Dr Alison Warren

Biography

Role

I am Academic Lead for Occupational Therapy and lecturer with the University of Plymouth. Throughout my career I have integrated professional practice experience with service development and research. I have an interest in innovative placement models and my PhD explored the learning experiences of occupational therapy students during role emerging placements with a particular focus on competency and professional identity development. My professional practice experience has been mainly in the area of dementia care, community mental health and emerging areas of practice. As a member of the Prime Minister Dementia Working Group for Air Transport I seek to raise the importance of this meaningful occupation and improve the experiences flying for people with dementia and their carers. I have experience of working in the UK, Romania and the Republic of Ireland.

Qualifications

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences

University of Limerick, Ireland (2014)

Innovation, Personal Growth and Professional Identity: Perspectives on role emerging placements in occupational therapy

Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education

Brunel University, London (2005)

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

University of Wales, Cardiff (1999)

Diploma in Occupational Therapy

Dorset House, Oxford (1990)

Education Experience

School of Health Professions , Plymouth University

Lecturer in Occupational Therapy December 2014 to Present

Department of Clinical Therapies, University of Limerick, Ireland

Regional Placement Facilitator December 2006 to October 2014

Department of Clinical Therapies, University of Limerick, Ireland

Acting Practice Education Coordinator October 2011- January 2012

Department of Health Sciences and Social Care, Brunel University, UK

Lecturer in Occupational Therapy January 2002-January 2005

Department of Health Sciences and Social Care, Brunel University, UK and Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Care NHS Trust

Lecturer/Practitioner in Occupational Therapy April 2001-January 2002

International Teaching

Ergotherapeu-og Fysiotherapeutskolen I, Denmark (2002), Karalinska Institute, Sweden (2003), University of Limerick, Ireland (2003 & 4)

Clinical Experience

Throughout my career I have worked as a clinician and manager in a range of clinical settings . Primarily I have worked with people who have dementia and their carers and also in mental health and learning disabilities services.

Professional membership

Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)

British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT)

Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Roles on external bodies

Accreditor for Royal College of Occupational Therapists

Teaching

Teaching interests

Teaching interests

I enjoy facilitating learning in a broad range of subjects, particularly in the area of dementia care, mental health and innovative placement models including role emerging placements. I am an advocate of interprofessional learning and encourage entrepreneurial practice in emerging areas for occupational therapy.

I have developed an international distance learning module and am keen to provide a range of learning opportunities via the Moodle platform.

International Scholar at the University of Malta 2019 & 2020.

Staff serving as external examiners

Previous External Examiner On BSc(Hons) Occupational Therapy programme at University of Cumbria 2016-2019.

Current External Examiner on BSc (Hons) )ccupational Therapy programme Glyndŵr University, Wrexham, Wales- 2010 onwards.

Research

Research interests

My research interests are linked closely to my clinical and educational experiences. I lead a growing research team of occupational therapists and students seeking to improve the travel experiences of people with dementia, hidden disabilities and their companions- Dementia Friendly Flying. Listen below for more information (August 2019).

https://www.ukhealthradio.com/blog/episode/dementia-and-air-travel-is-this-weeks-topic-as-pete-talks-to-dr-alison-warren-and-joanna-dixon-from-plymouth-university-2/

Informed by my doctoral work I also supervise occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals with research interests related to placements and particularly innovative placement models.

I have supervised one PhD to completion and currently have 3 PhD students. I have extensive experience of supervising masters level research.

Other research

Member of the Prime Ministers Dementia Challenge Group for Air Transport- Chair of the In-flight Training Group, Director of Studies for PhD studentship on Dementia Friendly Flying and supervisor of 3 Alzheimer’s Society Summer Studentships (2017 and 2019)

Community Occupational Therapy for People with Dementia- Supervisor for the COTiD RCT (2016-17)

Supervisor of occupational therapy students as Digital Champions introducing Echospot into local care homes (Summer 2019)

Grants & contracts

EchoSpot In care Homes: Research project with Professor Ray Jones, nursing and occupational therapy students. Digital Champions (March 2019, £19,900)

Alzheimer’s Society Research Studentships: 3 summer bursaries, occupational therapy students) (2017 and 2019, £5300)

School of Health Professions PhD Stipend: Dementia Friendly Flying (Kate Turner- commenced April 2017)

Health Research Board (HRB) PhD Fellow, Ireland (2012-13)

National Academy for the Integration of research, Teaching and Learning (NAIRTL) Grant, Ireland (2009 and 2010)

Quality Improvement Fund (QIFAC) Developing guidelines to support students and stakeholders in role emerging placements. University of Limerick (2010/11)

Constance Owens Travel Award (2003)

NHS Research Grant. Home-based Art Therapy for Older Adults with Mental Health Needs (2002)

