Beckie Whelton

Beckie Whelton is an experienced research assistant, working with both qualitative and quantitative approaches in the field of learning disabilities. She joined the Tizard Centre in 2003 working with Professor Jim Mansell and Professor Julie Beadle-Brown, on an evaluation of person-centred active support training. The majority of her work continued to be in this area. Beckie also has a research interest in family trauma, improving health and social care services for people with learning disabilities and autistic people, support and the Criminal Justice system for survivors of sexual violence with learning disabilities, Parents experiences of other people’s attitudes towards the death of their child with disabilities and Pathological Demand Avoidance.

Beckie has hands on experience of services for people with learning disabilities working in a residential service with older adults and those with mental health issues.

She has an MA in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, BA in Psychology and Social studies and is a qualified PCAS trainer and trained in the use of Talking Mats. Beckie was also an advocate for a number of years. Beckie is a qualified Oliver McGowan Tier 2 Trainer working for Bemix. Beckie also has lived experience as a parent of an autistic child with a PDA profile.

Beckie has been involved in a number of projects including:

• Co Production working to radically redesign health and social care in Greenwich through the Believe in Us Project.
• Family Trauma of those trying to access support for their child.
• Parents Experiences of other people’s attitudes towards the death of their child with an Intellectual Disability and/or Autistic/Complex Needs.
• Skilled support; examining the effect of skilled support on the lives of people with complex needs in terms of both quality of life and the cost.
• Imagining autism which examined the extent to which a drama intervention can help children on the autism spectrum.
• An evaluation of PCAS training in services over a 5 year period, conducted alongside United Response.
• QORU, the quality and outcomes of person-centred care research unit.