Dr Rebecca Williams
BSc DClinPsy CPsychol

A highly specialist Consultant Clinical Psychologist, with over 20 years expertise in working with adults and children with learning disability and neurodevelopmental disorders. I’ve worked within the NHS and privately conducting complex assessments, formulations, and interventions, as well as providing clinical leadership to Learning Disability, Children’s Disability Services and Neurodevelopmental Disorders services within the NHS.

I am registered as a Practitioner Psychologist with HCPC, a Chartered Psychologist with the BPS, an Executive Coach with Association for Coaching, and been working at Consultant level for the last 12 years.

I’m experienced in adapting therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT) to the needs of adults and young people with a learning disability or who are neurodiverse.

The Team

As part of your or your child's assessment, it is important to look at social use of language, and check for any underlying language problems. I work with two experienced Speech and Language Therapists who are skilled at assessing subtle difficulties in understanding or self expression that can be part of the picture in ASD or other developmental problems.

Non Thwaite

BSCHons Speech and Language Therapy
MA Teaching and Practice Creative Writing.
Registered with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist (RCSLT).

Fluent welsh speaker.

I’m a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapist with over 20 years’ experience of working with children and adults with learning disability and neurodevelopmental disorders.

I can provide comprehensive assessment of language and communication, leading to a detailed report and communication profile. This will help you and others to gain a clearer understanding of your child’s language and communication needs and what support and strategies they need to communicate to the best of their abilities. A SALT assessment is often integral in identifying hidden language and communication difficulties that contribute to misunderstandings or behaviour that challenges. I can liaise with agencies and provide bespoke training packages around an individual to help those who support them understand their needs.

I work closely with Dr Rebecca Williams in providing autism assessments using Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)

Non Thwaite Autism Assessment Wales Team

ADDITIONAL EXPERTISE

Complex Developmental Assessments

Neurodevelopmental Assessments

Functional Analysis

Complex Formulation

Risk Assessments in LD

Capacity Assessments

Parenting Assessments in LD

Leading Case Management

Expert Witness

Psychological Therapy for people with disabilities or ASD

HIGHLIGHTS

- Private practice assessments with adults & children with neurodevelopment disorders and learning disabilities, including within court proceedings

- Leading development of a new service for children with neurodevelopmental disorders (2016-18, BCUHB)

- Leading on psychological services during development of a new integrated service for disabled children with service user and local authority partners (2015, BCUHB)

- Research supervisor for several doctoral theses in the field of learning disabilities

- Previous committee member for several specialist clinical psychology groups, including DCP Wales, LD Faculty, and Psychologists in Social Services, over the last 10 years, contributing to guidance, policies & initiatives in the field of clinical psychology and disability

- CPD Assessor for the British Psychological Society prior to HCPC registration, 2005-2009

- Registered with the ICO as RW Psychology

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

HCPC Registered, PYL22082

Enhanced DBS

Full clean driving licence

GDPR compliant

Fully conversant in online therapy delivery

Fluent Welsh speaker

References are available on request.

CAREER HISTORY

Consultant Clinical Psychologist in private practice - 2019 onwards

Undertaking psychological assessment of adults and children with neurodevelopmental disorders, including for legal purposes. Mental capacity & litigation assessments, complex developmental assessments for conditions such as ASD, ADHD, LD, risky or challenging behaviour, and functional analytic assessments within disability.

Executive Coach - 2016 onwards

Working with senior managers and board level executives as a leadership and personal development coach. I specialise in working with managers in health and social care settings to facilitate change and develop their strategic leadership and quality improvement skills.

Lead Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) - 2008 to 2018

Operating as clinical lead for both the children’s disability services and neurodevelopmental disorders services, I worked both clinically as a high specialist disability psychologist, and in a leadership and supervisory role across six local authority counties, eight different teams and managing around twenty staff.

I have particular expertise in challenging behaviour, and risk assessments for children with forensic issues. I have expertise in assessing children with complex developmental disorders, with multiple/ systemic risk factors and complex disabilities, including autism, ADHD, learning disability, language disorders, genetic syndromes, abuse and neglect, and am skilled at developing rapport and meeting the communication needs of the child and family.

