Josie is the Director of the Better Start Bradford Innovation Hub and Bradford Inequalities Research Unit. Josie’s research focusses on integrating research into practice in order to improve quality of care, reduce health inequalities and enhance the evidence base of interventions in practice. Josie also leads the world’s first experimental birth cohort: Born in Bradford’s Better Start.

Josie has a PhD in psychology, and has worked as a research programme manager in applied health research with experience of mixed methods approaches including pragmatic randomised controlled trials, cluster trials, cohort studies and process evaluations.

Josie’s research interests are in applied health research in vulnerable populations and the implementation and evaluation of complex interventions in community settings.

open-access-icon
Katy A. Shire, Alex Newsham, Atif Rahman, Dan Mason, David Ryan, Deborah A. Lawlor, Gail Opio-Te, Hannah Nutting, Jane West, John Pickavance, Josie Dickerson, Kate E. Pickett, Laura Lennon, Lydia Gunning, Mark Mon-Williams, Sean Smith, Simon Gilbody, Sufyan Dogra, Theresa Walsh, Rosemary McEachan, John Wright, (2024). Born in Bradford’s Age of Wonder cohort: protocol for adolescent data collection. Wellcome Open Research, 9(32), DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.20785.1,
open-access-icon
Ellena Badrick, Rachael H. Moss, Claire McIvor, Charlotte Endacott, Kirsty Crossley, Zahrah Tanveer, Kate E. Pickett, Rosemary R. C. McEachan, Josie Dickerson, (2024). Children’s behavioural and emotional wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the Born in Bradford COVID-19 mixed methods longitudinal study. Wellcome Open Research, 9(36), DOI: wellcomeopenres.20752.1,
open-access-icon
Kate E. Mooney, Tracey Bywater, Josie Dickerson, Gerry Richardson, Bo Hou, John Wright and Sarah Blower , (2023). Protocol for the effectiveness evaluation of an antenatal, universally offered, and remotely delivered parenting programme ‘Baby Steps’ on maternal outcomes: a Born in Bradford’s Better Start (BiBBS) study. BMC DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15111-1,
open-access-icon
Cath Jackson, June Brawner, Matthew Ball, Kirsty Crossley, Josie Dickerson, Nimarta Dharni, Diego Garcia Rodriguez, Ella Turner, Laura Sheard & Helen Smith , (2023). Being pregnant and becoming a parent during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal qualitative study with women in the Born in Bradford COVID-19 research study. BMC DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-05774-4,
open-access-icon
Sarah Masefield, Kathryn Willan, Zoe Darwin, Sarah Blower, Chandani Nekitsing, Josie Dickerson, (2023). Can we identify the prevalence of perinatal mental health using routinely collected health data?: A review of publicly available perinatal mental health data sources in England. Wiley Online Library DOI: 10.1002/lrh2.10374,
open-access-icon
Halima Iqbal, Bridget Lockyer, Syka Iqbal, Josie Dickerson, (2023). “We lost a lot, but something good came out of it too:” Exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental wellbeing of British Muslim Pakistani women with family responsibilities. PLOS ONE DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292614,
open-access-icon
Sian Reece, Josie Dickerson, Brian Kelly, Rosemary R. C. McEachan, Kate E. Pickett, (2023). The long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on financial insecurity in vulnerable families: Findings from the Born in Bradford Covid-19 longitudinal study. PLOS ONE DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295064,
open-access-icon
Kate Mooney, Tracey Jane Bywater, Sebastian Hinde, Gerry Richardson, John Wright, Josie Dickerson, Sarah Louise Blower, (2023). A quasi-experimental effectiveness evaluation of the ’Incredible Years Toddler’ parenting programme on children’s development aged 5: A study protocol. University of York, 18(9), DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291557,
