RCOMH Steering Group Member- Alison Bullock

OT Clinical Lead MHSOP South TEWV

Alison is the RCOMH steering group link for Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust

Alison “found” occupational therapy following completion of her first degree in Glass and Ceramics, and whilst working with individuals with learning disabilities and severe challenging behaviour in the private sector. Since qualifying as an occupational therapist she has worked clinically in adult and children’s learning disabilities, adult mental health and more recently mental health services for older people, particularly enjoying working with individual users, groups, and local communities through the arts when possible.

Alison finished an MSc in Evidence Based Practice in 2005, completing a systematic review of activity based group work in adult community mental health as the research component, and has refreshed this on a regular basis. Last year she contributed to “Occupational Therapy in Mental Health” 4^th Edition, Creek and Lougher (2008), in relation to assessment, planning, implementation and outcome measures, and she is the treasurer of the British Association of Occupational Therapists/College of Occupational Therapists Northern and Yorkshire Regional Committee. She also co-facilitates the user/carer leadership programme within her home trust, and has participated in working parties at the College of Occupational Therapists in relation to outcome measures, the new Mental Health Act, and extended roles.