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Biography
Dr Jennifer Allotey is a Registered Forensic Psychologist (Practitioner Psychologist) and a Registered Social Worker. Jennifer is an Assistant Professor of Forensic Psychology at the University of Nottingham where she teaches, contributes to research, and supervises students and trainee psychologists on the MSc in Forensic and Criminological Psychology and the Doctorate in Forensic Psychology (DForenPsy).
Jennifer has a clinical specialism in harmful sexual behaviour / sexual offending, with experience of working across the life course including undertaking assessment and therapeutic interventions with children, adolescents, and adults in a range of community and secure settings. Jennifer's experience includes several years working in child protection social work, fostering and adoption, alongside specialist services such as NSPCC, The Lucy Faithfull Foundation and Safer Lives. Jennifer was the Clinical Lead for Harmful Sexual Behaviour at Forensic CAMHS for six years, working with children and families in the community and within the youth secure estate and she also has experience in adult forensic mental health within a medium secure hospital. Jennifer is currently a Senior Forensic Psychologist within the Youth Custody Service and has significant experience of providing clinical leadership and clinical supervision.
Jennifer is experienced in risk assessment and a range of psychological assessments, alongside psychological formulation, and psychological therapies and interventions. Jennifer is also an experienced trainer, delivering training in forensic practice with children both nationally and internationally.
Research Summary
Jennifer's doctoral thesis is entitled 'It's my normal: An exploration of adversity, trauma, and attachment disruption in adolescents who have displayed harmful sexual behaviour'. This includes:
A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES) exploring attachment experiences of adolescents who have displayed harmful sexual behaviour.
A quantitative study exploring experiences of adversity and trauma in boys serving a custodial sentence for a sexual offence.
A qualitative study exploring the lived experiences of boys serving a custodial sentence for a sexual offence.
A psychometric critique of the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children, with refernce to its use in youth custody.