Background

The experiences that motivate me are, first and foremost, the impact of having bi-polar disorder and what I have learned in my own process of rebuilding a meaningful life.  I found it very helpful to go on a self-management programme (run by the MDF).  This had a very practical approach and was recovery focused, with emphasis on what participants could do to keep themselves well and on how to cope with triggers, warning signs and symptoms.  I subsequently became a facilitator of these programmes.  As a result I listened to many people’s experiences of bi-polar and worked with them to create personal plans and advanced agreements/crisis plans to support their recovery and wellbeing.

My research activity has developed since my diagnosis.  My initial motivation for this was to understand more about my own experience and the mental health system and services that I had encountered.  I have been involved in a number of projects and my interests have broadened (see below).  I have also actively tried to ensure that research leads to change.  Very recently I have become co-chair of a steering group of a new Service User and Carer Involvement in Research scheme for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University of the West of England.

Before I was diagnosed with bi-polar, I had an interest in mental health issues.  I was training as a Gestalt psychotherapist and did sessional work for the National Schizophrenia Fellowship (now Rethink).  Recently I have worked on a research study at Bristol University as a facilitator of cognitive behavioural therapy based training delivered in groups for women with mild to moderate depression and anxiety.  In the past, I worked as a trainer in communication skills, and with volunteers who offered emotional support to women with breast cancer.

I am interested in supporting the involvement of service users and carers in the shaping of their own care and in the provision of services and care more generally.  For me, it is important that services are responsive to what people really value and need and that we bring user experiences more to the forefront of service planning and delivery.

Education and Qualifications

University of Bristol, School for Policy Studies 1995-1998

Master of Science with Commendation.  Course title: Management Development and Social Responsibility.

Gestalt South West 1995-2000

466 accredited training hours including three years Advanced Training.

Garnett College, Accredited Training Centre 1989

Certificate in Counselling Skills in the Development of Learning

University of Southampton 1975-1978

Bachelor of Science in the Social Sciences.  Upper Second ~ Politics

Work Experience

Department of Community Based Medicine                                                                  2008-2009

Academic Unit of Primary Care, University of Bristol

Group Facilitator ‘Back on Track’ study (part-time)

Bristol Mind                                                                                                                 2005-2008

Research Coordinator/Chief Investigator.  Study title “Effective involvement in mental health services: assertive outreach and the voluntary sector”.  This study explored how services could promote effective access and engagement for people with serious mental health problems who get labelled as ‘hard to engage’.  It was mainly a qualitative study with a primary focus on the perceptions and needs of service users.  It included the views of people from black and minority ethnic groups, specifically including Gypsies and Travellers.  This was a service user led study done in collaboration with the local mental health trust and academic partners.  It was funded by the Big Lottery Fund.  It was followed by local implementation work.

Academic Unit of Psychiatry, University of Bristol                                                        2004-2005

Research Assistant ‘Outcomes of Involuntary Hospital Admission Study’. The study aimed to provide evidence about involuntary hospital admission, its outcomes and the predictors of outcome.  This was a multi-site study run on the Mental Health Research Network which employed a number of service user researchers.

Strategies for Living, Mental Health Foundation                                                           2002-2004

Co-running a user led research project ‘Life’s Labours Lost’. The research aimed to find out about the experiences of people who lost work following mental health problems.  Ten service user researchers who shared this experience were involved as volunteers.  It was funded and supported by the Mental Health Foundation’s ‘Strategies for Living’ project.  The study was followed by local implementation work.

Bristol Mind                                                                                                                 2001-2004

User Focused Monitoring (UFM) Volunteer Project Worker. The study was on Acute Adult Inpatient services in Bristol.  Involvement included both research activity and working subsequently to implement changes in the local mental health trust.

Other work experience includes working as a Clinical Governance Reviewer for the then Commission for Health Improvement; working as a consultant for the National Society for Epilepsy; and working for seven years at Breast Cancer Care with volunteers who had experienced breast cancer who offered emotional support to other women with the diagnosis.  At Breast Cancer Care I worked with colleagues to establish clear guidelines for the Volunteer Service, and to implement a selection and training programme.  Prior to this I worked as a trainer in communication skills and as the administrator of a research centre at the London Business School.

Publications

Davies, R., Shocolinsky-Dwyer, R., Mowat, J., Evans, J., Heslop, P., Onyett, S., Soteriou, T., (2009) Effective involvement in mental health services: the role of assertive outreach and the voluntary sector. Report by Bristol Mind: Bristol.  Available from Bristol Mind, 35 Old Market Street, Bristol BS2 0EZ. Telephone 0117 980 0370.  Website: www.bristolmind.org.uk

Davies, R. (2009) Influencing change: Outcomes from User-Focused Monitoring (UFM) inpatient research in Bristol in 2002 Chapter 10 in Sweeney, A., Beresford, P., Faulkner, A., Nettle, M., Rose, D. (2009) This is Survivor Research Herefordshire:UK PCCS Books Ltd pp 98-106

Boldison, S., Davies, R. Hawkes, H., Pacé, C., Sayers, R. (2007) Employment, Mental Health and PSI: Occupation is Everyone’s Job Chapter 11 in Velleman, R., Davis, E., Smith, G., Drage, M. eds., (2007) Changing Outcomes in Psychosis.  Collaborative Cases from Practitioners, Users and Carers Oxford:UK BPS Blackwell pp 194-210

Bodman, R., Davies, R., Frankel, N., Minton, L., Mitchell, L., Pacé, C., Sayers, R., Tibbs, N., Tovey, Z., & Unger, E. (2003) Life’s Labours Lost.  A study of the experiences of people who have lost their occupation following mental health problems. Supported and funded by the ‘Strategies for Living’ project at the Mental Health Foundation.  Available from www.bristolmind.org.uk

Bristol Mind User Focused Monitoring Project (2001) A User-Focussed Study of Three Inpatient Units in Bristol, Bristol Mind: Bristol Available from www.bristolmind.org.uk

Davies, R. (1997) Can Love Be Organised? Masters Dissertation.  Management Development and Social Responsibility Programme, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol.