About Us
Personnel working with the EGS have specialist qualifications in educational psychology and teaching and many years’ experience working within local authorities. They have embarked on a range of projects within the statutory sector, and for independent organisations. They are skilled in the consideration and development of policy and strategic planning approaches to teaching, curriculum planning, monitoring and the review of practice. They can offer in-depth assessments of individuals.
The psychologists have a wide range of experience in management and leadership and are knowledgeable in the fields of behaviour, early years, autistic spectrum disorders, moderate learning difficulties, sensory impairment, profound and multiple difficulties and specific learning difficulties (e.g. dyslexia). The range of experience extends from 0 to 19, and beyond, as students working in higher education have access to the service.
The EGS have been involved in joint-funded projects between health, social services and education and have prepared reports on potential ways forward to improve provision and communication.
Our staff
Alex Griffiths CPsychol AFBPsS C.E.O
Alex is an Educational Psychologist with over 30 years experience. The author of various books and texts on parental involvement, reading and behaviour he also edited the magazine "Special" for over ten years.
Karen Jones CPsychol AFBPsS Director of schools
Karen is an educational psychologist of many years experience. She has worked with local education authorities and is familiar with multi-agency working. Karen has worked extensively in early years settings and in schools. She continues to work on a regular basis with children, their parents and staff at schools. Another part of Karen’s role includes working with students in colleges and universities. She frequently prepares and delivers training for a range of agencies and institutions and has experience of working within the legal system.
Elaine Douglas M.Ed M.Sc CPsychol AFBPsS FCIPD Principal Consultant
Elaine has almost 30 years experience as an educator, psychologist and trainer. After qualifying as an educational psychologist in 1988 she moved to the Isle of Man where she initially worked for the Department of Education. In 1991 Elaine established her own psychological services for children and their families, adults and organisations. Elaine is now the Principal Consultant and heads The Kade Consultancy, a division of EGS. Her keen interests are the effects of stress and how to deal with it. Author of the manual “Bullying in the Workplace”, she also helps children, parents, managers and organisations manage difficult behaviour.
Pauline Stephenson CPsychol AFBPsS
Pauline has a wide range of areas of interest and expertise, Specific learning difficulties (SpLD) being a major one. She currently spends a large proportion of her time in Universities and Colleges assessing the needs of students. She has wide experience of working with children and adults who are affected by: dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, epilepsy, mental health issues, sensory impairment, and Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Providing reports for the Court is also a role she undertakes.
Pauline has continued her professional development in the areas such as acquired brain injury, critical incidence and bereavement counselling. She worked on a Behaviour Education Support Team (BEST) within the national Behaviour Improvement Programme: providing assessment for children at risk of permanent exclusion, and advice for staff on managing the behaviour. The role also provided numerous opportunities to develop children’s social skills and self esteem.
Ellie Atkinson
BSc in Psychology and Human Resource Management, and a MSc in Occupational Psychology. Level A and B Certificate in Occupational testing.
Ellie has gained a BSc in Psychology and Human Resource Management, and a MSc in Occupational Psychology. She is a long standing member of staff and is competent in assessing individuals for specific learning difficulties in both Higher Education and within the workplace. She is a motivated staff member who enjoys taking on new challenges and having the chance to develop new skills. Ellie is currently working towards her Chartership with the British Psychological Society. She is very capable and reliable and is keen to learn new practices and procedures. In her spare time, Ellie is a dedicated runner and is a member of a local running club. She likes to take part in local races and has also completed a number of half marathons
Alison Fox
MSc in Occupational Psychology. Level A Cetificate of Competence in Occupational testing
Alison is one of EGS and KADE’s Occupational Psychologists in Training and is currently working towards chartered status with the British Psychological Society. Whilst working as a manager for the 19th hole on a local golf course, Alison obtained her BSc in Psychology and MSc in Occupational Psychology. It was this extensive work experience together with a period of time working with young individuals in an educational setting that fuelled her passion for working with, supporting and developing people, particularly in the workplace environment.
Alison brings to the team a quiet, reflective exterior, behind which lies a deep thinking, creative and hard working persona. She can be counted on to deliver what is required in a confident and professional manner. It is these qualities that have led Alison to follow her interests in Counselling, particularly Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy. She hopes to use these skills within the occupational setting, in the area of absence management in particular, one which she has a lot of interest and enthusiasm for.
Alison has been involved in several projects and has proven herself to be a valuable team player. She is always striving to seek opportunities for personal and career development and enjoys adding knowledge and skills to her ‘toolkit’. At present, Alison is heavily involved with the assessment of individuals for specific learning difficulties in both an educational and occupational setting. She is highly motivated by her current working environment and is continually inspired by others within the team.
Diane Markham
Bsc in Psychology and Health, MSC in Occupational Psychology. Level A and B Certificate of Competence in Occupational Testing
A first class honours student and mother of four, Diane is a tenacious and energetic member of the team. Yes, she’s conscientious, determined and dependable, but more than that she is approachable and caring. She has experience of working alongside health professionals to deliver stress management interventions.