open-access-icon
Josie Dickerson, Brian Kelly, Bridget Lockyer, Sally Bridges, Christopher Cartwright, Kathryn Willan, Katy Shire, Kirsty Crossley, Maria Bryant, Najma Siddiqi, Trevor A Sheldon, Deborah A Lawlor, John Wright, Rosemary RC McEachan, Kate E Pickett. , (2022). ‘When will this end? Will it end?’ The impact of the March–June 2020 UK COVID-19 lockdown response on mental health: a longitudinal survey of mothers in the Born in Bradford study. BMJ Journals , 12(1),
open-access-icon
SianReece Trevor A.Sheldon JosieDickerson Kate E.Pickett, (2022). A review of the effectiveness and experiences of welfare advice services co-located in health settings: A critical narrative systematic review. Science Direct
open-access-icon
Josie Dickerson, Sally Bridges, Kathryn Willan, Brian Kelly, Rachael H. Moss, Jennie Lister, Chandani Netkitsing, Amy L. Atkinson, Philippa K. Bird, Eleanora P. Uphoff, Dan Mason, Alex Newsham, Dagmar Waiblinger, Rifat Razaq, Sara Ahern, Maria Bryant, Sarah L. Blower, Kate E. Pickett, Rosemary M. McEachan, John Wright, (2022). Born in Bradford’s Better Start (BiBBS) interventional birth cohort study: Interim cohort profile. Wellcome Open Research, 7(224),
open-access-icon
Claire McIvor; Yassaman Vafai; Brian Kelly; Sarah E. O’Toole; Michelle Heys; Ellena Badrick; Halima Iqbal; Kate E. Pickett; Claire Cameron; and Josie Dickerson, (2022). The Impact of the Pandemic on Mental Health in Ethnically Diverse Mothers: Findings from the Born in Bradford, Tower Hamlets and Newham COVID-19 Research Programmes. Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(21), DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114316,
open-access-icon
Katie Pybus, Brian Kelly, Bo Hou, Mildred Ajebon, Claire McIvor, Daniel Bingham, Rosemary McEachan, Kate Pickett, Josie Dickerson , (2022). Changes in children’s wellbeing in Bradford during COVID-19: The Born in Bradford COVID-19 longitudinal research study. Wellcome Open Research DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17642.1,
open-access-icon
Bridget Lockyer, Charlotte Endacott, Josie Dickerson & Laura Sheard , (2022). Growing up during a public health crisis: a qualitative study of Born in Bradford early adolescents during Covid-19. Springer DOI: 10.1186/s40359-022-00851-3,
open-access-icon
Josie Dickerson, Bridget Lockyer, Claire McIvor, Daniel D. Bingham, Kirsty L. Crossley, Charlotte Endacott, Rachael H. Moss, Helen Smith, Kate E. Pickett, and Rosie R.C. McEachan, (2022). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families living in the ethnically diverse and deprived city of Bradford: findings from the longitudinal Born in Bradford COVID-19 research programme. Bristol University Press 73-87. DOI: 10.51952/9781447364504.ch005,
open-access-icon
Josie Dickerson, Brian Kelly, Bridget Lockyer, Sally Bridges, Christopher Cartwright, Kathryn Willan, Katy Shire, Kirsty Crossley, Maria Bryant, Najma Siddiqi, Trevor A Sheldon, Deborah A Lawlor, John Wright, Rosemary RC McEachan, Kate E Pickett, (2022). ‘When will this end? Will it end?’ The impact of the March–June 2020 UK COVID-19 lockdown response on mental health: a longitudinal survey of mothers in the Born in Bradford study. BMJ Journals, 12(1), DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047748,
Pybus, Katie, Kelly, Brian, Hou, Bo, Ajebon, Mildred, McIvor, Claire, Bingham, Daniel, McEachan, Rosemary, Pickett, Kate, Dickerson, Josie., (2022). Changes in children’s wellbeing in Bradford during COVID-19: The Born in Bradford COVID-19 longitudinal research study (preprint). Organizacao Mundial da Saude DOI: ppcovidwho-337777,
open-access-icon
