Ellen Walker

I am a confident, hardworking and dedicated person who, through my professional experiences, has gained an understanding of the core competencies of clinical psychology and psychological practices, such as: assessment, formulation, intervention, and evaluation, as well as leadership skills including teaching, training, and consultancy. I am a vibrant individual who is professional, organised, and able to work in a range of environments, in both the academic and practical sphere.

Currently, I complete mental health assessments with clients from a broad range of demographics. I have become proficient in risk and safeguarding assessment, using supervision and clinical support to make decisions about onward referrals to acute mental health services, social services and to develop robust risk management plans. I am also working on my broader clinical leadership competencies in preparation for clinical training, including teaching skills through delivering psychoeducation webinars to corporate customers and in a training role.

As an assistant psychologist I undertook audit and service evaluation, including compiling reports on
therapeutic outcomes and service utilisation. I understand the importance of being able to
demonstrate quality, safety, and effectiveness of services to commissioners and senior stakeholders.
Whilst completing my MSc dissertation I gained insight into the challenges of conducting research.
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in my initial data collection approach (qualitative interviews) not
being viable. I demonstrated resilience, and solution focused thinking, utilising social media (twitter
and hashtags) as an alternative methodology.
In my current role as a mental well-being practitioner, I complete mental health assessments with
adult clients presenting with mild, moderate, and severe difficulties from a broad range of
demographics. I have utilised Burnham’s (2013) Social GGRRAAACCEEESS model to reflect on
diversity and the impact on therapeutic interactions, including engagement, access to services and
adjustments that can be made at individual and service levels. I have become proficient in risk and
safeguarding assessment, using supervision and clinical support to make decisions about onward
referrals to acute mental health services, social services and to develop robust risk management
plans. I have gained experience in undertaking difficult conversations, using an empathic and
boundaried approach to explain the reason for reporting safeguarding concerns when the client
does not consent.
Within a busy and demanding role, I have utilised Schon’s (1991) reflective model to gain increased
awareness of thoughts, feelings, processes and dynamics during clinical interactions and my
responses to these, as well as the impact of clinical work on me personally and how I can take steps
such as self-care to replenish my own personal resources. Recently I have begun to work on broader
clinical leadership competencies in preparation for clinical training, including teaching skills through
delivering psychoeducation webinars to corporate customers and in a training role.

MSc Psychological wellbeing with clinical practice 2021: Merit 

BSc Psychology 2019: 2:1