Meet the Team

Abii McCormack

Dr Abii McCormack

Clinical Director and Clinical Psychologist

 Abii is an experienced Clinical Psychologist who qualified in 2008. Abii was Strategic Clinical Lead for a county wide IAPT Service for over four years and has experience of balancing the challenges of delivering an excellent client led service, with staff wellbeing and organisational sustainability. She has experience of growing a service and implementing strategies to support growth and clinical effectiveness and safety. Abii was a Senior Lecturer on the clinical psychology doctorate at Exeter University and was responsible for developing leadership and management skills amongst the clinical psychology trainees in line with the NHS Long Term Plan. Abii is an experienced expert witness in the Family Court and has given written and oral evidence in multiple cases over the last three years. Abii has specialist interests in organisational leadership and service planning, supporting clinician’s in their professional development and complex post-traumatic stress and adult mental health.

As you may be aware, on the 14th April 2025 the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) announced changes to the Fair Access limit with a reduction of funding to £3000 and the discontinuation of the separate Fair Access Limit for specialist assessments.

We are currently working really hard to amend quotes for ongoing therapy work to fit within the new Fair Access Limit and working closely with Adopt South West and other local RAAs. We are also working closely with other specialist adoption support providers and therapeutic organisations including DDP connects and Theraplay UK to explore how we can continue to deliver specialist therapies within this limit.

If you are waiting for a new package of therapy please look out for correspondence from ASW or your regional adoption support agency, as they will need to regain your consent for the amended therapy contract.

If you are concerned about the impact of the delay on your family or have questions about the therapy or assessment you are waiting for please get in touch with Ellen or Jen and we will do our best to support you.

We will be contributing to a wider response to this and the following is a link to a petition requesting government action – Petition · Action Against ASGSF Changes (Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund) – United Kingdom · Change.org