Personal Statement
Ian worked in the UK National Health Service (NHS) for almost thirty years. Qualifying as a Clinical Psychologist in 2000. Alongside his NHS clinical work, he started his academic career at the University of East London in 2004, before moving to Lancaster University's Clinical Psychology Doctorate, where he worked for 18 years, latterly as the Programme's Research Director and overseeing its curriculum. In 2024 he joined the University of Liverpool's Clinical Psychology Doctorate as its Programme Director.

Ian gained his doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wales (Bangor), and has worked in forensic and community services for adults with intellectual disabilities, in services for people with severe mental health problems and challenging behaviour, and with medical students experiencing mental health difficulties. He currently conducts clinical work within the Merseycare NHS Trust Clinical Health Psychology Service.

Research Overview
Ian has research interests in the following areas:

All aspects of the practice and process of using solution focused therapy and of the process of training specialist and non-specialist practitioners in these therapy skills;
clinical interventions of all types for psychological distress in people with intellectual disabilities, and in developing and evidence base for these interventions; issues of assessment and failure in professional training; playfulness international collaboration in best mental health practice between Western and African countries, and staff - patient relationships in inpatient mental health care