Obituary: Dr Gemma Gray 1970-2022

Gemma was a well-liked and deeply respected clinical psychologist, active both locally and nationally, with particular impact on promoting the human rights of people with intellectual disability.

Born and brought up in Bristol, Gemma developed an interest in working with people with intellectual disability through a support role in a residential care home. The first member of her family to go to university, Gemma studied psychology at The University of Exeter, graduating in 1991. Her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology was completed in 1997, through the Open University, with placements in Oxfordshire and a thesis focused on sleep problems and behavioural disturbance in adults with learning disabilities.

When Gemma qualified, a joint post was created for her so she did not have to choose between her two areas of interest; Learning Disabilities and Spinal Injury. In 1998 she moved to work full time in the Oxfordshire Learning Disability Service and remained there for the rest of her career, becoming a Consultant in 2008 and the Consultant Lead for the Trust in 2016.

Her patience and sense of humour were always evident. Gemma always saw the person behind the profession.

Gemma was an extremely supportive colleague who segued easily into the management and leadership roles. Her patience and sense of humour were always evident. Gemma always saw the person behind the profession. She took the time to get to know her colleagues and celebrated milestones with them. Gemma's retirement celebration was attended by many people, including past colleagues, who were able to share their gratitude for her advice and support over the years. Being especially skilled at nurturing talent, Gemma acknowledged the contribution of trainees to the service, keeping in touch and encouraging several to return, as she had, to work in the service. Gemma had a long-standing involvement, in various capacities, within the Oxford Doctoral Course in Clinical Psychology.

Gemma was always looking for opportunities to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, and was a keen supporter of Mates 'n' Dates – an innovative dating and friendship agency for adults with learning disabilities in Oxfordshire. Gemma was also the local service lead for dementia and people with intellectual disabilities, drawing on her lived experience as carer for her mother, who sadly died of early onset dementia. Gemma wanted to ensure that psychologists had access to innovation and developments in practice, bringing in colleagues to work with her team to develop new ways of working. She generously shared her expertise through local and wider consultation, teaching and writing.

A strong advocate for clinical psychologists providing good quality support to parents with intellectual disabilities, Gemma had considerable experience in providing expert witness reports to the Courts as well as running courses for parents locally. She was one of the Editors of Good Practice Guidance for Clinical Psychologists When Assessing Parents with Learning Disabilities, published by the British Psychological Society in 2011. She was also influential with regard to Mental Capacity, and in addition to being her Trust Lead for Mental Capacity and a Best Interest Assessor under Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, was a member of the BPS Advisory Group on Mental Capacity. She was co-author of the documents Capacity to Consent to Sexual Relations and What makes a good assessment of capacity?, both published by the BPS in 2019.

Gemma has shown long-standing dedication to the BPS. For more than two decades she held various positions on the Faculty for People with Intellectual Disability committee within the Division of Clinical Psychology. Since 2016, she held the position of Treasurer and undertook her duties with patience and good humour. Gemma was a regular attendee of the Faculty's National Annual Conference, often as a speaker. When the conference was held in Oxford, Gemma facilitated a memorable 'May Morning' trip to hear the Magdalen College Choir singing at 6am from the top of the Great Tower!

Outside work, Gemma was close to members of her extended family, had a large network of friends and was very skilful at keeping in touch with everyone. Gemma leaves a young adult daughter Hannah, who is at medical school, following in Gemma's footsteps with an NHS career ahead. Among her family and friends, she was known for the same values she was appreciated for in work; thoughtful, generous, sociable and always having time for people.

Words by: Sophie Doswell, Chair of the Faculty for People with Intellectual Disabilities; 
Contributions from Karen Dodd, Emma Drane, Julie Elsworth and Judith Samuel.