Dr Magali-Fleur Barnoux

Dr Barnoux is a Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and BPS Chartered Psychologist at the Tizard Centre, University of Kent. Dr Barnoux completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology-Sociology at the University of Leeds (2003) and went on to complete an MSc (2010) and PhD (2015) in Forensic Psychology at the University of Kent. Dr Barnoux is the Tizard Centre's Director for Research and Innovation, and specialises in teaching and research within the area of forensic intellectual and developmental disability. 

Dr Barnoux holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (2019) and has been teaching university students since 2011. She teaches across the range of postgraduate programmes at the Tizard Centre. 

With extensive expertise in managing and delivering applied funded research studies within forensic settings, Dr Barnoux has held a number of research and enterprise grants , published book chapters and journal articles, and has presented her research at national and international conferences. Dr Barnoux also undertakes consultancy work in Forensic Intellectual and Developmental Disability (e.g., bespoke training, short courses, autism assessments, expert witness work) and has collaborated with government agencies on various research projects which have informed future strategic decision making (Home Office, Ministry of Justice, NHS, DHSE). She was also a member of the team who won the University of Kent Faculty of Social Sciences Research Prize (2015) and the ESRC Outstanding Impact in Society Award (2016) for their work in the area of deliberate firesetting.  

Dr Barnoux’s research focuses on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have come into contact with the Criminal Justice System as victims, witnesses, and/or perpetrators of crime. Her areas of expertise and research interests focus on the (i) aetiology, assessment, and treatment of offending behaviour; and (ii) the systems, processes, and provisions of support in forensic settings (police, prisons, and hospitals). She has conducted applied research projects across a range of health, social care, and justice settings, and has collaborated with various public bodies (e.g., NHS England, Ministry of Justice, Home Office) and charitable organisations (e.g., National Autistic Society) as part of these. 

Dr Barnoux is currently involved in the CECiLiA Study, a 3 year NIHR funded research programme evaluating the Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews for people with learning disabilities and autistic people (Award ID: NIHR158265 ). To find out more about CECiLiA or to take part please visit our dedicated website: https://cecilia.org.uk/ 

Over the past few years, Dr Barnoux has developed two empirically based toolkits for appraising Quality of Life and Quality of the Environment for people residing in specialist mental health inpatient settings in England. The Quality of Life Interview Schedule and Checklist, and the Quality of the Environment Observation Schedule and Checklist are currently being used as part of NHS Integrated Care Board oversight arrangements for people with intellectual disabilities and autistic people residing in specialist inpatient settings.  

Dr Barnoux teaches across the Tizard Centre's MSc in Intellectual Disabilities and Autism.  

Dr Barnoux welcomes applications from potential PhD candidates in the area of Forensic Intellectual and Developmental Disability. 

Current Research Students 

• Emilia Ashley (1st Supervisor) – Technology Assisted Harmful Sexual Behaviour in Children and Young People with Intellectual Disabilities and Autistic People.
• Farai Syposz (1st Supervisor) - Prison design and its impact on educational outcomes for prisoners with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a comparative analysis.
• Nadia Khan (1st Supervisor) Staff Psychological Wellbeing and Resilience within Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services.
• Tracy Mapp (2nd Supervisor) Education Provision in Prisons in England and Wales for People with Intellectual Disabilities and Autistic People.

Past Research Students

• Josephine Collins (2022) Theoretical conceptualisations of firesetting by adults with intellectual disabilities: Development of a fire interest and attitudes assessment scale.  

Dr Barnoux is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (member 106175)

Grants and Awards:

• 2026 An Evaluation of the Live Well Kent Mental Health Service Dr Sarah Hothman (PI), Dr Magali Barnoux (Co-I). £49,561.33 
• 2024-2027 An evaluation of Care (EduCatIon) and treatment revIews for people with Learning dIsabilities and Autistic people (CECILIA) Professor Peter Langdon (CI), Professor Karen Bunning (CI), Dr Magali Barnoux (Co-I), Dr Anne Killett (Co-I), Dr Paul Thompson (Co-I), Mr David Turner (Co-I), Professor Ashok Roy (Co-I), Professor Glynis Murphy (Co-I), Professor Richard Hastings (Co-I). £1,447,406.98 
• 2023-2025 Development and Pilot of the Integrated Care Board Commissioner Oversight Toolkit Dr Magali Barnoux (PI), Profesor Jill Bradshaw (Co_I). £79,506.57
• 2020-2021 Autistic People in contact with the police: Understanding identification, prevalence, characteristics, and journeys into and out of police services Dr Magali Barnoux (PI), Professor Glynis Murphy (Co-I), Dr Allyn Thomas (Co-I). £59,493

Editor Roles:

• 2020-2021 Associate Editor: Tizard Learning Disability Review 
• 2021 Guest Editor: International Journal of Positive Behaviour Support