Scottish Brain Sciences

Senior Clinical Investigator

Noggin The Brain People 

For me brain health is personal and I created Noggin The Brain People with a mission to improve the cognitive health of the nation. We want to start a national conversation about the importance of brain health and specifically, help people understand even small lifestyle changes can make a difference to how you feel now and the health of your brain as you get older. No one is too young or too old to start looking after their noggin and we are committed to help support brain and mental health education for children to break the cycle of poor brain health. 
Visit our blog for all brain related content and to learn about our nutritional supplements

Founder

The Society of Authors

Member 

Nuffield Health

General Practitioner

Spire Healthcare Group plc

YourGP

www.shapeandrejuvenate.com

Started my own aesthetics business, first in Scotland to use Non Invasive Body Contouring and Skin Rejuvenation for Body and Face with the latest innovation in Radio Frequency and combined Ultra Sound- EXILIS

Cosmetic Doctor

sk:n

Passionate about Brain Health and helping people look after their amazing brains ; Experienced General Practitioner; Writer, special interests in Sleep, Lifestyle/Functional Medicine with a demonstrated history of working in NHS and Private Health Care. Founder Noggin The Brain People with a mission to improve the cognitive health of the nation.
https://linktr.ee/DrClaraR

Dr. Clara Doran MBBS MRCGP

Dr Jo Watson Consulting Ltd.

My freelance consultancy brings together a career spanning more than thirty years as a practising occupational therapist, educator and academic, leader in higher education and senior strategic leader for a professional body. 

I work with managers, service and strategic leaders and education providers in health and social care to inspire, nurture and develop the workforce, and to excel in the services they deliver. 

I care deeply about people – those accessing services and those providing them. People are any organisation's greatest asset. Supporting them to be and do their best within a positively engaging and empowering culture that is inclusive, equitable and fosters a genuine sense of belonging can only benefit the experiences and outcomes of the people accessing their services.

I offer tailored services and approaches to support you to progress your agenda, including:
👉 project delivery, 
👉 consultative and evaluative reviews,
👉 academic support for pre- and post-registration education, 
👉 curriculum reviews, 
👉 multiprofessional workforce development,  
👉 development of strategies, frameworks and standards.

Get in touch to arrange a no-obligation conversation to explore how I might be able to help: 
📩 jo@drjowatsonconsulting.com ☎️ 07812 049 791 🔗www.drjowatsonconsulting.com

Freelance Health and Social Care Consultant | Director

The Creative Health Alliance

Freelance Health and Social Care Consultant | Co-founder & Co-Director

James Lind Alliance

The James Lind Alliance (or JLA) brings together people with lived experience and people with professional expertise to work in partnership to identify and agree the priorities for research in a particular area of health and care. 
JLA Advisors are freelance consultants who support and guide priority setting partnerships through the well-established and well-respected JLA methodology. Advisors act as neutral facilitators, ensuring the process is followed in a fair, transparent way, with equal input from people accessing services, their families and carers, and practitioners.

Freelance Adviser

The Boaz Project

At this therapeutic work environment for adults with learning disabilities (www.boazproject.co.uk), I supported members to participate in farming related activities, including horticulture, animal care, woodworking, craft and cooking (May 2022 - April 2024). I now focus on supporting Boaz events.

Volunteer at the Boaz Project

Royal College of Occupational Therapists

As the RCOT Assistant Director with responsibility for Education and Research, my role encompassed four key areas of responsibility spanning all four UK nations: 
1.	setting standards for, and quality assuring and monitoring, pre-registration education pathways into the profession;
2.	post-registration education and professional/workforce development; 
3.	the RCOT Library & Information Service for the organisation and its members, and 
4.	supporting the expansion of research capacity and capability, and the evidence-base underpinning practice.
Alongside contributing to the wider strategic development and direction of the organisation, it was my role to develop strategic partnerships with key stakeholders and decision makers across the UK and provide strategic leadership to all aspects of professional education and research. I advised on and influenced the development of national policy and practice landscapes. I was responsible for RCOT’s Learning & Development and Research & Development Boards, and the collaborative alliance with the Council of Occupational Therapy Education Directors and its sub-groups. I oversaw fair and robust decision-making regarding the distribution and monitoring of funding and opportunities available through the RCOT Research Foundation and the RCOT Annual Awards for Learning, Development and Research. 
During my tenure, we published the RCOT (2019) Learning and Development Standards for Pre-registration Education, the RCOT (2019) Research and Development Strategy 2019-24, and the RCOT (2019 and 2021) Career Development Framework. I also initiated  and provided providing strategic leadership for a James Lind Alliance/RCOT research priority setting partnership that culminated in the identification of the Top 10 research priorities for occupational therapy in the UK which is reported on in RCOT (2021) Identifying research priorities for occupational therapy in the UK: What matters most to people accessing and delivering services.