Publications

Key publications are highlighted

Journals

Articles

Križaj T, Roberts A, Warren A & Slade A 2019 'Early Hour, Golden Hour: an Exploration of Slovenian Older People’s Meaningful Occupations' Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 34, (2) 201-221 , DOI PEARL

Linnane E & Warren AF 2017 'Apprehension and interest: Therapist and student views of the role emerging placement model in the Republic of Ireland' Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy , DOI PEARL

Hocking M, Warren AF & Bannigan K 2017 'CPD with a twist: the ROTTERS Curry Club' OTnews PEARL

Warren AF, Turner K & Chami H 2017 'Working together to promote dementia friendly flying' OTnews

Križaj T, Warren A & Slade A 2016 '“Holding on to What I Do”: Experiences of Older Slovenians Moving into a Care Home: Table 1' Gerontologist, The gnw150-gnw150 , DOI PEARL

Joyce J & Warren A 2016 'A Case Study Exploring the Influence of a Gardening Therapy Group on Well-Being' Occupational Therapy in Mental Health 32, (2) 203-215 , DOI PEARL

Kirk E, Burrows L, Kent B, Abbott R & Warren A 2016 'Facilitators and barriers to remaining at home for people with dementia who live alone' JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports 14, (4) 20-29 , DOI PEARL

Warren A, Dancza, K, McKay E, Taylor A, Moran M, Copley J & Rodger S 2016 'Supervising role-emerging placements: a CPD opportunity that supports innovation in practice' World Federation of Occupational Therapists Bulletin , DOI PEARL

Dancza K, Warren A, Copley J, Rodger S, Moran M, McKay E & Taylor A 2013 'Learning experiences on role-emerging placements: An exploration from the students' perspective' Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 60, (6) 427-435 , DOI

Cahill M, O'Donnell M, Warren A, Taylor A & Gowan O 2013 'Enhancing interprofessional student practice through a case-based model' Journal of Interprofessional Care 27, (4) 333-335 , DOI

Wiid C, McCormack C, Warren A, Buckley S & Cahill M 2013 'Public and private blogging during placements: Perspectives of occupational therapy students' International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 20, (2) 79-85

Warren A, Taylor A, Cahill M & O’Donnell M 2010 'The MAGPIE model' The Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning 11, (2) 47-59 , DOI

Warren A & Wilson L 2009 'Role-emerging placements' British Journal of Occupational Therapy 72, (12)

Jones F, Warren A & McElroy S 2006 'Home-Based Art Therapy for Older Adults with Mental Health Needs: Views of Clients and Caregivers' Art Therapy 23, (2) 52-58 , DOI

Warren A 2003 'The use of the COPM in mental health' British Journal of Occupational Therapy 66, (2)

Warren A 2002 'An Evaluation of the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure in Mental Health Practice' British Journal of Occupational Therapy 65, (11) 515-521 , DOI

Crawford M, Warren A & Edmans J 2001 'Dedicated time at work for research activities (multiple letters)' British Journal of Occupational Therapy 64, (8) 419-420

Chapters

Manley M, Bentley R, Richards C, Tattersall K, Warren A, Mackenzie A, Pratt AL, Lillywhite A, Grant M & McIntyre A 2013 'Health Conditions and Active Ageing' Occupational Therapy and Older People John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 73-119 , DOI

Conference Papers

Warren A., Sherriff, I, Turner, K., Bourne, S. Roberts, C., Goodrick, J., Chami, H & Fremantle, J. (2019) Air Travel Connections: creating a hub of collaborators to enhance flight experiences for People with Dementia and their Companions 29th Alzheimer’s Europe Conference, The Hague, October 2019.

Turner, K., Warren, A., Sherriff, I & Bannigan, K. (2019) Air travel for people with dementia: working together to identify barriers and facilitators to participation 29th Alzheimer’s Europe Conference, The Hague, October 2019.

Armstrong M, Reid G, Angove J, Rockey C & Warren A 2017 'How do students perceive compassion in healthcare practice?' 101-102

Cunningham MJ, Warren A, Krizaj T, Twinley R & Mitchell S 2016 'DEVELOPING PROBLEM BASED LEARNING IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY' 2016 - COTEC-ENOTHE Congress 15/06/2016 19/06/2016 PEARL

Krizaj T, Warren A & Slade A 2016 'The significance of Occupation and Others: Experiences of Older Slovenians Transitioning into Care Homes' VOYAGE Ageing Conference Plymouth University 10/06/2016 10/06/2016

Personal

Other academic activities

Warren, A. (2012) International Judge at the National Health Fusion Team Challenge, Brisbane Australia

Profiles

Lecturer in Occupational Therapy

School of Health Professions (Faculty of Health: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences)