Dr Karen Dodd is Co-Director of Services for People with Learning Disabilities, Associate Director, Therapies – Learning Disabilities Services and a Consultant Clinical Psychologist for Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Karen has worked with people with learning disabilities for over 30 years.
Throughout her career Karen has worked to develop new approaches, training materials, policies and guidance with regard to core issues for people with learning disabilities. These include: Sexuality and Personal relationships; health inequalities; treatment of psychological issues; health and pain; end of life and organ donation; CBT for staff working with people with learning disabilities. Two specific ongoing areas of interest are dementia and people with Down’s Syndrome and IAPT services for people with learning disabilities.
Karen recently chaired the joint group between the British Psychological Society and Royal College of Psychiatrists Learning Disability Faculties to update the national guidance on the Assessment, Diagnosis, Interventions and Support of people with Learning Disabilities and Dementia (BPS 2015).
Karen has chaired the Reference group within the Trust to progress the work of the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities on IAPT and people with learning disabilities. The work of the team has been recognised with a Positive Practice in Mental Health Award in the category of Equality and Diversity in October 2016.
Karen is currently a member of the DCP Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities, and Co-Chair of the Learning Disabilities Professional Senate, and has been working very closely with NHS England on the Transforming Care Service model including defining the role of the Community Learning Disabilities health teams, service model, service specifications and a rights-based approach to outcomes.