Assistant Director - Education and Research

South Wonston Primary School

Member of Full Governing Board and Curriculum & Standards Committee, with key responsibilities in relation to maths curriculum and pupils with special educational needs.

Co-opted School Governor

Council of Occupational Therapy Education Directors

A consultative, planning and networking forum comprised of key members of the College of Occupational Therapists’ Education and Learning and Professional Operations Teams and Occupational Therapy Programme Directors from around the nation. Member of the group since October 2010.

Co-Convenor and Treasurer

University of Southampton

Following the 16 month period during which I was the Acting Head of Professional Practice in Health Sciences, the role of Associate Head was introduced to the academic unit to support the new permanent Head. I played a leading role in the development of leadership, management and engagement activities across the Faculty’s pre-registration educational provision (incorporating nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry and healthcare sciences (cardiovascular and respiratory & sleep physiology pathways)). Alongside contributing to the efficient management and administration of the Academic Unit and to leading the strategic development and direction of the Unit and the Faculty, I was responsible for leading projects and initiatives to progress and enhance key work-streams within the Unit, particularly in relation to standards assurance and quality enhancement of learning and teaching, student recruitment and staff development. My role also incorporated facilitating the ongoing development of equity and diversity matters related to the Unit’s staff within the context of the Faculty's ongoing Athena Swan developments, and the development and maintenance of networks with key stakeholders and collaborators internally, nationally and internationally.

Associate Head of Professional Practice in Health Sciences

As the Acting Head of Professional Practice in Health Sciences, I was responsible for providing strong, creative, academic leadership and general management for the Academic Unit, promoting excellence in research, education, enterprise and innovation across the Faculty’s entire pre-registration educational provision (incorporating nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry and healthcare sciences (cardiovascular and respiratory & sleep physiology pathways)). The role involved implementing University policy, managing the work of the Academic Unit within available resources to maintain a student-centred, research-led learning experience for all students and ensuring access to robust student support mechanisms. I had a leading role in establishing and sustaining excellent working relationships with key stakeholders and positioning the Academic Unit to influence pre-registration healthcare policy and practice at regional, national and international levels. I coordinated planning across the Academic Unit and contribute to the strategic planning process within the Faculty and the University. I was responsible for ensuring effective quality assurance procedures within the Academic Unit, and that all staff were clear about their duties and responsibilities, had access to suitable arrangements for training, development and appraisal and were provided with opportunities to contribute to the development plans for the Academic Unit.

Acting Head of Professional Practice in Health Sciences

As Director of Programmes I was responsible for contributing to the Faculty’s strategic thinking, direction planning and the delivery of cost-effective education, particularly in relation to all aspects of the delivery of high-quality pre-registration education in occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry and healthcare sciences (cardiovascular and respiratory & sleep physiology pathways).  I had a leading role in monitoring the external environment, including professional and statutory developments, to initiate appropriate responses within the Faculty and ensure appropriate development of policies and procedures supporting educational provision and student experience. I was responsible for supporting and managing the performance of staff within the Directorate to facilitate achievement of the Faculty’s strategic goals alongside individual personal and professional aspirations. I managed recruitment to programmes against educational commissions/contracts and business planning targets, and educational delivery against key contractual performance indicators, and represented the Faculty on a wide range of strategic, governance and operational Faculty and University Committees.

Director of Programmes: Physical and Rehabilitation Health, Faculty of Health Sciences

As Occupational Therapy Programme Lead I was responsible for all aspects of the pre-registration occupational therapy education within the School. This included leading the team delivering the programme, overseeing the academic integrity of the programme, including practice placement experiences, and promoting an effective and supportive learning environment to allow programme and module aims and learning outcomes to be met by students. I worked closely with relevant academic and administrative staff within the School to develop appropriate recruitment, admission, assessment and clinical education procedures, ensuring adherence to and monitoring of quality assurance processes and facilitating quality enhancement. The role encompassed responsibility for overseeing all aspects of occupational therapy students’ academic and professional performance, including the monitoring and management of student progress and achievement, disciplinary and fitness to practice issues. I had a leading role in promoting an effective interface and working relationship with external examiners, internal and external stakeholders, and represented the programme at a range of committees and boards.

