Overview

Dr Suzanne Azer – Senior Lecturer, Convenor, EDI tutor , Anti-Racism Trainer

Dr Suzanne Azer trained as a Clinical Psychologist qualifying in 2009 and has specialised in working with the impact of psychological trauma. She has worked in the NHS and third sector trauma services including domestic and sexual violence services. Dr Azer is interested in the traumatic consequences of discrimination, including racial trauma, and advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in clinical and organisational practice. She has worked as a clinician, consultant and clinical supervisor and as an educator and programme manager. Suzanne has been recognised for her work in anti-racism , and in addressing Black health inequalities in particular, including an Above and Beyond Award by the University in 2022.

In the NHS, Dr Azer worked clinically in secondary mental health services for 15 years with adults individually and in groups. She has a special interest in supervision, staff wellbeing, service development and training and held a post as Professional Lead for Training for the Psychology and Psychological Therapy service in Devon Partnership NHS Trust where she designed, developed and delivered training to community , inpatient and psychological therapy staff on core clinical skills for psychological practice , clinical risk training and preventing vicarious trauma. She initiated the first audit of Black and Asian service user experiences in 2019,  surveying staff cultural competency training needs and supported the development of anti-racist clinical practice training.

Dr Azer currently works as a Senior Lecturer on the Clinical Psychology Doctorate  leading on Clinical Skills and Reflective and Organisational Practice teaching. She also holds a position as Clinical Lead and Programme Manager for the Psychological Professions Network South West (PPN-SW, hosted within CEDAR) where she works with the NHS England SW Workforce Training and Education team and with regional psychological professions networks across England.

Suzanne is passionate about working to improve Equity and Inclusion and for co-production with service users and carers to be at the heart of all our work. She has led on raising the profile of the impact of marginalisation and trauma informed practice in her NHS roles. Suzanne led a team funded by Health Education England tasked with improving racial equity and widening access within the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programme at Exeter between 2021-2022 , including providing group mentoring. Suzanne offers facilitated spaces to racialised minority trainees and support to staff on Clinical Psychology and other programmes externally and is a RISE Black and Minority Ethnic Leadership mentor to NHS psychological professionals.  She is particularly interested in upskilling staff and  developed and delivered training on working with racial trauma to operational and clinical staff at HM Prison service in London in 2022.  She has recently been commissioned to develop and deliver training on preventing racial trauma for inpatient and secure (forensic) mental health services in the SW region.