Sandwell’s Educational and Child Psychology Service

INCLUSION SUPPORT Experience • Expertise • Excellence

Sandwell’s Educational and Child Psychology

Service


Our Team’s Vision Sandwell’s Educational and Child

Psychology team apply psychology to improve the learning, development and emotional health of all children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) aged -25 years.


Our Educational and Child Psychology Team

Melanie Sutherland Interim Principal Educational and Child Psychologist

Within her role, Melanie has a keen interest in using Video Interactive Guidance to support families and to build positive attachments between children, young people and the adults in their lives. She also has an interest in anti-racism and anti-oppressive working and has undertaken projects regarding young people’s experiences of racism and facilitates staff supervision in her schools. Outside of work, Melanie enjoys being active through running and gym classes as well as being a keen cook and baker. She also enjoys flower arranging and is often called upon for weddings, birthdays and within her church community.

Alison Bayliss Deputy Principal Educational and Child Psychologist

Alison completed her Educational and Child

Psychology training at Birmingham

University. Previously she has worked with

Dudley and Coventry Educational

Psychology Services. She also worked for

ten years as an Expert Court Witness in

Child, Family and criminal proceedings. Her

professional interests include providing

critical incident support within the

community and Multi-Systemic Therapy.

Alison also has an interest in working with

Looked After Children and promoting

trauma-informed practice. In her own time,

Alison enjoys reading and researching the

stories of migrant children.


Dr Sarah King Senior Specialist Educational and Child Psychologist (Early Years)

Before starting her Educational and Child Psychology training, Sarah worked as an Infant Teacher in London for 5 years. Following on from this, she completed her master’s in Educational and Child Psychology at the University College London and completed her doctoral qualification at the Institute of Education in London. Professionally, Sarah has developed her knowledge in supporting children in early years settings and those with complex learning difficulties. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys yoga and mindfulness strategies.

Julie Link Senior Specialist Educational and Child Psychologist (Social Care) Julie completed her Educational and Child Psychology training at Exeter University and prior to this worked as a primary school teacher. Within her role, Julie provides support to social care staff and delivers Video Interactive Guidance support. She also has an interest in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. In her own time, Julie enjoys being active through cycling, yoga and walking.


Dr Helen Tyson Senior Specialist Educational and Child Psychologist (Social, Emotional and Mental Health)

Helen completed her Educational and Child Psychology training at the University of Birmingham. Before starting the course, Helen worked as a Graduate Psychologist and volunteered within a Youth Offending Service. Professionally, Helen has an interest in developing and delivering work that enables schools to support the SEMH needs of all pupils. She enjoys collaborative and creative problem solving and supports ongoing research within the field of social, emotional, mental health. Outside of work, Helen enjoys watching crime

dramas and documentaries while also spending time travelling with her family. Dr Colette Soan Senior Specialist Educational and Child Psychologist (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) Colette completed her Educational and Child Psychology training at the Institute of Education in London. Prior to this, Colette worked as a teacher. Colette has focused her professionally interests in developing and encouraging whole school approaches which promote and support the mental health of school communities. She also enjoys using applied psychology methods such as Activity Theory to enable systemic change. In her own time, Colette is a keen gardener and enjoys growing chilies. She also enjoys crochet although mostly in straight lines!


Dr Laura Mennell Senior Specialist Educational and Child Psychologist (Post-16) Laura completed her Educational and Child

Psychology doctorate at the University of Bristol.

Before this, Laura worked as a Learning Support

Assistant within an Autism Base.

In her role, Laura has built her knowledge regarding

compassion-based approaches and enjoys

engaging in Dynamic Assessment work with children

and young people. Laura also leads the team’s post-

16 work and has focused on supporting our team and

schools to ensure children and young people with

SEND are prepared for adult life from the earliest

years.

In her own time, Laura enjoys being active, taking part in yoga, running and clubbercise. She enjoys reading, eating out and spending time with her friends and family.

Dr Aimée Webster Senior Specialist Educational and Child Psychologist (Early Years and Complex Needs)

Aimee completed her Educational and Child Psychology training at the University of Birmingham and completed a PHD in 2012 on psychosis in adolescence. Before this, she worked as a primary school teacher in East London where she taught the creative curriculum and Philosophy for Children.

Aimée has interests in early child development, complex needs and mental health. She has professional interests in psychosis, personality disorder and instructional psychology.

Outside of work, Aimée is a keen gardener who enjoys walking in the countryside with her son and two dogs. She is passionate about animal rights,

enjoys reading a wide-range of fiction and non-fiction literature, listening to classical music and watching documentaries; particularly history and crime documentaries.


Dr Tim Roome Educational and Child Psychologist Tim completed his Educational and Child Psychology doctoral training at the University of Birmingham, undertaken a doctoral research project looking at how best to support children and young people who experience exam stress. This interest has been taken into his current role alongside his development work into reducing exclusion rates for secondary school children and using supervision to promoting school staff’s well-being. Prior to his training, Tim worked as a primary school teacher and a tutor for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In his own time, Tim is a keen road cyclist and takes part in events and races throughout the year. Dr Kirsty Evans Educational and Child Psychologist

Kirsty completed her Educational and Child Psychology training at the University of Birmingham. Prior to this, Kirsty worked as an Assistant Psychologist at a residential school for children with learning difficulties and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Kirsty has a professional interest in youth offending, multi-systemic therapy and staff well-being. Outside of work, Kirsty enjoys spending time with her little boy and doing yoga.


