缅北禁地

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Staff Profile

Liam Spencer

Research Associate

  • Telephone: (0191) 208 4938
  • Address: Population Health Sciences Institute
    Baddiley-Clark Building
    Richardson Road
    缅北禁地 upon Tyne
    NE2 4AX
Background

I joined 缅北禁地 in December 2014, where I am currently a Research Associate. I am also a Mental Health Fellow for the NIHR ARC North East and North Cumbria (NENC), with a focus on building mental health research capacity in the region.

My current work includes an NIHR-funded study exploring how to develop father-inclusive practice in children's social care; and an NIHR SPHR Public Mental Health project investigating how educational and youth organisations support children and young people in relation to self-harm and suicide. I was recently involved in an evaluation of the Youth Intensive Psychological Practitioners (YIPP) approach within Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, as well as an evaluation of the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) Learning and Improvement System.

Other recent work includes the Best Start in Life evaluation (South Tyneside Council); an ARC NENC-funded evaluation of the implementation of whole-school approaches to mental health in Trailblazer schools; and a project developing inclusive school environments and optimising staff training to support positive mental health in autistic young people. Previous projects include ATTUNE (Understanding Pathways to Stimulant Use), a mixed-methods study across Europe; and a behavioural insights project aimed at improving uptake of drug and alcohol support services in Hartlepool.

Prior to working full-time in academia, I spent several years in youth and community practice across local authority, charity, voluntary, and community organisations. I began my career as a Youth Support Worker for a local authority, initially within a digital media initiative in partnership with a regional newspaper. This involved facilitating creative projects such as podcasts, blogs, and video production. I later moved into an early intervention and prevention role, delivering targeted street-based, drop-in, and youth club sessions with young people identified as at risk of social exclusion or involvement in antisocial behaviour. Alongside this, I worked with Cernis Limited, a London-based consultancy supporting NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), to co-develop an online feedback tool through consultation with young people and service providers.

I later joined a community interest company as a Transitions Worker, supporting young people with learning difficulties and disabilities to develop life skills, prepare for employment or self-employment, and access further education or training. Alongside this, I worked at Barnardo’s as a Children and Young People’s Worker, delivering holiday schemes, short-break provision, and one-to-one support for children and young people with a range of needs, including autism and behavioural challenges. This work focused on promoting social integration, independence, and community participation. In addition, I worked as a Youth Engagement Worker for YoungMinds on a national mental health campaign, delivering workshops in schools and youth settings, and increasing young people’s participation in shaping policy and awareness initiatives.

Alongside my Research Associate role, I am currently completing a PhD (by Published Works), which is a qualitative exploration of the role of early intervention and prevention in mental health.

Background

  • 2024 - Present: Research Associate, 缅北禁地
  • 2014 - 2024: Research Assistant, 缅北禁地
  • 2013 - 2015: Youth Engagement Worker, YoungMinds
  • 2013 - 2015: Children and Young People Worker, Barnardo's
  • 2011 - 2015: Transitions Worker, Patchwork People
  • 2010 - 2011: Young Associate, Cernis Limited
  • 2008 - 2013: Youth Support Worker, Darlington Borough Council

Education

  • Social Science and Health Research MSc, 缅北禁地
  • Psychology BSc (Hons), 缅北禁地

Memberships

  • British Psychological Society
  • FUSE (The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health)
  • IEPA Early Intervention in Mental Health
  • NIHR SPHR ResNet
Research

Research Interests

  • Public mental health
  • Young people's mental health
  • Early intervention and prevention
  • School-based interventions
  • Substance use

