Curriculum Vitae – October 2013
Name:
Mr. Stephen Wilkinson
Chartered Psychologist (Clinical)
Address: 21 Chock Lane
Westbury on Trym
DoB 8/5/50
Tel: (0044) (0)117 9508364
Mobile: (0044) (0)779 3825219
e-mail: steve.wilk@hotmail.co.uk
Bristol, BS9 3EX
United Kingdom
Qualifications
BSc (Tech) Hons. Dip. Clin.Psych., AFBPS
Health Professions Council Registration Number: PYL22707 (Practitioner
Psychologist-Clinical)
Background
Early Career (1969-1984)
I graduated in 1973 from the University of Wales with a BSc in Applied
Psychology, followed by two years as a Research Psychologist studying
rehabilitation of long-stay psychiatric patients. I have been a member of the
British Psychological Society (BPS) since this time and am an Associate Fellow of
the BPS. I then trained as a Clinical Psychologist in the Wessex Regional training
scheme, qualified with a BPS Diploma in Clinical Psychology in 1977 and began
working in the National Health Service (NHS) in the mental health field.
From 1979 to 1984 I worked as a Senior Clinical Psychologist in Winchester, and
was also a member of the British Association of Behaviour Therapy (now British
Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), helping to
organise seminars as well as attending workshops and conferences. During this
time I acquired a wide experience of working with individuals and groups with a
range of problems; developing skills in assessment, counselling, and cognitive
behaviour therapy (CBT) for anxiety, depression, obsessive disorders and other
complex mental health issues. Teaching and training other health and social
services staff in psychological approaches were an integral part of the work;
from this time also supervision was offered to Clinical Psychology trainees. A
long-standing interest in the development and empowerment of self-help groups
was established from seeing the benefits of a group for people with anxiety
disorders.
Middle Career (1984-1999)
Whilst working with people with mental health problems clients were being
referred who had suffered brain disorder, from road accidents, stroke and other
neurological condition. There were few services available for them and, having
studied the area, I was fortunate to work from 1984 to 1987 as a Principal
Clinical Psychologist in Neuropsychological Rehabilitation in Southampton. I
worked with Professor Lindsay McLellan, who held the Europe Chair of
Rehabilitation, and Professor Barbara Wilson, leading Clinical Psychologist for the
rehabilitation of Memory Disorders, gaining experience in the complexities of
Neuropsychological assessment and the formulation of treatment plans for
cognitive and behavioural disorders in a multi-disciplinary setting. Research was
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an integral part of the work, and involvement in studies of multiple sclerosis and
head injury resulted in academic publications, the latter making a case for the
development of day centres for people with head injury. Furthermore, I
undertook work at a residential unit for disabled people, mostly concerned with
staff training, and gave occasional lectures at Southampton University.
Membership of the BABCP continued, along with membership of the Society for
Research in Rehabilitation.
An opportunity arose to become a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in Bristol in
1987, and until 1993 I was Coordinator of Disability Services for the United
Bristol Healthcare Trust, managing a team of health visitors and establishing a
system for the assessment of complex care needs. I managed a budget for the
provision of specialist equipment and complex care packages, and continued
with my clinical work for both brain-injured clients and their relatives. In addition
to this was work with disabled people to make the case for a Disabled Living
Centre (DLC) in Bristol, which involved acquiring funding for a needs assessment
and chairing a steering group. The DLC is in operation today and is run by
disabled people themselves. We also established two Crossroads Care Attendant
schemes for the provision of respite care for relatives and carers. During this
time I was involved in the planning of services for disabled people, at a senior
level, and contributed to Health and Social Services policy initiatives. Disability
Awareness training courses were designed and funded and Clinical Psychology
trainees undertook placements within our service.
From 1993 to 1997 I returned to full-time clinical work as a Consultant at the
Royal Leamington Spa Rehabilitation Hospital (for people with brain injury),
combining assessment, therapy, teaching and supervision work. I was an
Honorary Tutor at Birmingham University, supervised placements and Clinical
Psychology Doctoral dissertations, and gave lectures and seminars. I was also
asked to contribute a chapter on psychological aspects of physical disability to a
textbook on Health Psychology: Processes and Applications. Edited by Broome A
and Llewelyn S. Chapman & Hall (1995). I helped to establish a Special Interest
Group within the BPS for Physical Disability and was a member of the
Neuropsychology Special Interest Group (later to become a Division of the BPS).
Later Career (1999-current)
Following a break from working in the NHS in 1998, my interests headed in a
different direction, with fewer direct clinical demands, leading to a long
relationship with the Mental Health Research and Development Unit (MHRDU) at
the University of Bath, where I have until recently worked on a self-employed
basis, under the lead of Professor Richard Velleman and Dr. Willm Mistral.
