Dr Liz Cade

Liz currently holds a principal lecturer post in allied health with a specific focus on strategic research development and supporting allied health academic colleagues to build capacity and output.

In early 2020 Liz stepped into the role of professional lead and principal lecturer in the subject area of ​​Occupational Therapy, primarily focused on pre-registration, undergraduate study. She had strategic and operational responsibilities for managing the subject area and has supported allied health post graduates in advanced practice  modules and research supervision.

Liz has been involved in the development and delivery of the Occupational Therapy programme since 2004 and has been involved in successful revalidation applications, accreditation and commissioning contracts. She is proud to have led the programme that is ranked highly for student satisfaction and employability. She is a professional member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Liz was awarded a Doctorate in Health Science with the University of Wales in 2021 after successfully completing research on resilience, individual difference and entrepreneurship for students in role-emerging placements. This informs the professional identity and competence for transition into practice. She has successfully published in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy.

Liz qualified in 1987 and worked clinically in the Liverpool and Wirral health authorities within physical and mental health settings. In 1989 she moved to social care working for the Wirral Borough Council for 14 years and with Cheshire County Council before moving into an educational role.  She held a therapy consultant position in personal litigation between1996 and 2001.

Her area of ​​clinical expertise is with individuals with a long-term disability and facilitating their independence mainly through house modification, accessible housing, rehab and equipment provision. The client group often has complex needs due to illness and chronic disease and benefits from removing barriers that prevent these individuals from living safe and meaningful lives. She is passionate about occupational science and the art and science of everyday living as well as public health and reducing inequality by overcoming occupational barriers.

Liz enjoyed taking students on placement when she was a clinician and in 2004 embraced the role of a practitioner lecturer on the Occupational Therapy degree here at Wrexham University. Liz took a full-time role in education in 2006, has supported the academic tutor team alongside her teaching role. She has supported the practice education lead in developing new and varied placement opportunities for our students to experience throughout their training. She now supports allied health colleagues in research development.

Liz is a highly experienced educator who has been involved in the development of the Occupational Therapy programme since its inception in 2004 and participated in the validation of the new curricula which included meeting the standards required by the University and regulatory professional bodies. She has held tenures with Brunel University, University of Derby, Glasgow Caledonian University and Ulster University as external examiner within occupational therapy programmes , both pre-registration and post graduate.

Liz enjoys rural life with her family. She owns a horse she competes with, as well as two exuberant spaniels, bees and a few chickens.