Pauline Heslop

Qualifications

Role

Senior Research Fellow

Contact details

Direct line: 0117 331 0973

Email: pauline.heslop@bristol.ac.uk

Biography

Pauline Heslop has a background of working with children and young people in a variety of settings in the UK and overseas. Her early research achievements at the University of Bristol were completed at the School for Policy Studies, and the Department of Social Medicine. She joined the Norah Fry Research Centre in 1999.

Since then, Pauline has worked on six major research projects. Her research about transition contributed thinking towards the development of the Learning Disability White Paper ‘Valuing People’ (2001); research about the use of psychotropic medications with people with learning difficulties involved collaboration with the national Medicines Partnership and achieved international recognition; and research about short-break services contributed evidence for the 2007 Treasury Spending Review for Disabled Children.

Research interests

Quantitative and qualitative research in the particular areas of:

• General health-related issues
• Mental health and related issues
• Transition from children’s to adults services
• Short-break services and supports
• Poverty and social disadvantage

Current research projects

Pauline is leading the Confidential Inquiry into Premature Deaths in People with Learning Disabilities which has been commissioned by the Department of Health from 2010 – 2013. The Inquiry is being undertaken in partnership with colleagueas from Community-based Memdicine at the University of Bristol, Bristol PCT and the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Recent projects

Pauline was the Principal Investigator on the 'Hidden pain?' research project, which was about the perspectives of people with learning disabilities who self-injure. The research was undertaken in partnership with Bristol Crisis Service for Women from 2006-2009.

Pauline was also a co-investigator on a project funded by the Department of Health and managed by Mind, the national mental health charity. ‘Putting us First’ aimed to increase the numver of people with mental health support needs receiving a personalised approach to their support. The project ran from 2008-2010.

Since working at Norah Fry, Pauline has also completed research projects about befriending and short-break services, transition from children’s to adults services, and understandings of psychotropic medications by people with learning difficulties prescribed this treatment.

Recent Publications

Heslop, P. (2010) A Guide to…Personal Budgets. London: Mind.

Heslop, P. & Macaulay, F. (2010) Damage limitation. Learning Disability Today January 2010,16-18.

Heslop, P. & Macaulay, F. (2009) Hidden Pain? Self-injury and people with learning disabilities. Bristol: Bristol Crisis Service for Women.

Heslop, P & Williams, V. (2009) Personalisation in mental health: Breaking down the barriers. A guide for care co-ordinators. London: Mind.

Heslop, P. & Abbott, D. (2008) Help to move on-but to what? Young people with learning difficulties moving on from out-of-area residential schools and colleges. British Journal of Learning Disabilities 37, 12-20.

Heslop, P. & Abbott, D. (2007) School’s Out: pathways for young people with intellectual disabilities from out-of-area residential schools or colleges. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. 51 (7) 489-496

Spandler, H. & Heslop, P. (2007) ‘Exercising choice and control: Independent living, Direct Payments and self-harm’ in Spandler, H. (ed.) Beyond fear and control: working with young people who self-harm. 42^nd Street, Manchester.

Heslop, P. (2006) Moving on from an out-of-area residential school or college: what parents say helps. Insight. Issue 4 July/August 2006 45-46.

Williams, V. & Heslop, P. (2006) Filling the emotional gap at transition: young people with learning difficulties and friendship. Tizard Learning Disability Review, 11 (4) 28-37.

Heslop, P. (2005) Good practice in befriending services for people with learning difficulties. British Journal of Learning Disabilities 33 (1) 27-33.

Heslop, P., Williams, V. & Hoadley, S. (2005) What friends are for. Young Minds, 77, 16-17

Heslop, P., Folkes, L. & Rodgers, J. (2005) The knowledge people with learning disabilities and their carers have about psychotropic medication. Learning Disability Review 10 (4) 10-18.

Williams, V. & Heslop, P. (2005) Mental health support needs of people with a learning difficulty: a medical or a social model? Disability & Society. 20 (3) 231-245.

Heslop, P. (2004) Quality Measures for Befriending Services. Shared Care Network, Bristol.

Heslop, P. & Robinson, C. (2004) Befriending: more than just finding friends? Shared Care Network, Bristol.

Heslop, P., Folkes, L. Rodgers, J. (2004) Why medication matters. Learning Disability Practice 7, 9, 10-12

Heslop, P., Folkes, L. & Rodgers, J. (2004) Medication Matters. Living Well, 4  (4) 9-11

Heslop, P. (2003) Breaking News. Community Care 13-19 November. 36.

Heslop, P. (2003) Bridging the divide at transition: what might make it better? Climb Update, 2, 1.

Heslop, P. & Lindow, V. (2003) Disabled people and mental health support services. Mind and Joseph Rowntree Foundation, London.

Mallett, R., Ward, L., Heslop, P. & Simons, K. (2003) Transition Planning: How well does it work for young people with learning disabilities and their families? British Journal of Special Education, 30, 3, 132-137.

Mallett, R., Power, M. & Heslop, P. (2003) All Change: Transition into adult life. A resource for young people with learning difficulties, family carers and professionals. Pavilion, Brighton.

Ward, L. Mallett, R., Heslop, P., Simons, K. (2003) Gap Years. Community Care 20-26 February. 34-35.

Ward, L., Mallett, R., Heslop, P., Simons, K. (2003) Planning for Health at Transition. Learning Disability Practice, 6, 3, 24-27.

Ward, L., Heslop, P., Mallett, R., Simons, K. (2003) Transition: the experiences of young people with learning disabilities and their families in England. Tizard Learning Disability Review. 8 (4) 19-28.

Heslop, P., Mallett, R., Simons, K. & Ward, L. (2002) Bridging the Divide at transition: what happens for young people with learning difficulties and their families? BILD, Kidderminster.

Teaching

City & Guilds (7307) Further and Adult Education Teachers Certificate.

Open College Network Equal Opportunities in Education Certificate.

Pauline has taught sessions on Master’s Courses throughout the University for: the School for Policy Studies, the Graduate School of Education, Clinical Audiology, and Clinical Psychology. She is currently the joint course director for the Inclusive Research module of the Post-graduate Certificate in Inclusive Theory and Practice at the Norah Fry Research Centre.