Dr Colwill is a general adult Consultant Psychiatrist with more than 18 years’ clinical experience in mental health. She was a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists since 2009, with an endorsement in liaison psychiatry (psychological medicine). As a mark of distinction and in recognition of her contributions to psychiatry, Dr. Colwill was awarded fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2022.

She is approved by the Secretary of State under Section 12 (2) of the Mental Health Act (1983) as having specialist experience in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.

Dr Colwill has served as a lead consultant for high-dependency psychiatric rehabilitation services for four and a half years. This involved responsible clinician role and stepdown care for detained patients from general adult services and forensic services under Forensic sections of the Mental Health Act, such as section 37 and 41 (Restriction Order), as well as civil sections. She was also responsible for the care of patients with Autism and comorbid conditions, which accounted for about a quarter of the patients in the rehab service.

She also provided a liaison service with the complex case review panel and risk panel at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. This involved the regular preparation of reports concerning capacity to consent to treatment, capacity in relation to finances and property and criteria for detention, as well as complex case reviews and second opinion reports often spanning decades of information with multiple diagnoses and risks.

In her most recent role as a community consultant psychiatrist, she conducted approximately 350 referral assessments a year for a large catchment area predominantly consisting of patients with mood disorders, psychosis, somatisation and complex PTSD.

Dr Colwill has worked in general psychiatric and forensic stepdown services including community care, crisis and inpatient care, early intervention in psychosis, child and adolescent psychiatric services, substance misuse services, high security forensic services, psychiatric intensive care units, neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric services and maternal mental health. She regularly provides teaching, training and presentations at courses and conferences and academic meetings both nationally and internationally.