans-diagnostic examination of apathy and its dimensions
Supervisors – Matthew Apps, Matthew Broome
Jamie achieved his primary medical qualification from the University of Bristol in 2011 with an intercalated BSc qualification in pathology and microbiology. Having worked in multiple specialities and departments within the NHS, he has worked exclusively in the field of neurology since 2016. Currently an ST6 specialist trainee in neurology within the South West Peninsula deanery, he was awarded a research grant as part of the Wellcome-funded Midlands Mental Health and Neuroscience doctoral training program in 2022. His thesis, entitled ‘A trans-diagnostic examination of apathy and its dimensions’, under the supervision of Dr Matthew Apps and Professor Matthew Broome, seeks to explore the syndrome of apathy in patients with clinical disorders – in particular linking the symptomatology, phenomenology and underpinning neuroscience of motivation deficits, building novel psychological tasks that probe apathy dimensions, and using computational models to better characterise goal-directed behaviour.