Director of Adult Mental Health and Disability Services
Karen O’Brien is the Director of Adult Mental Health & Disability at the Western Health & Social Care Trust (WH&SCT). She graduated from the University of Ulster Magee in 1997 with a BSc Honours degree in Social Work and has built a robust career spanning social work, health care management, and senior leadership roles.
Across her career, Ms O’Brien has driven social-work and health-care initiatives at WH&SCT, developing and delivering services that improve outcomes for adults with mental health needs and disabilities. She previously held the role of Assistant Director within Learning Development, Governance, and Adult Safeguarding, where she led cross-functional teams to strengthen governance structures and safeguarding practices. Since taking up her current post in April 2018, Karen has focused on integrating mental health and disability services with overarching governance and safeguarding frameworks, ensuring strategic alignment with organizational aims and regulatory requirements.
Ms O’Brien has earned a number of professional qualifications that underpin her leadership and practice:
- Diploma in Health & Social Care Management
- Certificate in Mediation Skills
- Practice Teacher Award
- Advanced Award in Social Work
- Strategic and Leadership Award
- Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Team Coach, and Coach Supervisor credentials
- Certified Flow Coach
- IHI-qualified Improvement Advisor
Ms O’Brien’s coaching and advisory work has supported numerous improvement projects that have led to redesigned systems and processes, improved governance, and enhanced patient and service-user outcomes. She demonstrates a strong commitment to developing staff through coaching and mentoring, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and safeguarding excellence. Karen is known for her strategic vision, collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, and a hands-on approach to problem-solving that centres on safe, compassionate, and rights-based care for adults.
If you require detail on the structure of the Adult Mental Health and Disability Services directorate, please contact sinead.campbell@westerntrust.hscni.net.