Meet the Team

Co-Chair, Psychological Professions Network South West

Head of Psychology and Psychological Professions, Devon Partnership Trust

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Dr Phil Self is the Head of Psychology and Psychological Professions for Devon Partnership Trust. Phil is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who has worked in the NHS for over 20 years, initially in and around London before working in Cambridge and then moving to the South West in 2005. Phil has held clinical leadership positions in a range of different services including Inpatient and Community Mental Health teams, Early Intervention in Psychosis and IAPT services, and other specialist psychological services in a range of health and forensic settings. Phil was the first Programme Lead for the Post-Graduate training programme for CBT for psychosis at Exeter University and also has teaching and academic connections with psychological therapy and psychology training programmes at Plymouth University and UCL. Between 2017 and 2019 Phil also contributed to an NHS England South West Mental Health Workforce Steering Group.

He is passionate about the shared, complementary and unique skills and knowledge that psychological professions can offer to the NHS and about developing a collective voice to positively influence workforce planning and development across the South West region.

Co-Chair, Psychological Professions Network South West

Director of Clinical Training (Post-Graduate Taught) CEDAR, University of Exeter

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Catherine is the Co-Chair of PPN-SW and is a Clinical Psychologist and accredited CBT therapist. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Exeter and has worked in Clinical Practice Education since 2007. She is the Director of Clinical Training (Post Graduate Taught Programmes) for CEDAR (Clinical Education Development and Research) Applied Psychological Centre of Excellence at the University of Exeter, leading the delivery of Psychological Professions training programmes, post qualifying practice training and related research and impact activity.

Her clinical specialism is within Children and Young People's mental health and she works regionally and nationally in relation to Children and Young People's workforce strategy, training and implementation and supporting service transformation. Catherine is passionate about developing and growing all of the different Psychological Professions as well as new roles to maximise their impact and effectiveness and doing so in partnership with Experts by Experience. She is committed to widening access in to Psychological Professions and supporting sustainable career development pathways.

Clinical Lead and Programme Manager, Psychological Professions Network South West

Senior Lecturer and Racial Equity and Inclusion Team Lead, University of Exeter

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Dr Suzanne Azer trained as a Psychologist and has specialised in working with psychological trauma and advancing equity , diversity and inclusion in clinical and organisational practice. She has worked in NHS, private and third sector services as a clinician, clinical supervisor and trainer and in Higher Education as an educator and programme manager.

In the NHS , Suzanne worked clinically in secondary mental health services for 15 years with adults individually and in groups. She has a special interest in supervision, staff wellbeing, service development and training and held a post as Professional Lead for Training for the Psychology and Psychological Therapy service. She currently works as a Senior Lecturer leading on Clinical Skills teaching on the Exeter University Doctorate in Clinical Psychology programme and coordinating the psychological therapies teaching.

Suzanne is passionate about working to improve equity, inclusion and social justice and for co-production to be at the heart of all our work. She has led on raising the profile of the impact of marginalisation and racial trauma in particular in her NHS role, including developing staff training in cultural competency and racial trauma. She currently leads a team funded by Health Education England tasked with improving racial equity and widening access within the Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology at Exeter University.

Suzanne was delighted to join the South West PPN in March 2021 as Clinical Lead and Programme Manager. She is particularly excited to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and trainings to support the development of a number of Communities of Practice and special interest groups cross the region. Please do get in touch if you have interest in contributing to these exciting projects!

Graduate Research Assistant, Psychological Professions Network South West

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Sam is the Graduate Research Assistant for the PPN-SW, and joined the team in April 2021. With a background in Project Management, Sam has been involved in a range of projects focused on improving the quality of health and care in the region, including grant schemes for health innovation, organising events, and research and evaluation work for digital healthcare interventions. Driven by a commitment to equity and diversity and a passion for healthcare improvement, Sam supports the research activity of the PPN-SW.

Administrator, Psychological Professions Network South West

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Sarah joined the PPN SW Team in April 2021 to support the Co-Chairs, Programme Manager and Graduate Research Assistant with the administration of meetings and events.

She has worked at the University of Exeter for two years in roles within the Governance Team of the Doctoral College and also Research Services within the Medical School at the RILD.