Funding

  • Spencer L. (2026) From Research to Action: Supporting Young People’s Mental Health in the North East. The Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust. £3920.00.
  • Sirisena M, Gray L, Spencer L. (2025). Enhancing positive mental health among secondary school children through the TIEM (Trauma-Informed Empowerment-Meaning) Model: An evaluation. 缅北禁地 Faculty of Medical Sciences Tilly Hale Award. £2268.00.
  • Spencer L. (2025). PhD by Publication Award. NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR). £1,800.00.
  • Streckfuss Davis R, Rodohan R, Spencer L, Russell A. (2025). Strengths-based concepts and gender healthcare. NIHR SPHR (ResNet). £18,312.62.
  • Spencer L. (2023). Summer Internship in Public Health Research. NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR). £3978.24.
  • Henderson E, Woodley H, Maniatopoulos G, Flynn D, Spencer L, Newham J, Perkins N. (2022). Evaluation of a piloted Early Help Youth Hub for a multi-academy trust in 缅北禁地. Streetwise Young People's Project. £25,000.
  • Wearn A, Shenton F, El-Zerbi C, Pearson A, Spencer L, Collier Z, Bramhall L, Rogan E, Takunda A, Hollis D, Matthews A, Sheridan S, Leighton K, Jenkins K, Kristen R, Wearn L, Louise N. (2022). Developing inclusive school environments: Optimising the provision of staff training to support positive mental health in autistic young people. NIHR NENC ARC. £24,662.
  • Henderson E, Woodley H, Newham J, Flynn D, Wood M, Maniatopoulos G, Johnson A, Spencer L. (2020). Evaluating the implementation of whole school approaches (WSAs) to improve mental health and wellbeing in the Trailblazer schools. NIHR NENC ARC. £49,287.
  • Flynn D, Scott S, Bhardwaj-Gosling R, Devanney-Glynn C, Rathmell G, Daneshyar J, Gordon I, Spencer L. (2020). Developing and Piloting Mental Health Campaigns in Trailblazer Schools. NHS England North East Clinical Neworks. £20,000.
  • McGovern R, Christie A, Arnott B, Brown H, Hardy C, Harrison H, Kaner E, Claire M, McGovern W, Phillips P, Rankin J, Spencer L. (2020). Public Health Practice Evaluation: Best Start in Life Alliance. NIHR SPHR. £214,299.75.
  • Troy D, Spencer L, McGovern R, Winstone L, Dykxhoorn J, Kidger J, Campbell R. (2019). Investigating the feasibility of delivering a resilience building programme to parents/caregivers of secondary school children. NIHR SPHR (ResNet). £28,890
  • Spencer L, Kaner E. (2018). Living Well - Mental Wellbeing and Public Life in the North East. Tyne and Wear Citizens. (Consultancy). £2,000.
  • Lynch E, Alderson H, McGovern R, Ling J, Spencer L, Scott S, Kaner E. (2018). Using behaviour insight to improve uptake of support for services for drug and alcohol misuse in Hartlepool and to reduce prevalence in children and young people. Hartlepool Borough Council/Local Government Association. £50,000. 
  • Lingam R, McGovern R, Shucksmith J, McArdle P, Barkla X, Robalino S, Geijer-Simpson E, Spencer L, Reynolds A, Kaner E. (2015). Mental Health Issues in Children and Young People. Institute for Local Governance. £44,000.


Teaching
  • HSC8001: Fundamentals of Research
  • HSC8047: Public Policy, Health and Health Inequalities 
  • PSY3040: Psychobiology of Drug Addiction
Publications

