Hayley Thomas

Dr Hayley Thomas is a HCPC-registered and Chartered Consultant Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience across community and inpatient settings. She has worked with children, young people and adults with complex needs, including learning disabilities/neurodiversity, mental health difficulties, forensic histories and trauma. Hayley has a strong background in supporting individuals who display risky behaviours, including self harm; behaviours of distress; harmful sexual behaviours, as well as those at risk of sexual offending. She is highly skilled and trained in a range of structured professional judgement risk assessments.

Her work is grounded in an evidence-based, formulation-driven approach, and she has particular interests in co-production, reducing restrictive practices, Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), and attachment and trauma-informed care. She is trained in a range of therapeutic models and is passionate about considering issues of power, equality and inclusion within her work.

Hayley has held a range of senior leadership roles, including Clinical Lead within a residential education setting for young adults with autism, and Strategic Lead Psychologist posts within community and inpatient learning disability services. She has a keen interest in service development, governance and quality improvement, and is an experienced trainer, supervisor and practice lead who enjoys supporting others to develop their skills, knowledge and confidence.

She is a member of the British Psychological Society’s Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities (BPS FPID) committee and co-editor of the FPID Bulletin.

Outside of work, Hayley enjoys running, and can often be found getting stuck into in a good Lego build or tackling a jigsaw puzzle.