Catherine Carus

Biography

Graduated from Pinderfields College of Physiotherapy in 1990 and began what was then a Basic Grade rotational post at The Halifax general, West Yorkshire. I left in 1992 to gain more experience in the field of musculoskeletal physiotherapy as a Locum Physiotherapist and worked in a number of hospitals outside the region. During this time I undertook a number of specialist skills courses to improve my practice and clinical reasoning. I took a rotational Senior II job in Huddersfield and undertook the post-graduate manipulation course at Sheffield Hallam University and in 1995 gained a Senior I post at Bradford Teaching Hospitals N.H.S Foundation Trust in Musculoskeletal Outpatients. During my time in Bradford I was seconded to work collaboratively with Dr Frances Cole who was a local GP trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and together we set up a Pain rehabilitation programme in Bradford for people living with chronic, benign musculoskeletal pain. From 1996-2000 we developed and refined the programme and began to work with and train other pain teams in the region (Calderdale, Kirklees and Dewsbury) and helped them to set up and deliver their own programmes. We started to write Overcoming Chronic Pain with Service User’s in Bradford, together with two additional colleagues this work was eventually published in 2005. In 1999 I had the opportunity to come to the University of Bradford to contribute to their undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, initially as a secondment for 1 year. The secondment was extended and I was employed permanently and went on to complete my Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice and MSc Rehabilitation Studies. I have been very fortunate to undertake a number of different roles as opportunities have been made available. I am currently Programme Lead Specialist Skills to Post Registration (formally Continuing Professional Development) and seconded to Programme Lead in Certificate of Higher Education in Professional Support (CHEPS). The CHEPS programme is a part-time programme aimed at developing and skilling the local and regional NHS & Social Care support workforce. The programme reflects and supports the current NHS workforce transformation agenda.

Research Interest

Long term conditions, chronic/persistent pain, low back pain, fibromyalgia syndrome.