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Access in & out of the home

Find out how we can help

Peace of mind to move in and out of your home safely & independently

Whether it be getting to the car, the garden, the shops or social activities, being able to access the world outside our home is important for both mental and physical wellbeing. When mobility is reduced, even otherwise simple journeys can become a challenge.

We assist many people facing all variety of difficulties to maintain their independence and access to their community. Our experience also helps ensure that the solutions we provide, as well as being practical and cost-effective, are the best possible aesthetic fit for a client's own home.

How OT's help

Help with access into and out of the home is one of the most common reasons our clients contact us. Whether for a temporary or more long-term solution, the following are examples of challenges we can address:

  • Steps and stairs leading to a property, whether via a communal or private entrance
  • Access to a town-based property from street level
  • External ramps which may be too steep or in a state of disrepair
  • Access to a garden or driveway
  • Risk of falling
  • Reduced confidence moving into and out of the home after illness, injury or a period in hospital

Our assessment process allows a specialised occupational therapist to identify all such problems, make recommendations to reduce them, and (if desired) arrange for any recommended changes to be made.

Our approach

Our aim is to provide flexible, practical and cost-effective solutions for accessing your home and community. Our assessment may involve looking at:

  • Your current and likely future levels of mobility, hand and shoulder function
  • The home environment, including your garden, driveway or street access
  • The layout and style of your property, including shared access areas
  • Any equipment that you currently or are likely to need in the future, such as frames, scooters or wheelchairs
  • Your own, your family's or carer's specific wishes and goals

Common recommendations

Some practical solutions that we may recommend to help you access your home include:

  • Grab rails at the front door
  • Hand rails on existing steps or stairs
  • Installation of smaller half-steps
  • Installation of ramps with gentle gradients that allow for walking, scooters or wheelchairs
  • Installation of stair or platform lifts

We can help with

If required we can also provide assistance with:

  • Sourcing suppliers - we work with companies nationally to ensure we always offer competitively-priced solutions
  • Arranging and managing lift representatives or builders who may need to visit your home
  • Reviewing plans with architects and builders to ensure that any changes to your home are right for you, both now and in the future

Public sector, charities and businesses

Is your organisation looking for professional OT services?

Find out more

Common conditions we help with

Find out more about how our OT’s can help by visiting our pages dedicated to specific conditions associated with home access difficulties.

Why The OT Practice

We recognise the importance of knowing that you are in safe hands. That is why, when you first make contact with us, you will straightaway be able to explain your concerns to a member of our client management team who will be able to provide relevant information about our services, answer any questions you may have and provide guidance on next steps. This dedicated team will then remain in charge of your case through any subsequent assessment and treatment we provide.

Other reasons to rely on The OT Practice include:

  • We visit you in your own home and at a time convenient to you and your family, and are happy to offer evening and weekend appointments
  • We do not have waiting lists and so can offer appointments within 7 working days of referral or sooner
  • Our extensive nationwide network of registered occupational therapists allows us to find you the right local therapist
  • We can provide ongoing support for as long as you need it
  • Our clear, fixed pricing system will be provided to you in writing for you to consider in your own time
  • Your occupational therapist will be a specialist in their field, with over 5 years' clinical experience including time in social services or NHS practice
  • Our team are well connected to networks of local and national equipment providers, stair lift and building companies

Your Clinical Services Manager

Ros

Ros

Client Manager (Adults)

Ros, an experienced OT, is our Client Manager overseeing the team looking after adults cases, mainly looking after our private individual and charity clients.

Email the team

Services for businesses, organisations and the public sector

Local authorities

Our team provide individual or bulk assessments for local authorities looking to reduce waiting lists or ease pressure.

Find out more

Case managers

Comprehensive, goal orientated OT services for your clients in their own homes and community.

Find out more

Housing associations

Providing reports and recommendations for individual residents or working on large regeneration projects.

Find out more

Charities

Working with charities to provide reports and recommendations for grant funding applications.

Find out more

Construction companies

Individual or bulk housing assessments and recommendations for kitchen, bathroom or access projects.

Find out more

Care homes

We provide individual equipment recommendations or advice on environmental accessibility

Find out more

Next steps

Initial enquiry

During your initial call to us you can discuss your concerns with a member of our client management team, who will be able to understand what your difficulties are, provide information and advice on our services and identify the right OT from our team.

