Dr Helen Whitworth

Dr Helen Whitworth is a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience. She has worked in secure services across London, the Midlands, Devon, and London, Ontario. In addition, she has held consultant roles in adult psychiatry within psychiatric intensive care units and general psychiatry units in the south-west of England. She also has extensive experience providing general adult psychiatric care to patients in HM Prisons and HM Young Offender Institutions, where levels of psychiatric morbidity are notably high.

Dr Whitworth completed her undergraduate medical training at the University of Liverpool, before working as a House Officer and Senior House Officer in medicine. She then pursued a career in psychiatry, alongside which she completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Managing Health Services at the Open University. Her academic qualifications also include an MSc in Criminal Justice Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education from Keele University.

She was elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2013.

Dr Whitworth has expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of a broad range of mental disorders, including psychosis, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders. Over the past 15 years, she has developed a specialist interest in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in adults, for which she has undertaken additional training. She recognises the importance of identifying ADHD in adulthood as a gateway to helping individuals make sense of lifelong struggles and access potentially life-enhancing treatments.

Many of the patients she works with present with overlapping conditions, including personality disorders, neurodevelopmental conditions, and addictions alongside mental illness.

Her clinical practice is grounded in a collaborative approach, working with patients through a biopsychosocial framework that highlights the interconnectedness of three key domains: biology, psychology, and social circumstances—and the impact of each individual’s unique experiences on the development of mental health conditions.

As a forensic psychiatrist, Dr Whitworth has prepared numerous medico-legal reports for solicitors, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and the courts.

Throughout her medical career, she has held a range of leadership roles, including Medical Lead positions in various NHS trusts and prison mental health teams. She has also been active within the Royal College of Psychiatrists, serving as Regional Advisor for the West Midlands and currently holding the elected position of Finance Officer for the Faculty of Forensic Psychiatry.

Dr Whitworth is passionate about medical education. She has held roles across trusts, deaneries, and universities in both the UK and Canada, supervising psychiatry residents and teaching undergraduate and postgraduate medical students. She is a College Examiner and represents the Royal College of Psychiatrists on consultant appointment panels. In addition, she is a mentor for the Social Mobility Foundation, supporting aspiring doctors from less advantaged backgrounds in navigating applications to UK medical schools.

She currently offers court reports and ADHD assessments for adults aged 18 and over.