Catherine Patrick

Courses taught:

• Occupational Therapy (Pre-Reg) (Postgraduate)

Catherine is an HCPC registered Occupational Therapist with 15 years clinical experience in the NHS, predominantly in mental health, both in forensic inpatient settings and the community.

Email: [email protected]

Background

After graduating from the University of East Anglia in 2009, Catherine started her career as an Occupational Therapist working in a medium secure hospital in East London, and spent nine years working with people whose combination of mental health difficulties and offending behaviour required treatment in a secure forensic setting. This inspired a long-standing passion for mental health, and a firmly held belief in the value of occupational therapy in supporting people in their recovery journey. Following a brief foray into the world of physical health as an Occupational Therapist in an Integrated Care Team, Catherine returned to her mental health roots, taking up a role in a Adult Community Mental Health Service.

Since 2023, Catherine has enjoyed sharing her passion for mental health with students at Anglia Ruskin University, using her extensive clinical experience to explore and demonstrate the role of occupational therapy in mental health.

Research interests

• Role emerging placements
• Wellbeing in the Occupational Therapy workforce

Catherine’s experience of working in challenging environments such as forensics and community mental health has left her with an interest in researching factors contributing to wellbeing in the Occupational Therapy workforce; an understanding of this is vital to improving staff retention and supporting the long-term needs of the workforce. Catherine is also interested in opportunities for Occupational Therapy to move into non-traditional areas, and would like to explore student experience on role emerging placements.

Teaching

MSc Occupational Therapy

Qualifications

• BA American Studies, University of Nottingham
• MSc Occupational Therapy, University of East Anglia
• Currently completing Post-Graduate Certificate of Teaching and Learning, Anglia Ruskin University

Memberships, editorial boards

• Health and Care Professions Council Registered Occupational Therapist
• Member of Royal College of Occupational Therapists
• Member of Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section for Mental Health
• Member of OT Frontiers