Nicola Bygrave

I qualified in 1997 as an Occupational Therapist and have held a senior position for around 12 years. I completed an MSc in Forensic Mental Health Care in 2005.

This included a qualitative research project around the value of employment for people with severe and enduring mental health problems.  I continue to have a specific interest in criminology.

As an OT I focus on functional ability, environment and motivation, looking at how these are affected by illness or disability.

I am keen to promote OT within EASL and am working closely with local universities to ensure student placements are available within homeless hostel settings, which I over see as OT supervisor.  So far we have had some great outcomes from the OT student input.

My previous experience is mainly of working within forensic settings, prisons and the community; engaging a client group with risk histories and severe and enduring mental health problems.

I have also worked as a placement officer ensuring the needs of patients in private health care settings are met and working with services to help with “step down” and “move on”.

I have worked with EASL since January 2013 and thoroughly enjoy the wide ranging complexity of the work.