Dr Karen Castle

I am a Senior Lecturer and researcher with a background in various public and private sector leadership positions.

I began by work career by training as a nurse in Cheshire, and once qualified, and after having worked in the NHS in several wards, I joined the Prison Service (HMP). The recruitment and selection process for HMP in the 1980's was tough, and after various psychometric tests and numerous challenging physical and mental tests, I was appointed as a Hospital Prison Officer and one of the first women ever to hold this title and then to work in a male prison. My role as a Hospital Officer included: Suicide Prevention, hostage negotiation, mental and emotional health and wellbeing support and all physical health support. After several years spent working across the UK in different prison establishments, I left the prison service to work in further education and became a Curriculum lead at Norwich City College. I retained many links with the Prison Service and wrote several Hospital Officer training programmes delivered by the college but in partnership with HMP service. I was studying for degrees at the same time and successfully obtained a BSc (Hons) and Masters Degree in Education Management. I subsequently returned to working as a nurse and after various roles in NHS hospitals I was appointed Matron/Manager of a large nursing establishment in Norfolk. Whilst here I worked closely with Local Authorities and Commissions in developing training programmes for health workers, specialising in mental health.

I was invited to carry out Guest Lectures at the University of East Anglia and from there became interested in higher education. After several years in Norfolk, I applied for and secured the post of Outreach Centre Manger for Edge Hill University, a Principal Lecturer role with management responsibility for the university outreach centres in Cheshire and Shropshire.

I have experience of teaching undergraduate and post graduate students across a range of professional studies and skills programmes and in Leadership and Management. I also have experience of delivering apprenticeships at levels 5, 6 and 7 across the education and business sector.

I have 15 years' experience of supervising Master's and PhD and Ed Doc students.

My own Doctorate is a Doctorate in Education. I obtained the Ed D in 2014 my particular area of interest was the influence of power and control over workers' professional development.