Dr Zoe Capper Educational and Child Psychologist

Zoe completed her Educational and Child

Psychology doctoral training at the University of

Birmingham. Prior to this, she worked within our

Educational and Child Psychology Team as a

Research Psychologist. In this role, Zoe worked with

primary and secondary schools in Sandwell to

promote the well-being of pupils, staff and parents

and helped develop the ‘Healthy Mind, Happy Me’

curriculum used in Sandwell.

Zoe’s doctoral research focused on Sandwell’s

statutory assessment processing, looking to

strengthen the role of psychological assessment

within this. Her interest has continued into the role

and Zoe has begun to work alongside our SEND team to explore our Education, Health

and Care assessment process.

Outside of work, Zoe is a keen cook and baker, and enjoys reading. She also has an

interest in gardening and has set up a small herb garden at home to help with her

cooking.

Dr Grace Giles Educational and Child Psychologist Grace completed her Educational and Child Psychology doctoral training at the University of Nottingham. Prior to this, she worked as an Assistant Educational and Child Psychologist and supported children with complex communication needs within Wolverhampton. Grace is passionate about working consultatively with adults to promote evidence-based practice and bring about change for children and young people in the local community. She is also interested in person-centered planning, using strengths-based approaches within her work and the use of Motivational Interviewing. Outside of work, Grace enjoys travelling, listening to music and getting outdoors with her cocker spaniel, Rupert.


Brittany Fisher Trainee Educational and Child Psychologist

Brittany is currently completing her Educational and

Child Psychology doctoral training at the University

of Bristol. Before this, Brittany worked within our

Sandwell team as an Assistant Educational and

Child Psychologist and during her time on the course

continues to support families with children

experiencing profound and multiple learning

difficulties.

Brittany is keen to build her knowledge regarding

how best to support children who have experienced

loss and is looking to work with the critical incident

support team. She also has an interest in narrative

approaches and working dynamically assessing the strengths and needs of children

and young people with SEND.

In her own time, Brittany enjoys training and competing in artistic gymnastics and

travelling.

Jas Kandola Trainee Educational and Child Psychologist

Jas is currently completing her final year of her Educational and Child Psychology doctoral training at the University of Bristol. Prior to this, Jas worked as a Student Support Officer. Within her professional role, Jas has an interest in working with children and young people at risk of permanent exclusion. She also promotes growth mindset and meta-cognition strategies in her work and is keen to help children and young people develop their independence from the earliest ages of their life. Outside of work, Jas enjoys going to the gym and swimming. She also is a keen cook for family and friends and enjoys completing 1000+ piece jigsaws.


Sarah Corns Psychology Project Manager

Sarah previously worked as a Research Psychologist

within our team before starting her current role. She

has a long history of working within our Social,

Emotional, Mental Health projects, developing

Sandwell’s Pupil Well-Being Survey, ‘Healthy Mind,

Happy Me Curriculum’ and helping schools to

promote the well-being of staff, pupils and parents.

In her own time, Sarah enjoys travelling, gardening

and magic and like spending time with her friends.


Assistant Educational Psychology Team Bethany Williams Beth has an undergraduate psychology degree from the University of Leeds and has supported the team to conduct ongoing research with a number of fields including mental health and LGBTQ. In her own time, Beth engages in a range of outreach work, enjoys reading and is a dog lover.

Lydia Mctigue Lydia has an undergraduate psychology degree from Birmingham City University. Prior to this, Lydia worked as a Multi-Systemic Therapist. Lydia has a keen interest in working to promote the mental health of children and adults and in supporting children and young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Outside of work, Lydia enjoys music and musical theatre.

Harpreet Sehmbi Harpreet has an undergraduate degree in Human Psychology from Aston University. Following this Harpreet worked as a pastoral support lead and deputy designated safeguarding lead within a school. Hapreet’s professional interests include looking at how mental health and wellbeing can be promoted systemically across schools and how organizational change can be used to increase inclusivity and reduce microaggressions within education. In her own time, Harpreet has an interest in going on long walks and learning to cook new dishes.

Amy Howard Amy previously studied at Bangor University and the University of Birmingham and worked in a primary school as a teaching assistant. Professionally, Amy has an interest in Dyslexia, support the social, emotional and mental health of others and facilitating friendships for our children and young people. Outside of work, Amy enjoys going for walks, baking and has recently started to learn how to crochet.

Rhiannon Skilton Rhiannon completed her Bachelor’s degree at Aberystwyth University and her Master’s degree at Birmingham City University. In her previous role, Rhiannon worked as a learning support mentor in a mainstream primary school to support pupils with additional needs. Rhiannon is interested in emotional literacy development, working to promote the social, emotional and mental health of others and supporting pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In her own time, Rhiannon is a keen reader, enjoys traveling and learning new things about the world.

Sandwell’s Educational and Child Psychology Service

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