Jo Ellins

Jo Ellins is Senior Fellow at the Health Services Management Centre, at the University of Birmingham. She is a sociologist by background, but these days most of her work involves evaluating new services and ways of working in healthcare. Over the years Jo has done research in many different fields of healthcare, including cancer services and general practice. Now, she is most interested in children's mental health and, in particular, in the role of schools in promoting emotional wellbeing and in helping children to access mental health support when they need it. She led an early national evaluation of mental health support teams in schools and colleges, and is now co-leading a second study to assess the impact and cost-effectiveness of the government's investment in schools-based mental health. Jo is strongly committed to working in partnership with people who have lived experience of ill-health and using health services. She's worked extensively in research collaborations with service users and carers, including currently with a group of young people with personal experience of, or interests in, mental health. When not at work, Jo works at a local foodbank in Birmingham, is a school governor, and tries (and usually fails) to paddle board without getting wet.