Nichola Williamson

Biography

I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2003 following completion of a 4 year in-service BSc occupational therapy programme at London South Bank University. During my studies I worked as a rehabilitation assistant within an NHS inpatient elderly rehabilitation service which was extended to evolving Intermediate Care services. My clinical experiences has been predominately based within the NHS in London working in learning disabilities, paediatrics and community rehabilitation before specialising in intermediate care services in both inpatient and community settings. Prior to commencing this academic post, I managed a large multidisciplinary community intermediate care team supporting early hospital discharges and preventing hospital admission across three funding organisations (Acute Hospital Trust, Primary Health and Social Care provisions). During this role I undertook an introduction to management course, supervised and managed interprofessional colleagues as a team leader including; Occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nursing staff, social workers, social care enablement staff, rehabilitation assistants, administrative staff and local equipment service staff. In August 2012, I joined the School of Health and Social Care as a part-time member of the occupational therapy staff. At this time I remained in clinical practice, working as an Occupational Therapist for National neurological charity until March 2013. Since then, I have worked full-time at the university as a lecturer and now as a senior lecturer. Additional roles I have undertaken include; Placement tutor, coordinating mandatory training and Role Emerging Placement tutor for occupational therapy and in school wide roles as HSC Service User Involvement lead and more recently HSC lead for apprenticeships since September 2020. I have a keen interest in exploring education and practice opportunities to promote the role of Occupational Therapists with the expansion of diversifying the profession and workforce in practice. Providing long arm supervision for role emerging placements in a range of diverse settings offers ongoing opportunities to maintain a professional role within practice. In 2004 and 2006, I undertook voluntary internships with a not for profit dolphin therapy organisation in the Florida Keys and have a passion for the work in which these programmes provide for children and their families as well as their programme for war veterans. More recently, my interests have focused on the delivery of accessible health and care education to widen participation and diversifying the workforce with consideration of apprenticeships and different delivery models. In 2022, I started working with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists as an accreditor for pre-registration occupational therapy programmes and in 2024 as an External Examiner for a pre-registration OT degree apprenticeship. My clinical interests remain in community rehabilitation and practice, hospital avoidance, falls prevention, with adults with complex neurological conditions and improving community engagement. Between 2014 - 2019, I worked collaboratively with a local stroke charity, stroke survivors and their carers as a Masters student and academic Occupational Therapist. I completed a Masters in Health Care Practice in November 2018 and continued to work in collaboration with the organisation with a focus towards reshaping community stroke provision for working aged adults in 2019. In 2025 I achieved Senior Fellowship with the Advanced Higher Education Academy.

Qualifications

• Master of Science in Health Care Practice Health Care Practice University of Essex, (2018)

• Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice University of Essex, (2014)

• Bachelor of Science with Honours in Occupational Therapy Occupational Therapy London South Bank University, (2003)

Appointments

University of Essex

• Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex (3/10/2022 - present)

• Lead for Apprenticeships, School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex (1/9/2020 - present)

• Lead for Service User involvement, School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex (22/7/2019 - 31/8/2020)

• Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex (6/8/2012 - 2/10/2022)

Other academic

• External Examiner, Occupational Therapy, Sheffield Hallam University (15/1/2024 - present)