Carole Watkins

Biography

I qualified from Newcastle upon Tyne Polytechnic School of Physiotherapy in 1986, moved to Stoke on Trent and worked within the NHS for over 16 years before moving into teaching. After completing my junior rotational posts in Staffordshire I undertook Senior II roles in General Medicine/Neurology and Neurosurgery and Care of the Elderly, before specialising as a Senior I in acute neurorehabilitation at the sub-regional neurology and neurosurgery units at the now University Hospital of North Staffordshire. My final move was into the field of gerontology (acute rehabilitation and community), which fired my passion for working with and championing older adults. After several years as a clinical educator and sessional teacher at Keele whilst working clinically, I commenced full time teaching at Keele in 2002.

Current roles beyond the School of Allied Health Professions: Involved in Interprofessional Education activities within the Faculty of Health at Keele; Internal Quality Assurance assessor for Keele University; Member of Faculty User and Carer Liaison group; Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Education Representative (Quality Assurance and Enhancement (QAE) network)

Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)
Member of the Health & Care Professionals Council (HCPC)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
Member of AGILE (CSP clinical interest group for Chartered Physiotherapists working with older people)

Research and scholarship

I gained my PGC (HE) from Keele in 2003, was awarded an MSc Neuromusculoskeletal Health Care Degree from Keele in 2006, and am currently studying for a Doctorate in Education (Research Institute for Social Sciences, Keele).

My research interests are in the areas of education, neurological rehabilitation and gerontology. My specific research interests currently are:
Ageism and attitudes of healthcare professionals and healthcare students towards older adults and the potential factors and experiences which may inform these attitudes, including the influence and value of gerontological education within healthcare.
The use of simulation as a teaching tool, and in particular the efficacy of age suit simulation in replicating age related changes in young adults and the potential impact of age suit simulation in influencing perceptions about older adults/ageing.
Frailty across the lifecourse

Teaching

I teach on a number of modules across all three years of the undergraduate Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Science Programmes, as well as postgraduate teaching on modules within the School of Allied Health Professions. I also have a range of experience teaching on other programmes (undergraduate and postgraduate) both within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Keele and within the wider university. My teaching and research supervision lies predominantly within the areas of education, professional practice, neurology, neurological rehabilitation and the care of older adults. I was nominated for a Keele Learning & Teaching Excellence award in 2013 and both a Keele Learning & Teaching Excellence award and a Student Choice award in 2018. I have also presented at Teaching and Learning Symposiums at Keele.