Michelle Craddock

Profile

Biography

Teaching Fellow and Senior Lecturer
Programme Lead – Educational Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP)
Allied Health, Social Work & Wellbeing
Edge Hill University

Michelle Craddock is a Teaching Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Allied Health, Social Work & Wellbeing at Edge Hill University. She is Programme Lead for the Educational Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) programme and has significant experience in academic leadership, teaching, and professional training in the field of children and young people’s mental health.

Her work focuses on the development and delivery of high-quality, practice-informed education that supports the preparation of a skilled and resilient workforce across education, health, and community settings. Michelle’s approach is underpinned by a strong commitment to inclusive education, applied learning, and interprofessional collaboration.

Research Interests

Michelle’s research and scholarly activity is informed by her professional practice, programme leadership, and engagement with education, health, and community contexts. As a result of these multiple influences, her research interests are intentionally broad and applied, with a strong focus on improving outcomes for children and young people.

She has a particular passion for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing, and for understanding how mental health intersects with learning, engagement, and academic attainment. Her work is underpinned by a commitment to early intervention and prevention, and to the development of evidence-informed approaches that can be implemented effectively in real-world settings.

Michelle’s research, engagement, and professional interests include:

• Children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing

• The impact of mental health on academic attainment and educational engagement

• Whole-school and system-wide approaches to mental health and wellbeing

• Collaborative and interprofessional working across education, health, and community services

• Measuring the impact and effectiveness of early mental health interventions

• Creative and innovative approaches to therapeutic delivery with children and young people

• Mental health support within educational and community contexts

• The application of positive psychology within mental health and wellbeing interventions

Through engagement with external partners including schools, mental health services, local authorities, and third-sector organisations, Michelle’s work seeks to bridge research, policy, and practice. Her focus is on generating insight and impact that supports workforce development, service improvement, and positive outcomes for children, young people, and families.

Teaching

Michelle teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate provision, contributing to modules that address children and young people’s mental health, wellbeing, and professional practice. Her teaching integrates contemporary theory, policy, and evidence-informed approaches with real-world application.

She has particular expertise in:

• Children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing

• Early intervention and prevention

• Mental health in educational settings

• Reflective practice and supervision

• Professional identity and workforce development

Michelle is committed to student-centred and inclusive pedagogic approaches that support academic success, professional competence, and employability.

As Programme Lead for the Educational Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP) programme, Michelle has responsibility for the strategic direction, ongoing development, and quality assurance of the programme. This includes ensuring alignment with national policy, professional standards, and workforce priorities, as well as maintaining strong partnerships with employers and placement providers.

The EMHP programme is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), reflecting its academic rigour, quality assurance processes, and alignment with recognised professional standards. Michelle plays a central role in overseeing compliance with accreditation requirements and supporting continuous programme enhancement.

She works closely with colleagues and external partners to ensure that the programme remains responsive to sector needs and prepares graduates to work effectively across education and mental health services.