Niamh Kinsella

Dr. Niamh Kinsella serves as a Lecturer within the Occupational Therapy and Arts Therapies division at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. She is a HCPC registered occupational therapist with specialized expertise in working with older adults and people living with dementia. Her academic affiliations include the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) and the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Her educational background includes an MSc in Occupational Therapy (pre-registration) and a PhD, both completed at Queen Margaret University. Her doctoral research focused on professional artistry in occupational therapy practice for persons living with dementia.

Niamh's research interests center on enabling occupation through aging and dementia, with particular emphasis on professional identity formation, organizational contexts that support occupation-focused practice, and creative methodologies for action-based research. Her work integrates reflection, reflexivity, and occupational justice frameworks to advance practice knowledge. She has developed expertise in case study research using observational, dialogical, and reflection-based methods, along with creative hermeneutic analysis.

As an educator, Niamh coordinates key modules including Foundations of Occupational Therapy Practice, Occupational Therapy Processes and Practice, and Professional Autonomy and Critical Learning. She contributes across all occupational therapy program routes at QMU, with a teaching philosophy centered on facilitating students' understanding of occupation-centered practice. Her educational approach emphasizes reflection, professional identity development, and understanding organizational contexts that influence practice.

Niamh actively participates in professional networks, currently co-leading the Dementia Forum for the RCOT Older Persons Specialist Section. She also serves as an Associate of the Centre for Person-centre Practice Research, contributing to interdisciplinary collaborations that advance person-centered approaches in healthcare. Her professional practice has consistently focused on enabling people to continue engaging in meaningful occupations throughout the aging process and while living with dementia.