In addition to my assessment experience, I am trained and experienced in a variety of psychological intervention models including CBT, PBS, ACT, Mindfulness and Systemic therapy, to name but a few, and able to adapt these models to a disability context.

External Examiner for University of Hertfordshire’s Doctorate in Clinical Psychology - 2010 to 2014

Ratification of academic assignments and large-scale research projects, Member of Board of Examiners and responsible for conducting viva voces for the doctoral theses.

Senior Academic Tutor, North Wales Clinical Psychology Programme, Bangor University - 2006 to 2009

Responsible for improving and developing the academic component of the three-year Doctorate in Clinical Psychology training course, I also set up the first service user consultations and formed the People’s Panel, as it became known, as a key component of curriculum design and academic examination. I was also responsible for researching and trialling alternative teaching methods such as problem-based learning, and expert-by-experience teaching sessions.

My expertise in qualitative methodologies was in demand as a research supervisor for the trainees, which included supervising a highly innovative project by Dr Barbara Barter investigating the views of adults with Down Syndrome on prenatal testing for the same condition, amongst other qualitative theses.

I also served as an external examiner to the University of Hertfordshire clinical training course, examining course work and doctoral theses and vivas. During my time at Bangor University, I also took on additional roles with the British Psychological Society, including CPD assessor, DCP Wales committee member and Psychologists in Social Services committee member, all of which required knowledge of broad mental health strategy, collaboration and excellent oral and written communication skills.

Principal Clinical Psychologist, Adults and Children with Learning Disabilities, BCUHB - 2002 to 2008

Solely responsible for providing psychological assessment, formulation and intervention for adults and children with learning disabilities within the Arfon area, as well as working as part of the broader multiagency team to offer psychological expertise to care planning and ongoing support for clients.

I also provided supervision for team members, assistant psychologists and trainee clinical psychologists working within the team. My main duties included eligibility assessments, mental capacity assessments, functional analysis, diagnostic assessments, mental health interventions for children, adults and parents, and training for care staff.

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATION & AWARDS

CBT, Trauma and Motivational Interviewing, 2020

Bond Solon Civil Litigation for Expert Witnesses, 2020

ASD and Complex Presentations, 2019

SAVRY, HCR-20, SVR-20 training, 2014 & March 2019

BPS Expert Witness Training 2019

Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Leadership & Management, CMI via Bangor University, 2017

Level 7 Certificate in Executive Coaching & Mentoring, ILM via Bangor University, 2017

Silver IQT Award, Improving Quality Together, NHS Wales, 2014

PAMS assessment training, 2011

Numerous CPD certificates in therapeutic modalities, ongoing since 1999

Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, since 2001

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Hull University, 2001

1stClass honours Degree in Psychology with Clinical Psychology, Hull University 1997

British Medical Association Psychology Prize 1997

Departmental Psychology Prize 1996

RESEARCH

- 2016 Barter, B & Hastings, R & Williams, R & Huws, J (2016). Perceptions and Discourses Relating to Genetic Testing: Interviews with People with Down Syndrome. Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities; 30 (2)

- 2011-12 Research supervisor for Dr C Lamers Doctorate in Clinical Psychology ‘Older People and End of Life Choices. An exploration of options & related discourses’, awarded 2012, Bangor University

- 2010-11 Research supervisor for Dr C Backhouse Doctorate in Clinical Psychology ‘Mental Health Difficulties within the Profession of Clinical Psychology’, awarded 2011, Bangor University

- 2009-10 Research supervisor for Dr B Barter Doctorate in Clinical Psychology ‘A qualitative exploration of the views of individuals with Down syndrome toward prenatal genetic testing’, awarded 2010, Bangor University

- 2008-09 Research supervisor for Dr E Jones Doctorate in Clinical Psychology ‘Identity formation in adolescents with and without learning difficulties’, awarded 2009, Bangor University

- 2007 – 09 WORD PhD Grants panel member – reviewing PhD proposals for suitability for funding by Welsh Office of Research and Development

- 2003 onwards Clinical supervision of trainees’ small-scale research projects in dementia & LD, and referral patterns in LD services

- 2001 Doctorate in Clinical Psychology thesis, Crook, R ‘Experiences of menorrhagia and hysterectomy: an exploratory study’. Awarded 2001, University of Hull

Dr Rebecca Williams BSc DClinPsy CPsychol