Ms Lynda Hughes

• Qualifications:Education and Qualifications Education Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice in Higher Education (PGCAPHE) 18th September 2018. Master of Science (MSc) Management and Leadership in Health and Social Care. Merit University of the West of England, Bristol 1st March 2016 Master of Science (MSc) Occupational Therapy Brunel University, London 1st July 2005 Diploma Occupational Therapy Liverpool University 1st July 1992 Other Certified Dementia Best Practice Facilitator. Stirling University February 2016 Solution Focussed Counselling Practitioner Training. Completed 31/07/2014 Motivational Interviewing Practitioner Training. Completed 01/11/2013 Occupational Therapy Case Formulation. Completed 4/10/2013 Professional Leads Development Programme. Completed 31/10/2011 Standardised Assessment in Occupational Therapy University of the West of England. Completed 08/10/2010 Membership of Professional Bodies Health Professions Council (HCPC) Membership number: OT21268 British Association of Occupational Therapists Membership No: BT0205703
• Position:Co-programme Lead and Senior Lecturer Occupational Therapy
• Department:College of Health, Science and Society
• Telephone:+441173284951
• Email:Lynda.Hughes@uwe.ac.uk

About me

I currently co-lead the fulltime  BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy programme at uwe. I have also been programme lead of  the MSc in Rehabilitation (UWE and in Partnership with Hainan Medical University, China), where I integrate my educational experience, clinical expertise and research into teaching.

Teaching Expertise

Lynda teaches a wide range of modules including:

• Human Occupation, Health and Wellbeing
• Fatigue Management
• Principles of Dementia Care
• Leadership and Innovation
• Research Methods for Advanced Clinical Practitioners
• Quality Improvement

I am committed to aligning learning objectives with delivery and assessment, and receive consistent positive feedback from students for engaging and supportive teaching style.

Research Interests

I am currently undertaking PhD research at UWE focused on the Handy OT Model—a practical framework I co-developed to support occupation-centred practice. My research explores how occupational therapists use and develop the model to enhance health and wellbeing for individuals experiencing severe and complex health challenges. 

Area of expertise

I am Co-programme lead (full time) and Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy at the University of the West of England.  I contribute to a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, including the MSc Rehabilitation programme.

My passion lies in enabling students and practitioners to connect deeply with the principles of occupation-centred practice, and to use these principles to transform lives.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working across diverse clinical settings—from dementia care and mental health to stroke rehabilitation and paediatrics. I led the nationally recognised Forget Me Not Centre, a pioneering service for people with young onset dementia, which became a model of excellence in person-centred care. My work there was honoured with the NHS National Patient Champion of the Year Award, and I’ve also received the Regional NHS Leadership Recognition Award and the Recovery Award for my contributions to dementia care.

Education and leadership are central to my professional identity. I’ve developed and delivered dementia education to hundreds of professionals across health and social care, created accessible learning resources, and contributed to national media projects including SCIE films and BBC Radio 4. I believe in the power of storytelling, co-production, and inclusive learning environments to foster real change.

Currently, I’m undertaking PhD research at UWE focused on the Handy OT Model—a framework I co-developed to support therapists in understanding and promoting meaningful occupation. This research is rooted in participatory action and aims to co-create practical tools that enhance clinical reasoning and therapeutic impact.

I have also been a trustee of the White Horse Care Trust, supporting adults with learning disabilities across Wiltshire, and I continue to collaborate with NHS Trusts on quality improvement initiatives.

My work is driven by a belief that occupational therapy, when truly centred on the person and their meaningful occupations, can be life-changing. I’m committed to nurturing the next generation of therapists, advancing our profession, and ensuring that the voices of those we serve are heard, valued, and amplified.

Accolades and Recognition

2015

NHS National Patient Champion of the year

In 2015 my ability to both speak out and develop robust processes to enable quietened voices to be heard, led to me being awarded NHS National Patient Champion of the year.

2014

Regional NHS Leadership Recognition Awards: Patient Champion of the Year award for her work at the Forget Me Not Centre, supporting people with early onset dementia to reclaim and maintain satisfying, productive and enjoyable lives.

2010

Recovery Award

Avon and Wiltshire NHS Mental Health Partnership: For the successful adoption of the recovery model for people living with dementia.

Presenting and communicating at a wide range of conferences and to a diverse range of stakeholders.

I have regularly presented at professional and cross sector conferences such as: International Consensus Conference Madrid, Kindling the Spark – Creativity in Dementia Conference, National Alzheimer’s Society Conference, Occupational Therapy for Older People Specialist Section (OTOP) Annual Conference and Swindon Dementia Conference.

Academic leadership and publications

I have been involved in developing educational resources to support dementia education and practice for several years and have been instrumental in the publication / broadcast of many resources. A selection is detailed below:

·       Dementia Education and Training

Developed and delivered dementia education to over 800 people of many different professions and competencies in within health and social care. Courses range from one off sessions to year-long programmes.

·       Writing:

(Book currently in publication process):

Hughes L and Foster L (2017) Understanding changes to memory and thinking: How to help yourself and others. Available on request)

Hughes, L (2012) The Forget Me Not Centre in: EDs Marshall M and Gilliard J (2012) Fresh air on my face: Transforming the Quality of Life for People with Dementia through Contact with the Natural World, Jessica Kingsley publishers.

Hughes L (2016) ‘Pumping up the Volume of the Voices’. The Secret Life of Working with People with Dementia as Equal Partners – My journey of Personal Transformation in Understanding the World

Unpublished dissertation (in process of publication)

Hughes L (2005) A Randomised control trial to investigate the Impact of an Occupational Therapy Group Programme on the Quality of Life of People with a Mild Cognitive Impairment. Unpublished dissertation. Presented at the International Conference of Non-Pharmacological Therapies in Madrid 2006.

Balding C (2014) Walking home - The Walking Cure (P179-182)

·       Media: Film

Film is an incredibly powerful medium – through film people who are not usually heard can be seen telling their stories in their own words.

I have contacted various organisations and film makers to encourage and support the creation of media that enables the vital and empowering voices of people living with dementia to be heard. I have supported and coordinated the process from start to finish including supporting people with dementia to be involved an share their knowledge and insights. A selection of films are included below.

SCIE Living with young onset dementia 2012

This film introduces Ian Grant and Sandy Reed, who were both diagnosed with dementia in their 50's.

 http://www.scie.org.uk/socialcaretv/video-player.asp?guid=61aa9350-6c43-4098-bb5d-1c0ee733f3c7

SCIE Getting to know the person 2013

This film won its category (Best factual new media) at the Older People Media Awards 2013.

http://www.scie.org.uk/socialcaretv/video-player.asp?v=gettingtoknowthepersonwithdementia

Forget Me Not Walking Group

Does a diagnosis of dementia mean that life is over? Not according to the members of the Walking Group.

 http://www.innovationsindementia.org.uk/videos_walkinggroup.htm

Wiltshire County Council – Wiltshire Voices

Wiltshire Voices enables people to have a say in their own way.  These are their own words.

http://southernwilts.ourcommunitymatters.org.uk/news/wiltshire-voices-living-with-dementia/

http://truevisiontv.com/wiltshire-voices---dementia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxoocCWU_VY

Interview of the Wiltshire voices launch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UC356w_hw8

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/3970931.Living_life_despite_dementia/

Radio

Ramblings Radio 4 Series 16. 25.9.10

Clare Balding walks through the Wiltshire countryside with a Swindon based group of people with early onset dementia.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tw5xt

Publications

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