Dr Kate Allen

About me:

Kate Allen is a Research Fellow in the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Research Collaboration (ChYMe) and currently works on a UKPRP-funded project called Kailo. Kailo is a framework which aims to support communities in understanding and addressing the underlying determinants of adolescent mental health. Currently, Kailo is being implemented in two sites: Northern Devon and Newham. Kate is working with colleagues at Exeter and UCL on a realist evaluation of Kailo to examine how Kailo works, for whom, and under what circumstances. 

Kate recently completed her NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula (PenARC) PhD examining interventions that might have combined impacts on parental domestic violence and abuse, parental mental ill-health, and parental substance misuse. Her work has a strong focus on families, considering how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) cluster and how we might work to improve support for families experiencing clustered-risk. Prior to her PhD, Kate worked on a number of research projects involving children and families, including a large randomised controlled trial and process evaluation evaluating the effectiveness of a teacher classroom management course.

Qualifications:

• PhD in Medical Studies, University of Exeter
• BSc (1st Class Hons) Psychology, University of Lincoln

Career:

Kate graduated with a 1st class honours degree in Psychology from the University of Lincoln in 2010. Following this, she worked at the University of Nottingham, the University of Exeter Medical School, and the University of Exeter Sports Science Department. Kate completed her PenARC-funded PhD in Medical Studies at the University of Exeter in April 2023 and currently works as a Research Fellow in the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Research Collaboration (ChYMe).