Katharine Woods, Care/Occupational Therapist

Professional Experience

I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2007 and have specialised in mental health with adults and children. This includes adult long-term rehabilitation, both in general mental health and forensic mental health. My experience of working with children is within community mental health and in an acute inpatient child and adolescent mental health unit. I have also spent time working within learning disabilities.

My current role is within an acute inpatient child and adolescent mental health unit. I work with children and young people aged 12-18. Young people admitted to the ward can present with a number of conditions such as psychosis, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, anorexia nervosa, bulimia, emotional dysregulation, self-harm, complex trauma, anxiety,and depression.

Prior to my current role from 2007 until 2021, I worked within adult mental health services. I have extensive experience within forensic and general mental health both long term rehabilitation and acute services. I have worked with adults presenting with the following conditions; schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, complex trauma, depression, anxiety, autism, ADHD, emotionally unstable personality disorder, and learning disabilities.

I have a broad range of knowledge across mental health conditions and settings and how physical and mental health conditions impact and co-exist. Due to the time spent in child and adolescent mental health I have developed an interest in neuro-developmental disorders and have assessed children and young people on the neuro-developmental pathway.

Professional Development

I maintain my knowledge and skills in mental health and neuro-developmental disorders through delivering in-service training to colleagues, attending up-to-date training, and undertaking courses.