Kate E Pickett, Mildred Ajebon, Bo Hou, Brian Kelly, Philippa K Bird, Josie Dickerson, Katy Shire, Claire McIvor, Mark Mon-Williams, Neil Small, Rosemary McEachan, John Wright, Deborah Lawlor, (2022). Vulnerabilities in child well-being among primary school children: a cross-sectional study in Bradford, UK. BMJ Journals, 12(6), DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049416,
open-access-icon
Josie Dickerson, Brian Kelly, Bridget Lockyer, Sally Bridges, Christopher Cartwright, Kathryn Willan, Katy Shire, Kirsty Crossley, Maria Bryant, Najma Siddiqi, Trevor A Sheldon, Deborah A Lawlor, John Wright, Rosemary RC McEachan, Kate E Pickett, (2022). ‘When will this end? Will it end?’ The impact of the March–June 2020 UK COVID-19 lockdown response on mental health: a longitudinal survey of mothers in the Born in Bradford study. BMJ Journals, 12(1), DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047748,
Abigail Dunn, Philippa K Bird, Charlotte Endacott, Tracey Bywater, Joanna Howes, Josie Dickerson, (2022). The feasibility of an objective measure of the parent-child relationship in health visiting practice: assessment of the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]. Wellcome Open Research, 7(88), DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17552.2,
open-access-icon
Rachael H Moss, Jamilla Hussain, Shahid Islam, Neil Small, Josie Dickerson , (2022). Applying the community readiness model to identify and address inequity in end-of-life care in South Asian communities. SAGE DOI: 10.1177/02692163221146587,
open-access-icon
Zoe Darwin, Sarah L. Blower, Chandani Nekitsing, Sarah Masefield, Rifat Razaq, Louise Padgett, Charlotte Endacott, Kathryn Willan and Josie Dickerson, (2022). Addressing inequalities in the identification and management of perinatal mental health difficulties: The perspectives of minoritised women, healthcare practitioners and the voluntary sector. Frontiers DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2022.1028192,
open-access-icon
Josie Dickerson, Brian Kelly, Bridget Lockyer, Sally Bridges, Christopher Cartwright, Kathryn Willan, Katy Shire, Kirsty Crossley, Maria Bryant, Najma Siddiqi, Trevor A Sheldon, Deborah A Lawlor, John Wright1, Rosemary RC McEachan, Kate E Pickett, (2022). ‘When will this end? Will it end?’ The impact of the March-June 2020 UK Covid-19 lockdown response on mental health: a longitudinal survey of mothers in the Born in Bradford study. BMJ Journals, 12(1), DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047748,
open-access-icon
Philippa K Bird, Zoe Hindson, Abigail Dunn, Anna Cronin de Chavez, Josie Dickerson, Joanna Howes, Tracey Bywater , (2022). Implementing the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale (MPAS) in universal services: Qualitative interviews with health visitors. Wellcome Open Research DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17551.2,
open-access-icon
Dea Nielsen, Katrina d’Apice, Rachael W. Cheung, Maria Bryant, Rebecca Heald, Chloe Storr, Louise Tracey, Rukhsana Rashid, Josie Dickerson & Claudine Bowyer-Crane , (2022). A randomised controlled feasibility trial of an early years language development intervention: results of the ‘outcomes of Talking Together evaluation and results’ (oTTer) project. BMC DOI: 10.1186/s40814-023-01333-y,
open-access-icon
Kate E Pickett, Mildred Ajebon, Bo Hou, Brian Kelly, Philippa K Bird, Josie Dickerson, Katy Shire, Mark Mon-Williams, Neil Small, Rosemary McEachan, John Wright, Deborah A Lawlor, (2021). Vulnerabilities in child wellbeing among primary school children: a cross-sectional study in Bradford, UK. medRxiv DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.10.21249538,
open-access-icon
Josie Dickerson, Bridget Lockyer, Rachael H. Moss, Charlotte Endacott, Brian Kelly, Sally Bridges, Kirsty L. Crossley, Maria Bryant, Trevor A. Sheldon, John Wright, Kate E. Pickett, Rosemary R.C. McEachan, (2021). COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in an ethnically diverse community: descriptive findings from the Born in Bradford study. Coronavirus (COVID-19)
