Dr Eve Allen

Senior Nursing Lecturer - Children and young people and families

Nursing and Midwifery 

Research Fellow - Children, young people and families 

Dr Eve Allen trained as a Children's Nurse at DeMonfort University, she qualified in 1998 where she took a position at Leicester Royal Infirmary ( Children's Hospital). Post qualification Eve worked across surgery, children intensive care, emergency admissions and specialised in neurology. 

Whilst working with children with complex care and their families Eve left her position as a childrens nurse and took a position with Lecicester's local authority working in an innovative team that consisted of family support workers, mental health practitioners and education psychologists. This team worked in schools and various community hubs supporting the mental wellbeing of children and young people. Eve also extended this experience by working within the therapeutic team, supporting children and families in foster and adoption.

With Eve's interest becoming more prominenet in child mental health she commenced an MSc in Child and Adolescent Mental Health ( Primary Mental Health ). Eve passed with a distinction and commenced a new position as a Primary mental health worker for Leicestershire CAMHS. This position consisted of carrying out child mental health assessments, interventions as well as supporting professionals through consultations and mental health forums.

Eve moved from Leicester to the North West of England in 2011 where she took a position as a School Nurse, this role consisted of mental health support for children and young people, health promotion and safeguarding. 

Eve's passion for supporting children and young peoples mental health continued, she took a position with Alderhey's childrens hospital as a mental health practitioner in the community ( Tier 3).

Eve was approached by Edge Hill University to lead a CAMHS Module for their undergraduate BSc Nursing Students. Eve commenced her position and completed her PG Cert in HE at Edge HIll University. Whilst enjoying her career in academia Eve commenced another position working  with Young Minds Mental  Health Charity as a trainer and consultant. Having the two positions complimented one another and Eve gained valuable experience working across academia and the voluntary sector. 

To continue her career progression Eve applied for a PhD scholorship at the University of Salford, after a competative interview process Eve was selected for a full scholorship. When Eve completed her PhD at the University of Salford they offered her a permenant position as a Senior Childrens Lecturer.

After the Covid 19 pandemic Eve went back into clinical practice and supported the set up of the new child mental health teams in schools across Lancashire. Eve's ongoing desire to get the right support for children and young people at the right time remained a passion. 

Eve returned to Edge Hill University in 2023 as a Senior Childrens Nurse Lecturer and become part of the Children, Young People and Families research team. In addition, Eve is part of the iCARE Research Centre -which is a leading hub in child and family research. 

Eve is a strong advocate for children and young peoples voices in research. She is passionate about co-production and participatory research practices. Much of Eve's research is qualitative; she utilises a range of data generation techniques consonant with childrens way of expression, including animation, art based work, focus groups, interviews and workshops. She works closely with children and families to ensure her work is robust and also grounded in the lives of the participants. 

She is passionate about dissemination of research with children and young people. Eve attended a conference with the young people she worked with on her PhD, the young people presented their work as key speakers at the conference - Young Minds Mental Health Conference.

Eve is interested in using innovative ways of disseminating work including the use of animation, performance and art. 

Research Interests 

Eve is interested in early mental health support and integrated working across all health, social care, education and voluntary sectors. 

Currently Eve is involved in evaluating children and young peoples social prescribing services, and is part of a social prescribing network working to support growth of social prescribing for children and young people.  

Her array of experience working in schools and across health and social care has given her great insights allowing her to be able to see through various lenses. Eve is passionate about getting the right support for children and families and at the right time. Working in silos is not supporting the next generation, bringing together new ways of working is fundamental in supporting the mental health and well-being of our future generations, tackling teen violence and the overuse of social media is crucial, Eve advocates for ongoing research in this area is crucial to building postive futures for our next generation.