CAPs and MHWPs in Services for Older People

This online event will review the development of the CAP and MHWP roles within services for older people.

It will include presentations from trailblazer and early implementation sites, both University and NHS clinical services. 

There will be opportunity to discuss how these roles have been developed, the training curriculum, experience of clinical services and possible future developments, along with other key issues.

Speakers

Dr Gillian Mackie

Gill is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist and co-director of the CAP course at the University of Exeter. She completed her DClin training at the University of Edinburgh in 2011, specialising in Older Adult Mental Health as part of a flexible training programme. Gill has since worked in NHS Scotland, supported the development of a specialist 'Post-Earthquake Service' in OPMH services following the Canterbury earthquakes in NZ, and was involved in the creation of a new psycho-oncology and palliative care service in Queensland. She is currently keen to support the further development of the CAP role in OPMH and Physical Health services across England.

Dr Helen Carter

Helen Carter is a Clinical Psychologist working in community mental health services for older people in Devon. She is the Professional Lead for Psychology & Psychological Therapies for South & West Devon. In 2022, Helen led in the recruitment of Trainee CAPs into Older Persons Services in Devon and has since overseen their integration into the service. She has also undertaken the role of Clinical Educator for Emma, trainee CAP, over the past 18 months.

Emma Hand

Emma Hand is a trainee CAP, now reaching the end of her training. She works in South Devon in a busy community older persons mental health team. Before being recruited as a CAP, Emma was an Assistant Psychologist in the Trust working on an inpatient unit and in the memory assessment service.

Dr Laura Sawyer

Laura is a Clinical Psychologist currently working in the NHS for both a Memory Assessment and Community dementia service, and an inpatient ward for older adults with both organic and functional diagnoses. She has had a specialist interest in working with older adults since qualifying from the Coventry and Warwick doctorate in 2020. Laura additionally works as a guest lecturer for the Coventry and Warwick DClinPsy programme, teaching CBT for older adults, drawing on her skills as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. 

Dee Barrenger-Higgins

Dee is a Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioner with the Community Dementia and Older Adults Team in Warwickshire. She qualified as a Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioner in the first cohort at UCL in 2023. Dee runs groups for those with a diagnosis of dementia and their carers and is currently working on developing groups in the newly developed Older Adults Community Mental Health Team. Alongside her training in low-intensity Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dee is also undertaking training in Compassion Focussed Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. She continues to work with her team to offer person-centred interventions to help people live well in old age.