For some, even the mention of the word statistics can chill them to the bone, however, with Diane’s passion for psychometrics, attention to detail, keen eye for accuracy, and strong belief that there are ‘no problems just solutions’ she is well suited to getting the best results at both an organisational and individual level.
John Wallis B.Sc (Hons) Dunelm, Dip. Ed. Psych (Birmingham) Consultant
John is a past President of the Association of Educational Psychologists and their secretary for a number of years and was a Principal Educational Psychologist in two local authorities. He has wide ranging interests and most recently has experience of Higher and Further Education and court work.
Peter Wilkinson CPsychol Consultant
Peter Wilkinson has taught in primary, secondary and special schools. During the last 20 years he been a senior member of an LEA psychology service and has established and led successful behaviour support and special needs services. His long-standing interests and experience are in co-operative behaviour management approaches, solution-focused intervention with young people and the psychology of self-esteem. He is an experienced trainer
David Hart BA, MSc, AFBPsS, CPsychol Consultant
David Hart taught in primary and special schools. He has worked for many
years as an educational psychologist, becoming Principal Educational
Psychologist for a large Local Education Authority and carried out its
review of special educational provision. He has worked for many years
with children and young people with autism and language disorders and is
currently interested in Court work.
Craig Small Consultant
Dr Craig Small is a coaching and educational psychologist with a long running interesting in behaviour, literacy, social inclusion and the psychology of collaboration and change.
In his career as a psychologist he has worked as Senior Psychologist with Middlesbrough Local Authority and most recently as Deputy Principal, and also Acting Principal Psychologist / Head of Service, with Nottinghamshire Children’s Services Inclusion Services. Craig has extensive experience of delivering and leading local authority psychology services and has twice been seconded to government projects; firstly to the Excellence in Cities program, which focused on meeting the behaviour challenge in schools, and secondly the Targeted Youth Support Program, which was concerned with the integration of children’s services to improve outcomes.
As well as extensive experience of designing and developing service systems, Craig also has many thousand of hours of experience working directly with clients, and combines these to work in a range of fields where psychology can add social value.
Deborah Smart Consultant Occupational Psychologist
Deborah is an Occupational Psychologist with wide experience of working with adults with specific learning difficulties, a range of disabilities and study/employment difficulties. She has also worked as a psychologist advisor within in a university setting, providing detailed assessments of the needs of disabled students, providing staff training, and working cooperative with academics to ensure appropriate provision for students within the context of course demands.
Joanne Chambers MSc and CPsychol Consultant
Joanne Chambers is a consultant Chartered Occupational Psychologist with extensive experience in recruitment and selection. Joanne has previously worked within the public sector designing and delivering large scale assessment and development tools for the UK Police Service. She specialises in assessment/development centre design and delivery, assessor training design and delivery, delivery of bespoke training courses. Joanne is Level A and Level B Plus qualified and has experience of a range of personality tools and is competent in assessing individuals for specific learning difficulties using the WAIS-IV. Joanne is currently completing a Diploma in Personal Performance Coaching. She combines technical knowledge and statistical expertise to achieve a track record of delivering high quality assessments efficiently, enhancing business performance
Tim Greenwood PGCE, MSc Ed Psych Consultant
Tim is a HPC registered educational psychologist with experience working in the early years, primary, secondary and higher education sectors. He has special interests in video interaction guidance, an innovative approach to working with families and schools to bring about change, and dialogic approaches to team learning and organisational change.
Janet Philpott CPsychol
Janet is an experienced educational psychologist with a broad base in the profession. She was a senior then Principal Educational Psychologist in a north eastern Local Authority, and she has worked at a range of levels which include recent casework and strategic experience. She has published a range of materials accross diverse fields and her interests are similarly diverse, but particularly centered around early childhood development and social communication.
Kate McCulloch BSc
Kate has worked in education for many years, mainly in Further Education but also in Secondary and Special schools.
Her recent experience includes working, mainly on a one-to-one basis, with a wide range of 16+ students on courses ranging from basic skills literacy and numeracy to degrees. She has provided specialist support for students with Specific Learning Difficulties (including dyslexia, dyscalculia, Asperger's syndrome) and those with general learning difficulties or difficulties arising from external circumstances. Kate is experienced in conducting initial student interview/assessment to ascertain an individual’s learning needs, carrying out formal assessment using standardised tests and, when appropriate, referring students for further assessment by educational psychologists or other professionals
Office Staff
Thelma Morley - Business Manager
Joanne Wilson - Finance Manager
Jane Goldthorpe - Senior Co-ordinator
Melanie Watkins - Psychological and Administrative Assistant for Schools
Julia Wood - Administrative Assistant
Natalie Wolstenhulme - Administrative Assistant
Alicia Bruce - Administrative Assistant
Ali Larkin - Proof Reader
Angela Harffey - Proof Reader