Quote

If therapist input is recommended, we will send you a detailed quote via email or in writing explaining what, after a full assessment, we would propose and how much it would cost, as well as rates for further work that might be recommended in the future.

Referral

Once you have had time to consider the options and costs, and if you would like to go ahead, the next step would be to fill in our online referral form. In the meantime, if you have further concerns or questions then our client manager will be happy to discuss them with you.

Assessment

Our therapist will then contact you within 24 hours to arrange a visit at your home. Normally this first visit will comprise a full assessment, after which you will receive a comprehensive written report.

Advice

The report will include a clear record of our findings and recommendations. These may include useful items you can buy or activities you can do independently, but they may also include more complex recommendations such as home adaptations or additional treatment by the occupational therapist. Where additional involvement is required, we will follow up the report with a detailed quotation so that you have all the information needed to make an informed decision.

As Private Occupational Therapists our aim is to provide choices and guidance to help you decide what the best options are for you

A few of our housing specialists

Meet a selection of our occupational therapists who are specialists in assessing access needs and planning adaptations.

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Kelly

Kent, South East of England

Kelly is a Kent based Occupational Therapist working with adult and elderly clients in their own homes across the south-east.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, Kent

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Self care

Barbara

East Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Barbara is an expert occupational therapist, delivering specialist rehabilitation and seating & postural management assessments to clients at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management

Amanda

Hampshire, South East of England

Having qualified in 2010, Amanda specialises in rehabilitation, moving & handling and housing & equipment for adults.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, South of England, South East of England, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, West Sussex, Wiltshire, Isle of Man

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

BIA

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills

Lucy

Cambridgeshire, East Anglia

Qualifying in 1999, Lucy specialises in seating & postural management, rehabilitation and housing & equipment for adults.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Midlands, East Anglia, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Suffolk

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS, Train the trainer

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Behaviour management, Co-ordination, Self care, Social integration

Katrina

Hampshire, West and South West of England

Qualifying in 2007, Katrina specialises in housing & equipment, seating & postural management and moving & handling for adults.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, South of England, South East of England, Dorset, Hampshire, Southampton

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments

Nikki

Middlesex, South East of England

Qualifying in 1992, Nikki specialises in seating & postural management, housing & equipment and moving & handling for adults.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, London - Central, London - North, London - South, London - East, London - West

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Visual perception, Self care

Anna

West Sussex, South East of England

An expert in neurological rehabilitation, Anna works with adult clients in Kent and London.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, East Sussex, Kent, Surrey, West Sussex, London - East, Brighton

Specialisms

Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Behaviour management, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural managemen, Splinting

Becky

Birmingham, Worcestershire

Having worked internationally, Becky is an expert neurological occupational therapist, delivering specialist assessments to clients at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, West and South West of England, Herefordshire, Shropshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Birmingham, Wolverhampton

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Fine motor skills, Co-ordination, Self care

Samantha

Leeds, West Yorkshire

Trained in advanced sensory integration and therapeutic listening techniques, Sam helps families by treating children at home, school and nursery.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Humberside, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Manchester, Wakefield, Salford

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Community access, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Social integration

Gaynor

Leicester, Warwickshire

A highly skilled occupational therapist, Gaynor provides expert neurological, vocational and functional rehabilitation to clients in the East Midlands.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Warwickshire, London - North, Nottingham, Leicester

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Wheelchair accreditation, Anxiety management & relaxation

Cathy

Suffolk, East Anglia

Cathy is an experienced OT working in Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire with adult clients with physical needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Midlands, East Anglia, London, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Rutland, Suffolk, London - North

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Postural managemen, Wheelchair accreditation

Jura

London - East, London

An expert occupational therapist based in London, Jura specialises in seating & postural management, moving & handling and rehabilitation.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London , London - Central, London - North, London - South, London - East, London - West

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Postural managemen, Wheelchair accreditation

Charlotte

Wiltshire, South of England

Based in Hampshire, Charlotte is an expert housing and rehabilitation OT, working with clients across the south of England.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Berkshire, Dorset, East Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Wiltshire

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills

Jacquie

London - North, Hertfordshire

Jacquie works with clients in their own homes across the south, she specialises in rehabilitation in stoke and brain injury.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, London - Central, London - North

