Stephen has incorporated clinical practice with research and implementation science to develop research outputs which are clinically relevant and applied to people following acquired brain injury. He delivers the regional specialised outreach service for North West London and surrounding counties, including the management of spasticity. He has developed with local, national and international colleagues a programme of research, which builds strongly on his clinical expertise in management of spasticity and the physical aspects of neurological rehabilitation. The programme has incorporated development of outcome evaluation using Goal Attainment Scaling in conjunction with measures such as the Arm Activity measure, with robust psychometric testing. During a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) lectureship Stephen developed the Leg Activity measure, Leg Therapy recording Schedule and Goal Attainment Scale Legs, which are now being used in practice nationally and internationally. During his involvement in the NWL CLAHRC fellowship programme Stephen developed implementation approaches for some of these tools to achieve better measurement and improved outcomes for people with stroke and brain injury.

Stephen edited the national guidelines on spasticity management published in 2018 by the Royal College of Physicians, UK. He was awarded a Fellowship of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists In Neurorehabilitation, UK in 2016 and of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, UK in 2018. He became senior clinical lecturer and hon. Associate professor (University College London) in June 2019 at the Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied health led Research, University College London Hospitals. Stephen is currently working on research projects in arm and leg spasticity, rehabilitation goal setting and planning for people with spasticity, clinician (physiotherapy, medical and other MDT members) practice development for spasticity management and the wider application of goal setting and measurement tools in rehabilitation.

https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/stephen-ashford(0ffaad18-c07a-41d8-a2a1-925a3fc1b3ce).html