Skip navigation

Dr Helen Atkin

Assistant Professor

Department: Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing

Prior to joining Northumbria University, I practiced as an Occupational Therapist (OT) in neurological rehabilitation in the NHS for 17 years and held the positions of Professional Lead OT and Service User Involvement Lead. I have a particular interest in inclusive practice and have considerable experience in working with service users/ family members and staff to co-produce research, evaluation and service improvement.

I have extended my interest in this area through my doctoral studies which focused on how service users and staff assumptions in neurological rehabilitation influence experiences of inclusion and subsequently outcomes of rehabilitation.  Facilitating critical dialogue and co-production between service users and students/ health care staff is at the heart of my teaching and research.

Recovery Through Care Coordination Research Project

UK Network for Participatory Research Network 

Campus Address

H008
Coach Lane Campus East


  • Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
  • Experiences of community connectors supporting activities during COVID-19, Bradley, G., Atkin, H., Atkin, B., Luddington, S., Miller, A. 13 Feb 2024, In: Activities, Adaptation and Aging
  • Patient and public involvement in research published in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy 2015–2021: A scoping review, Williamson, R., Atkin, H., Thomson, L., Wood, O., Whitehead, P. 1 Jun 2023, In: British Journal of Occupational Therapy
  • Exploring potential for occupational therapy practice models within areas of social deprivation: a qualitative inquiry within a community-centred food cooperative, Adams, R., Atkin, H., Lee, R., Hackett, S., Hackett, K. 1 Oct 2022, In: British Journal of Occupational Therapy
  • Co-production in research: co-researcher perspectives on its value and challenges, Atkin, H., Wood, O., Thomson, L. Jul 2020, In: British Journal of Occupational Therapy
  • Co-production in research: coresearcher perspectives on its values and challenges, Atkin, H., Thomson, L., Wood, O. 2020, In: British Journal of Occupational Therapy
  • From conference conversation to research impact and practice development, Atkin, H., Otter, P. 17 Jun 2019, RCOT 2019: Inspiring, informing, involving, London, SAGE
  • The ducking stool - the benefit of disruption to practitioner thinking, Atkin, H., Cook, T. 1 Aug 2018, Royal College of Occupational Therapy Conference Book of Abstracts, SAGE
  • Participatory Research Into Inclusive Practice: Improving Services for People With Long Term Neurological Conditions, Cook, T., Atkin, H., Wilcockson, J. 29 Nov 2017, In: Forum: Qualitative Social Research
  • In-depth Analysis of Qualitative Interviews for the Deciding Together Consultation, Brandon, T., Atkin, H. 3 Apr 2016
  • Is There a Pathway to Recovery Through Care Coordination? Early Findings from an emancipatory action research project, Atkin, H., Brandon, T., Thomson, L. Jul 2014, In: The Approach Journal: Care Coordination Association

  • Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
  • Hosting an academic visitor: Patricia de Cunha Belchior 2022
  • Other: Service User and Carer Involvement in Occupational Therapy Education – Responding to Fast-Paced Delivery Changes During COVID-19. Occupational Therapy News. May. pp,43-44 2021
  • Other: How are people in social prescribing roles continuing to support engagement in activity for those identified as vulnerable during the COVID-19 outbreak? a Participatory Action Research Study 2020
  • Other: Patient and public involvement consultation group (Royal College of Occupational Therapy) 2020
  • Other: Peer reviewer British Journal of Occupational Therapy 2020
  • Oral presentation: Can Royal College of Occupational Therapy conference conversations lead to practice development and research impact? RCOT Annual Conference 2019
  • Other: Identifying the influence of involving service users in classroom based simulation activities prior to occupational therapy clinical practice placements: A mixed methods evaluation involving multiple perspectives 2019
  • Examination: PhD Personal Storytelling for Wellbeing: Form, Content and Process 2019
  • Membership of board: Royal College of Occupational Therapists (External organisation) 2019
  • Invited talk: So how do we do this together? Workshop for stroke services. 2019

Catherine Neville How can Universities Facilitate the Stimming Needs of their Autistic Students? Start Date: 18/01/2021

  • Academic Studies in Education CertHE July 22 2019
  • PhD October 23 2017
  • Occupational Therapy MSc September 02 1996
  • DipCOT July 26 1982
  • Diploma College of Occupational Therapists Dip COT) 1979
  • HCPC registered


a sign in front of a crowd
+

Northumbria Open Days

Open Days are a great way for you to get a feel of the University, the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the course(s) you are interested in.

Research at Northumbria
+

Research at Northumbria

Research is the life blood of a University and at Northumbria University we pride ourselves on research that makes a difference; research that has application and affects people's lives.

NU World
+

Explore NU World

Find out what life here is all about. From studying to socialising, term time to downtime, we’ve got it covered.


Latest News and Features

academic Jennifer Aston pictured in a law library holding an open book
Launch of The Regeneration Shop in Chopwell. Sarah Cotton, Senior Programmes Manager at Chopwell Regeneration Group; Jennine Wilson, Lecturer in Fashion and Senior Technician at Northumbria University; Hal Convery, Shop Manager at The Regeneration Shop; Crystal Hicks, Executive Director of Chopwell Regeneration Group; Gayle Cantrell, Assistant Professor BA Fashion Communication at Northumbria University; Sophie Wetherell, Assistant Professor BA Fashion / MA Fashion Design at Northumbria University; Emma Jane Goldsmith Assistant Professor BA Fashion / MA Fashion Design at Northumbria University; Professor Anne Peirson-Smith, Head of Fashion at Northumbria University.
Mooting
A new toolkit has been developed to support rural communities with the development of renewable energy projects. Photo: Adobe Stock
From left to right: Natalie Winchester, Subject Lead Health and Social Care and Post-16 Raising Standard Leader at Bede Academy, Dr Julie Derbyshire – Director of Apprenticeships and Assistant Professor in Nursing at Northumbria University, Andrew Thelwell – Principal at Bede Academy, Professor Alison Machin, Head of Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health at Northumbria University and pupils from Bede Academy.
British Military Uniform
More news

Back to top