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Dr Helena Odine Bunn

Academic and Professional Tutor (Principal Lecturer)

University of East London

  • AE 1.23, Stratford Campus
    School of Psychology
    The University of East London
    Stratford Campus
    London
    E15 4LZ
  • h.bunn@uel.ac.uk

    Helena graduated in Psychology from University of Bucharest, Romania, before moving to England and completing a Professional Doctorate Programme in Educational and Child Psychology.

    Whilst in Romania, Helena worked as a practitioner psychologist, whilst taking on roles of university part-time tutor, then lecturer, assistant director and lastly, director. She participated in national and international activities with Germany, Israel and Finland, focused on special educational needs practices and support systems for specific groups of disadvantaged groups (immigrant and publicly fostered). Helena’s publications in Romania are mainly tackling these professional issues.

    After coming to England in 2004, Helena extended her expertise within the areas of complex medical condition and its effects of development and education, post-traumatic growth, safeguarding and client participation. She currently works as a senior educational psychologist within Norfolk Local Authority, and as an academic and professional tutor (principal lecturer) at the University of East London. She also provides expert evidence in Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal and Family Court cases, with a specific interest in developmental needs of former Romanian orphans and immigrants. She provides consultancy and positive coaching services to organisations and individuals.

    Helena has undertaken research and has produced materials in special educational needs, inclusion, children with complex medical conditions and looked after children. Her current research interests include making a positive difference in perceptions related to disadvantaged groups, transition and post-traumatic growth. She has taught courses in aspects of human development, diversity, research methodology, special educational needs, psychological assessment and organisational change.

    Helena’s passion guiding her work, has been and remains, to search for and identify the “diamond in the rough” in every individual, to help the individual shine by inviting and co-constructing impactful stories and then to amplify those stories to individuals and to others, and promote the process of positive change.



    Senior Educational Psychologist, Norfolk County Council
    Expert Witness - Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal and Family Court cases
    Honorary Treasurer - British Psychological Society, Division of Educational and Child Psychology national committee

    Overview

    Research Fields

    • The self-advocacy transition project (research lead)
    • Traumatic events, psychological growth and resilience (research lead)
    • Effectiveness of ARROW intervention in children with literacy difficulties (research lead)
    • Cross-cultural validation of student, parent and school personnel school climate survey in no-continental United States contexts (co-researcher)


    Collaborators

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    Research

    • Bunn, H., Turner, G., Macro, E. (2019). The Wellbeing Toolkit Training Programme: A Useful Resource for Educational Psychology Services? Submitted to Psychology in Russia. State of the Art, 12 (14), 204-222.

    • Wagner, K., Bunn, H. (2019). Academic progress through the lenses of children with SEN: an IPA study. Educational Psychology in Practice, 35 (4), DOI: 10.1080/02667363.2019.1674250

    • Rae, T., Bunn, H., Walshe, J. (2019). The Essential Guide to Positive Psychology with Young People (Hinton House Essential Guides) ISBN: 978-1-906531-84-3

    • Bunn. H., Boesley, L. (2019). My New School transition to high school for children with special educational needs in England – findings and ideas for practice. Support for Learning, 34 (2), 128-147. DOI: 10.1111/1467-9604.12244

    • Winter, S., Bunn, H. (2019) Work to be done? A survey of educational psychologists exploring their contribution to special schools for profound and multiple learning difficulties. British Journal of Special Education, 46 (1), 53-75 DOI:10.1111/1467-8578.12252

    • Ackerley, S, Bunn, H. (2018) Changing School Culture and Practices – an Action Research Project with Soft System methodology Used by Educational Psychology. DECP Debate, 169, 7-19

    • Bunn, H & Robinson, M. (2017). Children with complex medical conditions and their school experiences - a tentative model. DECP Debate, 165, 15-23

    • Bunn, H, Davis, D & Speed, E (2017). High school transition – an intervention that empowers children with special educational needs and improves school practice. Support for Learning, 32 (3) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1467-9604.12167