  • Articles

    • Spencer LP, Perkins N, Flynn D, Henderson EJ, Maniatopoulos G, Wood M, Woodley H, Newham JJ. . Health Education Journal 2026, Epub ahead of print.
    • Widnall E, Robinson H, Wang L, Hartwell G, Streckfuss Davis R, Mathews F, Mughal F, Spencer L, O'Keeffe S, Russell A, Biddle L, Kidger J. . BMC Public Health 2026, Epub ahead of print.
    • Spencer L, Carling S, Robinson T, Thomson K, Kaner E. . Journal of Mental Health 2025, 34(4), 496-509.
    • Spencer L, Leonard N, Jessiman P, Kaluževičiūtė-Moreton G, Limmer M, Kidger J. . Pastoral Care in Education 2025, 43(2), 242-261.
    • McGovern R, Balogun-Katung A, Artis B, Bareham B, Spencer L, Alderson H, Brown E, Brown J, Lingam R, McArdle P, Newham JJ, Wojciechowska A, Rankin J, Redgate S, Thomason P, Kaner E. . Journal of Prevention 2024, 45, 651-684.
    • Plackett R, Hulin J, Mukuria C, Clowes M, Ramsay SE, Spencer L, Adams EA, Dykxhoorn J, Walters K, Osborn DPJ, Zamperoni V, Jones O, Weich S. . BMC Public Health 2024, 24(1), 3384.
    • Spencer L, Redgate S, Hardy C, Adams EA, Arnott B, Brown H, Christie A, Harrison H, Kaner E, Mawson C, McGovern W, Rankin J, McGovern R. . Journal of Children’s Services 2024, 19(3), 173-188.
    • McDermott E, Kaley A, Kaner E, Limmer M, McGovern R, McNulty F, Nelson R, Geijer-Simpson E, Spencer L. . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4274.
    • McDermott E, Kaley A, Kaner E, Limmer M, McGovern R, McNulty F, Nelson R, Geijer-Simpson E, Spencer L. . Journal of Mental Health 2023, 33(6), 768-778.
    • Adley M, Alderson H, Jackson K, McGovern W, Spencer L, Addison M, O'Donnell A. . International Journal of Social Research Methodology 2023, 27(5), 559-574.
    • Redgate S, Spencer L, Adams EA, Arnott B, Brown H, Christie A, Hardy C, Harrison H, Kaner E, Mawson C, McGovern W, Phillips P, Rankin J, McGovern R. . European Journal of Public Health 2023, 33(1), 49-55.
    • Spencer L, Alderson H, Scott S, Kaner E, Ling J. . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2023, 20(11), 5967.
    • Troy D, Anderson J, Jessiman PE, Albers PN, Williams JG, Sheard S, Geijer-Simpson E, Spencer L, Kaner E, Limmer M, Viner R, Kidger J. . BMC Public Health 2022, 22(524).
    • Spencer L, Flynn D, Johnson A, Maniatopoulos G, Newham J, Perkins N, Wood M, Woodley H, Henderson E. . International Journal of Qualitative Methods 2022, 21.
    • Adams EA, Spencer L, Addison M, McGovern W, Alderson H, Adley M, McGovern R, Gilvarry E, Kaner E, O'Donnell A. . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2022, 19(12), 6996.
    • Kaluzeviciute G, Jessiman T, Burn A, Ford T, Kidger J, Leonard N, Limmer M, Spencer L. . The Journal of Concurrent Disorders 2022.
    • Jessiman P, Kidger J, Spencer L, Geijer-Simpson E, Kaluzeviciute G, Burn A-M, Leonard N, Limmer M. . BMC Public Health 2022, 22(1), 619.
    • Liebregts N, McGovern W, Spencer L, O'Donnell A. . Contemporary Drug Problems 2022, 49(2), 228-247.
    • Spencer L, McGovern R, Kaner E. . Journal of Public Health 2022, 44(2), 363–369.
    • Smart D, Jackson K, Alderson H, Foley T, Foreman S, Kaner B, Kaner E, Lancaster H, Lingam R, Rankin R, Rowlands G, Spencer L, McGovern R. . British Journal of Social Work 2021, 52(4), 2146-2165.
    • Alderson H, Spencer L, Scott S, Kaner E, Reeves A, Robson S, Ling J. . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18(13), 6923.
    • Spencer L, Addison M, Alderson H, McGovern W, McGovern R, Kaner E, O'Donnell A. . Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment 2021, 15, 1-8.
    • Kaluzeviciute G, Jessiman T, Burn A-M, Ford T, Geijer-Simpson E, Kidger J, Limmer M, Ramsay SE, Spencer L. . International Journal of Qualitative Methods 2021, 20.
    • Addison M, Kaner E, Spencer L, McGovern W, McGovern R, Gilvarry E, O'Donnell A. . Health Sociology Review 2021, 30(2), 111-126.
    • Martens M, Zurhold H, Rosenkranz M, ODonnell A, Addison M, Spencer L, McGovern W, Gabrhelík R, Petruzelka B, Rowicka M, Liebregts N, Degkwitz P, Kaner E, Verthein U. . Harm Reduction Journal 2020, 17, 8.
    • Bareham BK, Kaner E, Spencer L, Hanratty B. . Age and Ageing 2020, 49(3), 453-467.
    • O'Donnell A, Addison M, Spencer L, Zurhold H, Rosenkranz M, McGovern R, Gilvarry E, Martens M, Verthein U, Kaner E. . Addiction 2019, 114(1), 24-47.
    • Bareham BK, Kaner E, Spencer LP, Hanratty B. . Age and Ageing 2019, 48(1), 134-146.

  • Book Chapter

    • Wearn A, Collier Z, Jenkins K, Carson N, El-Zerbi C, Shenton F, Spencer L, Pearson A. . In: Woolhouse C; Kay V, ed. Championing Co-production in the Design of Inclusive Practices: Positioning Children and Young People's Voices at the Heart of Education. London: Routledge, 2025, pp.89-100.