Dr Jane McCarthy MB ChB, MD, MRCGP, FRCPsych
Dr McCarthy joined the St Andrew’s Nottinghamshire team in April 2011 as Clinical Director, leading the development of the clinical assessment and treatment models for our Learning Disability and Autistic Spectrum Disorder secure pathways.
Jane brings a wealth of experience with her to the team; a specialist in the Psychiatry of Learning Disability she has actively contributed for over 15 years through research, teaching, and as a Consultant Psychiatrist towards service delivery and development.
From September 2009 until December 2010, Jane acted as Clinical Advisor for Adults with Autism at the Department of Health, supporting the first year delivery of the strategy ‘Fulfilling and Rewarding lives: The strategy for adults with Autism in England’. She has lectured extensively at both undergraduate and postgraduate degree level at University College London, University of Cambridge and St. George’s, University of London. Currently Jane is the interim course leader for the Institute of Psychiatry’s MSc Mental Health in Learning Disabilities at King’s College London.
Experience
Having graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery in 1982, Jane became a Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) in 1987 and a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych) in 1991. She was awarded her Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) from the University of London in 2005 and in 2008 became a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Since October 1995, Jane has held Consultant Psychiatrist posts in a range of learning disability services for both adolescents and adults across the country.
Research interests
Jane’s key research interests include the outcomes of psychiatric disorders in people with learning disabilities across the lifespan including those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. In the last five years Jane has significantly contributed to research in this area having obtained funding for a number of research initiatives including ‘Mental Health Outcomes in Adults with Autism and Learning Disabilities’ as well as ‘Effective treatments for people with Neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan and intellectual ability.’ In recognition of her contribution to research, in 1998 she was awarded the Brian Oliver Research Prize for Psychiatry of Learning Disability and in addition the Lundbeck Debating Prize in 2000.