The Research Team
Dr Tom Berney
Developmental Psychiatrist (retired from clinical practice)
Director on the Board of a charity, ‘Education and Support for People with Autism’ (ESPA)
Clinical Coordinator for the Brain Bank for Autism in Oxford
Volunteer at Newcastle University
I trained as a Child Psychiatrist in Newcastle and, after a period as a consultant in Leicester, returned to a post in Developmental Psychiatry in Newcastle where I specialised increasingly in Autism, both as a clinician and a researcher. After some years as the psychiatrist to an autism specialist school (Thornhill Park), I became involved in the development of specialist residential services for adults (ESPA and Autism North) – ESPA included a residential further education college, I was on the Council of the National Autistic Society and now liaise between this and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Four years ago, I retired from the NHS to focus on this field. Throughout, I have been actively involved in the College and in the development of policy and training around autism in adults.
During my clinical career, I have been largely employed by the Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Trust and its predecessors and based at Prudhoe & Northgate Hospitals as well as the Fleming Nuffield Child Psychiatry Unit (the latter commitment phasing out after the arrival of Ann leCouteur). I also had an honorary link with Newcastle University.
My current interests are in the development of adult community services, ASD training, and in research (I am involved in this Autism Spectrum, Adulthood and Ageing programme (Newcastle University). the study of the Specialist Autism Teams (York University), the development of the SCAN (Leicester) as well as providing support to the Oxford Brain Bank).
