Vivian Hill is vice-chair of the DECP and Director of Professional Educational Psychology Training at the UCL Institute of Education and a Senior EP for Schools and Community Psychology Service in the London borough of Wandsworth.
Vivian chaired the BPS working group that developed the curriculum for extended training in educational psychology, and supports the organisation of the annual DECP Trainee Conference.
She is part of the BPS Medicalization of Childhood working group and spoke at a House of Commons debate on this subject.
In March 2020 she was asked to lead the BPS COVID-19 Co-ordinating Group’s Isolation and Confinement work strand. She is also representing the DECP in the BPS Poverty to Flourishing Campaign.
Vivian has a keen interest in the role of research in developing the professional knowledge and skills base of applied educational psychologists. Areas of research interest include: the links between emotional development and mental health and wellbeing, the influences of life experience on cognitive development and learning, attachment theory, contemporary models and understandings of intelligence, the educational experiences of children in public care, Autistic Spectrum Conditions, children’s mental health and well-being, the rights of all children and in particular those with additional needs, specific learning difficulties and promoting equal opportunities.
Vivian actively promotes and engages in multi-disciplinary training activities and has an interest in community safeguarding. Vivian has been involved in a number of documentaries for the BBC and Channel Four promoting the contribution of educational psychology.