The NIHR Oxford Health Clinical Research Facility (CRF), based at the Warneford Hospital in Oxford, is the only NIHR supported CRF dedicated to mental health and is hosted by Oxford Health. In partnership with the University of Oxford, the CRF deliver patient-orientated non-commercial and commercial early phase experimental clinical research that has the potential to discover new ways of understanding and treating cognitive health challenges.

Being a researcher and working in any healthcare setting requires a high level of safety. Katy works diligently to ensure that all safety criteria are met while overseeing a huge number of trials with hundreds of participants. Katy continuously displays an ability to maintain a high standard despite a great workload and pressure. Psychological safety is critical in all aspects of life, including the workplace. Katy’s presence in a room creates a sense of stability, and her professional, empathetic, personable, and strong personality makes individuals feel supported in everything they do under her supervision.

Katy is compassionate, and professional. Her compassion spreads to the staff at the CRF, where Katy is always accessible for professional or personal support, listens to staff concerns, is fast to handle issues and provide answers, and prioritises staff well-being. She is always kind to participates, offering a compassionate and personable approach.

From directing the team on complex issues, to being positive when the team face challenging times, Katy encompasses leadership, professionalism and excellence at the highest level. Katy is a role model and a privilege to work with.

Leading from the front and encompassing all the Trust stands for means that Katy makes a difference with whomever she interacts with. Katy’s high standards of professionalism, compassion and drive has an overall effect on all involved with CRF.

The nomination

Katy was nominated by Clinical Research Assistant Dan Middleton, for being a positive and excellent colleague.

Dan commented:

“In the last week alone, I have seen Katy support a colleague who had had some difficult personal problems, adapt to a lack of staffing and, without flinching, pick up the extra workload, as well as offering to stay later at work to support studies that ran later than the normal working day.

“I have also seen Katy laugh with staff members, enjoy cake that had been brought in, because even superheroes enjoy cake, and direct the CRF team on multiple studies, again juggling an unbelievable caseload of studies whilst remaining stoic and not dropping her excellent standards.”