    • Robinson, N., Bunn, H. & Gersch, I. (2017). A preliminary study on using the “Little Box of Big Questions (2012)” for children with social, emotional, behavioural and moderate learning needs. Educational Psychology Research and Practice, 3(2), 2-18

    • Bunn, H (2015). Complex medical conditions: issues for parents and what can be done in practice? DECP Debate, 154, 45-53

    • Nita, N., Stafie, C., Agrigoroae, D., Savin, A., Popovici, C., Damian, B., Vacaru, L (2004). Psihopedagogia pentru persone cu cerinte educative speciale. Strategii de educatie integrata. Piatra-Neamt. Romania: Alfa.

    • Popovici, H. (2002). Strategic issues at the contemporary challenging teenager: theoretical aspects and work experiences. In Petre Andrei University, Jubilee Session of the Faculty of Psychology and Social Work — ‘Petre Andrei Days’, 10 years anniversary of the School of Psychology, Scientific Reports. Iasi, Romania.

    • Popovici, H. (2000). Looked after children need us: how do we help them?, in Educator-infant-family relation in the educational action (risks and social problems), Bucharest: Semne Publishing House.

    • Popovici, H., & Popovici, C. (1999). Specific issues in social and professional integration of young people with Special Education Needs, in Youth and socio-professional integration. Bucharest: Semne Publishing House

    Children with complex medical conditions and their school experiences - a tentative model.

    Bunn, H., Robinson, M.. 2017. DECP Debate 165. 12-20.

    High school transition – an intervention that empowers children with special educational needs and improves school practice.

    Bunn, H., Davis, D. & Speed, E.. 2017. Support for Learning, 32(3). 231-244.

    Complex medical conditions: issues for parents and what can be done in practice?

    Bunn, H.. 2015. DECP Debate 154. 45-53.

    Nita, N., Stafie, C., Agrigoroae, D., Savin, A., Popovici, C., Damian, B., … Vacaru, L (2004). Psihopedagogia pentru personae cu cerinte educative speciale. Strategii de educatie integrate. Piatra-Neamt. Romania: Alfa.

    Popovici, H. (2002). Strategic issues at the contemporary challenging teenager: theoretical aspects and work experiences. In Petre Andrei University, Jubilee Session of the Faculty of Psychology and Social Work — ‘Petre Andrei Days’, 10 years anniversary of the School of Psychology, Scientific Reports. Iasi, Romania.

    Popovici, H. (2000). Children looked after need us: how do we help them?, in Educator-infant-family relation in the educational action (risks and social problems), Bucharest: Semne Publishing House.

    Popovici, H., & Popovici, C. (1999). Specific issues in social and professional integration of young people with Special Education Needs, in Youth and socio-professional integration. Bucharest: Semne Publishing House.

    Publications


    Funding

    Helena has a particular interest in traumatic events, such as diagnosis of a complex medical condition, deprived family nurturing and important life transitions, how such events shape development and what factors can slow down or reverse a vicious cycle of development.


    Interests

    Portfolio




    PY8103: The Process of Psychological Assessment (Module Leader, 2017-2018)

    PY8106: Professional Practice in the Real World (Module Co-Leader, 2016-2017, Module Leader, 2013-2016)

    PY8107: Developing the Competent and Reflective Practitioner in Simple Systems (Module Leader, 2016-2017)

    PY8108: Research: Data Analysis (Module Co-Leader, 2016-2017)

    PY8112: Professional Practice Placement in Educational and Child Psychology 1

    Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology (initial training)
    Doctorate research focused on a small sample of children and parents who have experienced school life where the child has a complex medical condition
    Collaborative research projects focused on evaluation of intervention programme (e.g. FRIENDS)
    Organisational change projects delivered in special and mainstream schools
    Research focused on improving teaching strategies and pupils specific interventions, whilst working in Romania

    Teaching