Deborah Rafter

I qualified as a Mental Health Nurse in 1991 and for the next 19 years worked within a variety of mental health settings both within inpatient services and the community, both primary in an IAPT service as a High Intensity therapist and secondary care. I spent a number of years working within forensic services both in a medium secure facility and prisons and it was during this period that I developed a keen interest in psychological therapies having witnessed first-hand how effective talking treatments could be. In 2010 I became a Senior Lecturer in Mental Health and this role enabled me to work within my two areas of interest – mental health and teaching. 

I have always enjoyed studying and throughout my career have continued to develop my knowledge and skills within fields of interest. In 2002 I completed a Diploma in Forensic Health and Social Care and then achieved a BSc Promoting Practice Effectiveness in 2007. As well as this I completed a number of degree level modules and obtained qualifications in Psycho Social Interventions for people with psychosis as well as teaching qualifications. By 2009 I realised that my future career pathway was within teaching but my love of psychological approaches continued so I combined the two by studying for a PgD CBT and also a PGCE in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education and achieved practice educator status. In 2015 I completed a MA Education and conducted a qualitative research study into the effectiveness of role-play simulation as a teaching strategy in preparation for clinical practice. This was based upon the role of the PWP and the results inform my teaching practice. I currently am Course Leader for the Assessment and Intervention Skills for Psychological Wellbeing Practice programme and also teach on the BSc Nursing Studies Mental Health. As an accredited (BABCP) CBT therapist I still work in clinical practice and currently this is with Teesside University student services department