Specialisms

Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Postural managemen, Splinting

Elizabeth

Cardiff, The Vale of Glamorgan

Liz is an expert neurological rehabilitation specialist working with clients in their own homes across Wales and the West Midlands.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, Wales, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea, Torfaen, The Vale of Glamorgan, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Swansea

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Hand Therapy, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

PIPs, Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural managemen, Splinting, Wheelchair accreditation

Rachael

Southampton, Hampshire

Working with adults and children, Rachael is an expert occupational therapist based in Hampshire who supports clients in their homes.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Hampshire, Southampton

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling

Kathryn

Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England

Working in the north east, Kathryn is an expert occupational therapist working with clients at home with rehabilitation needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, North East England

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Louise

Wiltshire, South of England

Working across the South, Louise is an expert occupational therapist working with clients in their own homes to maximise independence.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Berkshire, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Postural managemen

Aisling

London - North, Middlesex

Aisling is an expert occupational therapist working in the field of neurological rehabilitation with clients in their own homes.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Middlesex, London - Central, London - North

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, DMO (Lycra) Splinting, Splinting, Wheelchair accreditation

Gina

London

Gina is an expert neurological occupational therapist, delivering specialist seating and rehabilitation assessments to clients at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, Berkshire, Middlesex, Surrey, London - South, London - West

Specialisms

Hand Therapy, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Daily living skills, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Postural managemen, Wheelchair accreditation

Jacqueline

London - Central, Middlesex

Based in London, Jacqueline provides expert paediatric therapy helping children with handwriting, sensory processing and specialist seating needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, London - Central

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, BOBATH

Ali

Sheffield, West Yorkshire

Trained in advanced Bobath techniques, Ali provides expert occupational therapy specialising in moving & handling, rehabilitation and hand therapy.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Midlands, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Nottingham, Derby

Specialisms

Hand Therapy, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Anxiety management & relaxation

Joanna

Kent, South East of England

Based in Kent, Joanna provides expert occupational therapy helping adult clients with complex, neurological conditions.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, London, South East of England, Essex, Kent, London - Central, London - North, London - South, London - West

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care

Heather

Warwickshire, East Midlands

Located in Northampton, Heather provides specialist neurological assessments to clients in their home environment.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, East Anglia, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Rutland, Warwickshire

Specialisms

Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural managemen, Splinting

Stephanie

Wrexham, North West England

Based in Cheshire, Stephanie provides expert occupational therapy to adult clients. She specialises in neurological rehabilitation.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Wales, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, West Yorkshire, Wrexham, Liverpool, Manchester, Salford

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Self care

Moira

West Midlands, West Midlands

Moira provides expert occupational therapy to adult clients, specialising in rehabilitation, seating and moving & handling.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Coventry

Specialisms

Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Planning & execution, Self care

Jenny

Carmarthenshire, Wales

Based in Wales, Jenny provides expert occupational therapy to adults and children. She specialises in housing & equipment and seating.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Wales, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Swansea, Swansea

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, BOBATH, Train the trainer, Chailey Postural Management

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Self care, Postural managemen, School Based Therapy/Support, Wheelchair accreditation

Tracy

Leeds, West Yorkshire

Specialising in rehabilitation, Tracy is an expert Occupational Therapist working across Yorkshire with clients in their own homes and workplaces.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Wakefield, Hull

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Sensory integration, Behaviour management, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration, Anxiety management & relaxation, Learning disability

Laura

Birmingham, West Midlands

Working across the midlands, Laura is an expert neurological occupational therapist treating clients in their own homes.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands

Specialisms

Hand Therapy, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Splinting

Jane

Kent, South East of England

Jane is based in Kent and is a highly skilled OT, working with clients in their own homes.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Kent, London - South, London - East

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Self care

Client feedback

Further reading

Our news & press

Introducing Emma, Clinical Team Lead – Housing & Equipment

At the beginning of the year we announced our launch of ‘Specialist Clinical Teams for 2019’. For the first appointment of our clinical leaderships we introduce you to Emma, our Housing and Equipment team lead.

Read more

Our Experts' Blog

Case Study: Training

In this article Louise describes how she used training as part of her treatment programme with Rob during his rehabilitation following significant orthopaedic trauma. The case study brings to life how training can be an invaluable tool in a the rehabilitation journey.

Read more