open-access-icon
N. Dharni, H. Essex, M. J. Bryant, A. Cronin de Chavez, K. Willan, D. Farrar, T. Bywater & J. Dickerson , (2021). The key components of a successful model of midwifery-led continuity of carer, without continuity at birth: findings from a qualitative implementation evaluation. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-03671-2,
open-access-icon
Stephanie L. Prady ,Charlotte Endacott, Josie Dickerson, Tracey J. Bywater, Sarah L. Blower, (2021). Inequalities in the identification and management of common mental disorders in the perinatal period: An equity focused re-analysis of a systematic review. PLOS ONE DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248631,
open-access-icon
Lisa Y. Gibson; Bridget Lockyer; Josie Dickerson; Charlotte Endacott; Sally Bridges; Rosemary McEachan; Kate E. Pickett; Sarah Whalan; Natasha Bear; Desiree Silva; Susan L. Prescott; Jacqueline A. Davis. , (2021). Comparison of Experiences in Two Birth Cohorts Comprising Young Families with Children under Four Years during the Initial COVID-19 Lockdown in Australia and the UK: A Qualitative Study. Enviromental Research and Public Health , 18(17), DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18179119,
open-access-icon
Josie Dickerson, Brian Kelly, Bridget Lockyer, Sally Bridges, Christopher Cartwright, Kathryn Willan, Katy Shire, Kirsty Crossley, Maria Bryant, Trevor A. Sheldon, Deborah A. Lawlor, John Wright, Rosemary R C McEachan, Kate E. Pickett. , (2021). Experiences of lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic: descriptive findings from a survey of families in the Born in Bradford study. wellcome open research
open-access-icon
Daniel D. Bingham, Andy Daly-Smith, Jennifer Hall, Amanda Seims, Sufyan A. Dogra, Stuart J. Fairclough, Mildred Ajebon, Brian Kelly, Bo Hou, Katy A. Shire, Kirsty L. Crossley, Mark Mon-Williams, John Wright, Kate Pickett, Rosemary McEachan, Josie Dickerson, Sally E. Barber on behalf of the Bradford Institute for Health Research COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Group, (2021). Covid-19 lockdown: Ethnic differences in children’s self-reported physical activity and the importance of leaving the home environment; a longitudinal and cross-sectional study from the Born in Bradford birth cohort study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity DOI: 10.1186/s12966-021-01183-y,
open-access-icon
Lisa Y. Gibson, Bridget Lockyer, Josie Dickerson, Charlotte Endacott, Sally Bridges, Rosemary R. C. McEachan, Kate E. Pickett, Sarah Whalan, Natasha L. Bear, Desiree T. Silva, Susan L. Prescott and Jacqueline A. Davis , (2021). Comparison of Experiences in Two Birth Cohorts Comprising Young Families with Children under Four Years during the Initial COVID-19 Lockdown in Australia and the UK: A Qualitative Study. MDPI, 18(17), DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179119 ,
open-access-icon
Bridget Lockyer, Shahid Islam, Aamnah Rahman, Josie Dickerson, Kate Pickett, Trevor Sheldon, John Wright, Rosemary McEachan, Laura Sheard, (2020). Understanding Covid-19 misinformation and vaccine hesitancy in context: Findings from a qualitative study involving citizens in Bradford, UK. medRxiv DOI: 10.1101/2020.12.22.20248259,
open-access-icon
Rosemary R.C. McEachan, Josie Dickerson, Sally Bridges, Maria Bryant, Christopher Cartwright, Shahid Islam, Bridget Lockyer, Aamnah Rahman, Laura Sheard, Jane West, Deborah A. Lawlor, Trevor A. Sheldon, John Wright, Kate E. Pickett, (2020). The Born in Bradford COVID-19 Research Study: Protocol for an adaptive mixed methods research study to gather actionable intelligence on the impact of COVID-19 on health inequalities amongst families living in Bradford. Wellcome Open Research DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16129.1),
