DUTY OF CARE PSYCHOLOGISTs
The most experienced team putting the welfare of TV series' participants and crew at the top of the agenda
Jo Hemmings is a qualified and highly experienced Behavioural and Media Psychologist. A full member of the British Psychological Society (FMBPsS) she works behind the scenes, as a psychologist for a number of production companies and TV channels, specialising in the welfare of contributors and production crews, she also appears frequently on TV discussing psychological and relationship-based topics.
Dr Angela Smith is a Forensic and Relationship Psychologist and an HCPC Registered Consultant Psychologist for TV. She specialises in matchmaking and resilience who works alongside Jo, covering all Ofcom recommended welfare concerns for both contributors and production crew.
About Jo
I am a qualified and highly experienced Behavioural Psychologist. As well as acting as a Duty of Care, Assessment and Welfare Psychologist for all the major channels on a wide range of TV shows and series, I specialise in the welfare of production crews on Zoom or a one-on-one basis. I am also a regular on TV and radio discussing psychological and relationship-based topics. I am an award-winning Relationship Coach specialising in counselling both singles and couples.
I worked on Big Brother from the very early C4 days, when Duty of Care was in its infancy, also appearing as the on-screen Psychologist on all the spin off shows for both C’s 4 and 5. I also specialise in Celebrity Psychology, coaching and counselling a number of A-list names and commenting on celebrity behaviour in the national press. I have written 5 successful books on psychology, sex and relationships, with a new title on celebrity culture coming soon.
I hold a current Enhanced DBS Certificate, issued by the NHS to work with adults and children in any mental health capacity and work as an on-set chaperone. I also have full Public Liability and Professional Insurance Cover.
About Angela
I am a Forensic and Relationship Psychologist and an HCPC Registered Consultant Psychologist for TV. I specialise in matchmaking and resilience and work alongside Jo, as the perfect team to cover all Ofcom recommended welfare concerns for both contributors and production crew.
I’ve worked in some of the UK’s most notorious prisons under some pretty extreme conditions, overseeing and delving into the complex minds of narcissists and psychopaths.
I’ve also learned how to profile and predict complex behaviours, always thinking five steps ahead. You could say I’m an expert in understanding people’s intentions and actions in a way which only working with extreme behaviours teaches you. And I use this set of skills and experience to help you understand your behaviours whilst predicting the actions of others quickly and precisely.
I also work as a Relationship Counsellor with couples as well specialising in matchmaking and compatibility for a number of TV series across many channels.
Why would you use Duty of Care Psychologists?
With the continued popularity in reality TV series, factual entertainment shows and documentaries, more people than ever before are being thrust into the limelight, Jo and Angela work on psychological screening, now a regular part of the audition process and recent Ofcom regulations now demand it. This ensures the participants are psychologically robust and resilient enough to take part in TV shows, are looked after during the programmes and have excellent and accessible aftercare when the series is over. Additionally, Angela specialises in matchmaking for dating shows and together we can provide trusted coverage for all relationship and reality TV series.
Initial casting research often fails to uncover welfare and compatibility issues. Potential contestants are usually so enthusiastic to appear on TV, they may not always be willing to disclose previous problems or concerns. For many these issues are actually no longer relevant, but by assessing and evaluating participants, and advising on compatibility and group dynamics, we can advise on who would be suitable for a stand-alone show or series.
By employing a team of Duty of Care or Consultant Psychologists you can feel confident about the emotional stability of your participants and crew and manage them in the best way, while producing a show or a series to the highest possible welfare standards.
Jo and Angela also specialise in Duty of Care and Welfare for production crews, many of whom face difficult situations on reality TV show, news, factual entertainment and observational documentaries. Via a customised Powerpoint presentation, we can help crew spot when there are potential issues with contributors and how to deal with them. We also offer one-on-one Zoom sessions for those crew members who have struggled during difficult situations during the production of a TV series or show.
Additionally, the crew themselves will feel that the production company has their best interests at heart and that their well-being is considered in the most efficient, empathetic and professional way.
Clients
Recent work includes
Married At First Sight
Love Is Blind
The Sidemen: Inside
90 Day Fiancé
(UK series)
Love Triangle
First Dates
Big Brother Canada
22 Kids and Counting
Highlife
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