Mrs Sarah Harvey

I am module lead and cohort tutor for Occupational Therapy students and teach across the degree and apprenticeship courses. I support leadership placements as a supervisor and enjoy working with students across the faculty to improve student experience.

I love collaborating with students and working creatively. Projects I have initiated for and with students include developing virtual coffee breaks during the pandemic, online writing retreats to support academic submission, taskmaster home visit events to promote reconnection, and developing the use of Sim actors to enhance practice skills and encouraging student publication and poster presentation at local conference events.

Prior to working at Canterbury Christ Church University, I specialised as an occupational therapist working collaboratively with adults who experienced mental health problems. I have worked in a variety of roles in both in-patient and community mental health teams; Team Lead Band 7 and Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist.

I have a special interest in group work. I was awarded Master of Arts, distinction in ‘Working with groups’ at the Tavistock and Portman clinic, affiliated to University East London. At the time, I was leading on a dementia care training course initiative, in a specialist dementia care service. My research project was entitled: The impact of group dynamics on learning: an evaluation of a Dementia care training course.

I have taught at Canterbury Christ Church University since 2011. I was awarded a post graduate Certificate in Academic Practice in 2017 and became an Academic Fellow in 2017.

In 2018, I received a Teaching Excellence award for my work co-producing an empathy raising film with experts by experience, that is used as a reflective tool for students and professionals in practice.

I am involved in researching and evaluating the Schwartz round project success, leading on student co-design in the research process. A particular interest for me is the value and impact of personal disclosure and storytelling. This interest started when I volunteered for a local charity and co-facilitated supportive/educational groups for people in or leaving domestic violent relationships.

In 2018 as part of a small team, we received an award from the KCC innovation fund to produce a similar film entitled ‘Suicide awareness: encouraging helpful conversations.' We worked collaboratively with students who have experienced suicidal ideation, to inform this project. The film is now used to train staff at CCCU and other organisations.

In 2017, I worked as part of a team at Canterbury Christ Church University with a team in an NHS mental health trust, to produce an empathy raising film. I worked with experts by experience in mental health and practitioners, to improve collaboration in practice. The film was used for training in practice and currently used in lectures as a reflective tool for students.