NICOLA BARBER
Chartered Educational Psychologist
Qualifications
- MSc Clinical Paediatric Neuropsychology, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 2008
- MSc Educational Psychology, Distinction, University of East London, 2002
- BSc Psychological Sciences, First Class Honours, University of Westminster, 1999
- Certificate in Education, Merit, Stockwell College of Education, 1973
Additional training including
- Attachment and development trauma, Family Futures, 2008
- Expert witness: report writing, evidence and cross examination, procedures in law relating to families and children, Cardiff University and Bond Solon, 2008
- Practitioner in Dynamic Assessment, 2007
- Critical Incident Stress Management and Debriefing, 2005
- Autism for Educational Psychologists, Birmingham University, 2004
- Teenagers with Cochlear Implant, 2004
- Solution Oriented Brief Therapy, 2003
Professional Membership
- British Psychological Society, Division of Educational and Child Psychologists & Affiliate Member of Division of Neuropsychology
- Association of Educational Psychologists
- Association of Child Psychologists in Private Practice
Professional Experience
Prior to working independently, I was an educational psychologist for a local authority, including two years in a senior management post. My roles and responsibilities included the provision of psychological consultation and advice to pre-schools, primary and secondary schools. This support covered a broad area - including individual assessments, formulation and monitoring of interventions, staff training, as well as parent and staff consultations.
I held a specialist post for autism, providing a strategic lead within the local authority, psychological support to autism specific special units attached to mainstream schools, and contributing to staff training. I established and chaired a multi-agency autism steering group in the authority, whose role it was to review and monitor local services for children with autism. Between 2006 and 2008 I also chaired the government supported regional SEN partnership Autism Research Group.
I worked with pre-school children, making regular contributions to a multi-agency panel, whose role was co-ordinating and monitoring assessments for young children with complex needs. This extensively involved providing training on early child development in a range of early-years settings.
In addition I have valuable experience of the statutory assessment processes in a local authority setting, including the submission of written advice for the special educational needs of individual children between the ages of three and sixteen years. My statutory assessment clients have included children with Down’s Syndrome, autism, speech and language difficulties, learning difficulties, hearing impairment, dyslexia and social, emotional and behaviour difficulties including attachment disorders. For three years I was a panel member of the local authority multi-agency group that considers the needs and long-term plans for children and families with complex health, educational, social and psychological needs.
I have Special Educational Needs tribunal experience and have recently trained as an expert witness.
During the last year I have developed my special interest in neuropsychology, gaining an MSc in Clinical Paediatric Neuropsychology.
Other relevant experience includes my ten years as a teacher and five years working as a Special Educational Needs co-ordinator in a primary school.
Other relevant information
I hold a current CRB check certificate for working with children and young people and have professional liability insurance.
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