Occupational Therapy Programme Lead

My role as an occupational therapy lecturer centred on the planning, organisation and delivery of core modules of learning, including appropriate assessment strategies, and supporting student learning and development in not only the pre-registration occupational therapy programme, but also in inter-professional learning across a range of allied health disciplines. The role encompassed supporting students’ learning in practice placement settings and acting as personal tutor to students throughout their programme of study.

Between 2003 and 2010 I was the Coordinator of Staff-Student Liaison for the Allied Health disciplines, which involved leading on and supporting systems to facilitate student feedback and support within the School. I was responsible for establishing and overseeing systems for identifying Year and Module Representatives from amongst the student body, the provision of training workshops to facilitate students in these roles, leading the development and introduction of new Academic and Personal Review procedures for students, re-establishing and Chairing Student Reference Groups, and Chairing and reporting on End of Year Focus Groups across the AHP disciplines. I provided reports summarising AHP programme performance in annual Student Experience Questionnaire, and later National Student Survey, with recommendations for areas for development/improvement, and sat on  the Education Management Committee and later the Academic Quality and Standards Committee.

Occupational Therapy Lecturer

College of Occupational Therapists

Elected as a Member of Council (Learning and Development Board) of the British Association/College of Occupational Therapists, which incorporates roles as a Director of BAOT, a Trustee of COT and Chair of the Learning and Development Board. Three year term commenced 29th June 2016 but ended early on 1st August 2016 following my appointment to the Assistant Director: Education and Research at the College of Occupational Therapists.

Member of Council (Learning and Development Board)

The Learning and Development Board is responsible for ensuring that the work of the College of Occupational Therapists' Education and Learning Team meets members’ needs strategically and operationally, through collaborative working with other College departments and external organisations. It provides a forum for strategic debate and discussion regarding UK policy and legislative drivers affecting all areas of occupational therapy education and impacting on practice, and considers matters relating to the delivery of occupational therapy education and the information and learning experiences required by occupational therapists to develop their practitioner or manager role.

Learning and Development Board member & Vice Chair (2015/16)

The Health and Care Professions Council

HCPC is the registering body of 16 health and social care professions in the UK. The Education and Training Committee is a statutory committee advising the HCPC on matters relating to education, including the approval of educational programmes, training and registration across these disciplines. Membership came to an end when ETC was reconfigured to be a sub-group of HCPC Council in response to government requirements that executive boards downsize

Occupational Therapy registrant member of Education and Training Committee

My experiences in various roles throughout my career mean that I understand the pressures faced by system and service leaders, and those educating the current and future workforce. I understand that the system doesn’t give you much to work with, but still expects a lot. I understand not only what you’re trying to achieve and why, but also the obstacles you’re likely to face along the way. 

I also care deeply about people: those accessing services and those providing services. After more than 30 years, an assets-based, people-first approach enabling individuals and groups to claim their voice and assume the driving seat of their own lives is core to how I work. 

That’s why I offer ⭐tailored services⭐ to facilitate projects and people in ways that work for you. That might be as an extension of your team, progressing discrete projects or pieces of work on your behalf, or adapting to your needs and circumstances in some other way. 

Whatever you require, my work is always based on ⭐honesty, integrity, transparency, fairness, authenticity and discretion⭐. I genuinely believe that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts and that, by creating an environment within which all stakeholders can actively and respectfully share their knowledge, experiences and skills, we can enhance the quality of outcomes for all. 

The expertise I offer is founded on a successful career as a practising occupational therapist, educator and academic, leader in higher education and national leader in health and social care. I am ⭐professional, reliable, constructive, hard-working and focused on delivering high-quality outputs that make a positive difference⭐ to individuals, groups, departments and organisations, and to those accessing their services.

To arrange a ⭐ no-obligation exploratory discussion about how I might be able to help⭐
   👉 progress a project, 
   👉 undertake a review,
   👉 develop strategies, standards or frameworks,
   👉 nurture and implement an emergent idea, 
   👉 support the development of the current or future workforce, 
   👉 or deliver other activities to improve the experiences and outcomes of people accessing services, 
 ... don’t hesitate to get in touch.

📩 jo@drjowatsonconsulting.com ☎️ 07812 049 791 🔗www.drjowatsonconsulting.com

taplio

The Battle

Dr. Clara Doran MBBS MRCGP

Jo Watson

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