Profile

Interests

• Power and democracy in the mental health system
• Mental health law and practice 
• Lived experience of mental health service use
• Arts and sensory methods for social work education, social research and social action

Brief biography

Professional

Before moving into a university setting, I practised for ten years as a mental health social worker in London, Yorkshire and the North West, qualifying at the University of Leeds in 1982. Throughout my academic career I have remained actively involved in the mental health community, collaborating with service user organisations, voluntary sector services, and statutory mental health agencies. Projects have included research, consultancy, teaching, supervision, management and campaigning activities. From 2002-2006 I was Non-Executive Director of a mental health and learning disability NHS Trust, with roles in relation to the integration of social work and social care, oversight of the high secure mental health service, development of equality and diversity strategy, and undertaking statutory duties under mental health legislation. I am currently a Trustee Board Member of York Housing Association, focusing particularly on organisational performance and tenant participation in management.

Teaching and programme delivery

For the Social Work programmes I teach Communication Skills for Social Work (MA), Theory for Social Work (BA and MA), Mental Health Law, Policy and Practice (BA and MA). My main administrative role is as Final Placements Tutor, co-ordinating applications and allocation of final placements, in consultation with our local agency partners. This role includes strategic development of the practice element of the programmes.  From 2006-2010 was responsible for post-qualifying social work education at York and established a programme for practice educators. Prior to 2006, I worked at Liverpool John Moores University, where I led the regional post-graduate ASW Programme, developed a multi-disciplinary MA in mental health studies and delivered associated short courses for external bodies.

Research

Research and research supervision

My enduring research interest has been power and democracy in the mental health system, including mental health law and practice, lived experience of mental health service use, service user/survivor participation in policy and service development, multi-disciplinary working and new professional roles. I have worked since 1990 on service user/survivor/carer participation in mental health and social work education. At York I have helped the service user and carer group for social work to contribute to national developments through projects and conferences and we are working towards publishing the outcomes of these activities. A recently emerging interest is the use of arts and sensory methods for social work education, social research and social action. I have presented this work at several conferences and am presently preparing two papers for publication. I supervise students on pre-qualifying and research programmes, with a core focus on mental health related projects. I have most experience with qualitative methodology and a strong theoretical and practical interest in visual and sensory methods.

Publications

Walton, P. and Latham, N. (2005). Complementary therapy services for mental health service users: Results of a consultation project. Health Education Journal. 64(4), 347-362.

Walton, P. (2005). ‘Coming Alive’: report to CIC on the first phase of the ‘…towards social inclusion’ project in northwest England. Community Integrated Care, Cheshire.

Walton, P. and Latham, N. (2000). Easing the Mind: Complementary therapies for mental health service users in Liverpool: An exploratory study. Roots Trust, Liverpool.

Walton, P. (2000). Reforming the Mental Health Act, 1983: An Approved Social Worker Perspective. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 22(4), 401-414.

Walton, P. (2000). Psychiatric hospital care: a case of the more things change, the more they remain the same. Journal of Mental Health, 9(1), 77-88.

Walton, P. (1999). Social Work and Mental Health: refocusing the training agenda for ASWs. Social Work Education, 18(4), 375-388.