Projects broadly associated with mental health, alcohol and substance misuse
have been undertaken, resulting in the publications (which follow) which have
led to organisational change and improved services, by raising awareness. As
well as being an experienced researcher in quantitative and qualitative research
methods, I have also designed and acquired funding for projects and contributed
to others. A return to part-time clinical work also took place, from 2004-2007,
working for the Bristol Specialist Drug and Alcohol Service, gaining new
therapeutic skills in Motivational Interviewing, as well as maintaining my CBT
skills in the provision of services for Relapse Prevention for people with
substance misuse problems. During this time I undertook teaching work at the
Universities of Bristol, UWE (University of the West of England) as well as the
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University of Bath. I recently co-authored a chapter on residential rehabilitation
in a book on Emerging Perspectives in Drug and Alcohol Treatment (Wiley 2013).
Aims
I am partly retired but would very much like to carry on working in a voluntary
capacity. For some time I have been interested to offer my skills in the
developing world, and have sought involvement with projects in Africa. In 2009 I
was fortunate to spend some time visiting alcohol and drug treatment centres in
India, where I undertook some teaching work. My three sons are now grown and
I have limited family commitments, so am able to work abroad in a longer-term
capacity. I have a range of therapy, teaching and research skills which could be
employed in a variety of ways, and to transfer some of those skills to others. I
would be delighted to have the opportunity to work with students, providing
clinical supervision and advice on the development of research projects; also to
collaborate with colleagues in producing academic work of merit. I am also
enthusiastic about helping to promote and develop service user participation and
self-help group networks.
Referees
1. Richard Velleman, Emeritus Professor of Mental Health Research,
University of Bath: r.d.b.velleman@bath.ac.uk
2. Dr. Willm Mistral, Senior Research Fellow, University of Bath:
W.Mistral@bath.ac.uk
Relevant Projects and Publications
1
Wilkinson S, Mistral W and Griffin C. University Students’ Wellbeing,
Alcohol and Drug Use 2012. Project for the University of Bath.
2
Wilkinson S and Mistral W (2010) Feasibility study mapping need
against existing and planned provision of integrated detoxification and
rehabilitation facilities within the three Registered Tier 4 providers in
Wales. Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) Report.
3
Wilkinson S and Mistral W (2008) Inpatient Detoxification and
Residential Rehabilitation for Substance Misuse: a review of current
arrangements for the commissioning, contracting, assessment and
management of Tier 4 treatment services in Wales. WAG Report and
development of consequent policy guidance.
4
Stevens R and Wilkinson S (2008) Hope into Action; Therapeutic
Benefits from Service User Group Involvement. Wiltshire Drug Action
Team. Project conceived and developed by S. Wilkinson.
5
3
Wilkinson S, Mistral W and Golding J (2008). What is most and least
useful in Residential Rehabilitation? Journal of Substance Use, 13 (6),
pp.404-414.
6
Mistral W, Wilkinson S et al (2008) Efficacy of naltrexone treatment
with combined crack and opiate users: A descriptive study of a new
treatment service in Bristol, UK. Drugs: Education, Prevention, and
Policy Vol. 15, No. 1, Pages 107-119: 107-119.
7
Wilkinson S, Hall J and Mistral W (2007) Support Needs of Alcohol
Misusing Parents. MHRDU. Project designed and funding acquired by
S.Wilkinson.
8
Wilkinson S and Mistral W (2006) Rehabilitation and Detoxification
for Substance Misuse; a qualitative survey of clients and professionals.
MHRDU
9
Wilkinson S, Mistral W and Hewitt A (2004) Alcohol and Mental
Health Problems amongst Offenders. MHRDU
10 Wilkinson S, Soteriou T, Gray S, Orme J, Myles J. (2004) Artefact or
reality? Increases in persons notified to the Regional Drug Misuse
Database in the South West of England, 1996-2001. J Public Health
(Oxf). 26, (1):3-5.
11 Wilkinson S and Mistral W (2004) GP Perceptions of Methadone
Maintenance Treatment. Project for Irish Health Service
12 Wilkinson S and Mistral W. (2003) Overview of South West Drug
Action Teams’ Assessments of Young Persons’ Needs.
DPAS South
West and University of Bath.
13 Plant M, Wilkinson S and Plant M (2002) Mental Health Needs in Four
Penal Establishments. UWE and AWP.
14 Wilkinson S, Myles J, Soteriou T, Orme J, Malinowski A, Weir
I,
Boulton B, and Treagust J. (2002) Impact of Drug Misuse on Health in
the South West, 1996-2001. South West Public Health Observatory
15 Wilkinson S, Taylor G, Templeton L, Mistral W, Salter E and Bennett
P. (2002) Admissions to hospital for deliberate self-harm in England
1995-2000: an analysis of Hospital Episode Statistics. J. Public Health
Med. Vol 24, No 3, 179-183.
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