open-access-icon
Josie Dickerson, Philippa K. Bird, Maria Bryant, Nimarta Dharni, Sally Bridges, Kathryn Willan, Sara Ahern, Abigail Dunn, Dea Nielsen, Eleonora P. Uphoff, Tracey Bywater, Claudine Bowyer-Crane, Pinki Sahota, Neil Small, Michaela Howell, Gill Thornton, Kate E. Pickett, Rosemary R. C. McEachan, John Wright,, (2019). Integrating research and system-wide practice in public health: lessons learnt from Better Start Bradford. BMC Public Health DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6554-2,
open-access-icon
Shahid Islam Neil Small Maria Bryant Sally Bridges Nicola Hancock Josie Dickerson, (2019). Assessing community readiness for early intervention programmes to promote social and emotional health in children. Health Expectations DOI: 10.1111/hex.12887,
open-access-icon
Nimarta Dharni, Josie Dickerson, Kathryn Willan, Sara Ahern, Abigail Dunn, Dea Nielsen, Eleonora Uphoff, Rosemary R C McEachan, Maria Bryant, (2019). Implementation evaluation of multiple complex early years interventions: an evaluation framework and study protocol. BMJ Open DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2019-000479,
open-access-icon
Claudine Bowyer-Crane , Dea Nielsen, Maria Bryant, Nimarta Dharni, Rebecca Heald, Chloe Storr and Josie Dickerson, (2019). STUDY PROTOCOL Open Access A randomised controlled feasibility trial and qualitative evaluation of an early years language development intervention: study protocol of the ‘outcomes of Talking Together evaluation and results’ (oTTer) project. Pilot and Feasibility Studies DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-019-0498-2,
open-access-icon
John Wright, Andrew C. Hayward, Jane West, Kate E. Pickett, Rosie M. McEachan, Mark Mon-Williams, Nicola Christie, Laura Vaughan, Jess Sheringham, Muki Haklay, Laura Sheard, Josie Dickerson, Sally Barber, Neil Small, Richard Cookson, Philip Garnett, Tracey Bywater, Nicholas Pleace, Eric J. Brunner, Claire Cameron, Marcella Ucci, Steve Cummins, Daisy Fancourt, Jens Kandt, Paul Longley, Steve Morris, George Ploubidis, Robert Savage, Robert W. Aldridge, Dan Hopewell, Tiffany Yang, Dan Mason, Gillian Santorelli, Richard Romano, Maria Bryant, Liam Crosby, Trevor Sheldon, (2019). ActEarly: a City Collaboratory approach to early promotion of good health and wellbeing. Wellcome Open Research
open-access-icon
M. Bryant, N. Dharni, J. Dickerson, K. Willan, R. McEachan, J. Duffy & M. Howell , (2019). Use of progression criteria to support monitoring and commissioning decision making of public health services: lessons from Better Start Bradford. BMC DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7149-7,
open-access-icon
S Islam, N Small, M Bryant, T Yang, A Cronin De Chavez, F Saville, J Dickerson, (2018). Addressing obesity in Roma communities: a community readiness approach. International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare DOI: 10.1108/IJHRH-06-2018-0038,
open-access-icon
Dickerson J, Bird PK, McEachan RRC, Pickett KE, Waiblinger D, Uphoff E, Mason D, Bryant M, Bywater T, Bowyer-Crane C, Sahota P, Small N, Howell M, Thornton G, Astin M, Lawlor DA, Wright J, (2016). Born in Bradford’s Better Start: an experimental birth cohort study to evaluate the impact of early life interventions. BMC Public Health DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3318-0,
open-access-icon
Dickerson, Josie; Bird, Philippa K; McEachan, Rosemary R C; Pickett, Kate E; Waiblinger, Dagmar; Uphoff, Eleonora; Mason, Dan; Bryant, Maria; Bywater, Tracey; Bowyer-Crane, Claudine; Sahota, Pinki; Small, Neil; Howell, Michaela; Thornton, Gill; Astin, Melanie; Lawlor, Debbie A; Wright, John, (2016). Born in Bradford’s Better Start: an experimental birth cohort study to evaluate the impact of early life interventions.. BMC public health 711. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3318-0, PMID: 27488369,