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Personal care & dressing

Find out how we can help

Restoring independence and dignity through practical advice and solutions

We aim to restore the skills needed for essential personal care tasks such as washing and dressing after these are impaired by accident, illness or advancing age.

Working collaboratively with clients to identify their goals for each day, we help to break these down into manageable steps and integrate them into a daily routine. We are also experts at adapting bathrooms so that they remain a safe and accessible space designed to accommodate changing needs.

How OT's help

Occupational therapists are highly skilled at assisting people challenged by the everyday tasks involved in washing and dressing, helping them to remain in their own home for as long as possible.

Some of the most common reasons for seeking our help include:

  • Reducing the risk of falling or getting stuck when using the bath, shower or toilet
  • Ensuring the bathroom can be reached quickly when necessary
  • Coping with difficulties in standing or maintaining posture for a sufficient length of time
  • Learning new techniques of personal care after brain, spinal or orthopedic injuries
  • Managing the effects of progressive neurological conditions
  • Adapting bathrooms to ensure they remain accessible despite reduced mobility or coordination

Our assessment process allows a specialist occupational therapist to identify exactly the personal care problems facing a client so that we can provide the best possible practical advice, as well as instruction in new techniques of personal care appropriate to their circumstances. We can also recommend adaptations or equipment that would help them and (if desired) arrange for its installation.

Our approach

Our aim is to provide practical and cost-effective solutions to maximise your independence and reduce any risks. Our OT assessment may involve looking at:

  • Your medical history and current prognosis
  • Current and future levels of mobility, hand and upper limb function
  • Difficulties with fatigue, concentration or memory
  • Changes to your daily routine
  • Your home environment, especially its layout in key rooms
  • The height and location of bathroom furniture
  • Accessibility of stairs
  • Your own, your family's or carer's goals and wishes for the future

Common recommendations

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

  • Small aids to help in day-to-day activities, such as grab rails or dressing aids
  • Larger pieces of equipment, such as beds, chairs or hoists
  • Mobility or walking aids, including ramps, wheelchairs or frames
  • Stair lifts or through-floor lifts
  • Other adaptations to your home, especially kitchens, bathrooms and toilets
  • Everyday techniques to maximise your independence and reduce risks around the home

We can help with

If required we can also provide assistance with:

  • Sourcing alternative suppliers and quotations - we work with companies nationally to ensure we always offer competitively-priced solutions
  • Dealing with representatives who may need to visit your home
  • Setting up and training you or your carers in the safe use of equipment
  • Reviewing plans with architects and builders to ensure any changes are right for you now and in the future
  • Supporting you in returning home following a hospital stay

Public sector, charities and businesses

Is your organisation looking for professional OT services?

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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 personal care & dressing 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 our client manager who is also an experienced occupational therapist. They will then remain your primary point-of-contact at The OT Practice 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
  • We do not add on travel or mileage costs
  • 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 dedicated point of contact

Ros

Ros

Client Manager (Adults)

Ros, an experienced OT, is one of our Client Managers who looks after enquiries relating to adults, mainly looking after our private individual and charity clients.

Email Ros

Services for businesses, organisations and the public sector

Case managers

We help your client's achieve optimum independence through assessment, treatment & advice.

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Healthcare concierge

Assessment and treatment services for clients in their own homes both in the UK and internationally.

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Solicitors

We provide solicitors with professional reports for educational tribunals or rehabilitation needs.

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Next steps

Free consultation

During your initial call to us you can discuss your concerns with one of our client managers, whose clinical knowledge will allow them to understand exactly what your difficulties are 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 rehabilitation specialists

Meet a selection of our occupational therapists who are experienced in helping maximise independence with personal care and dressing.

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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

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Self care

Sharon

London - South, Kent

Sharon covers South London, Kent, Croydon & Bromley and has a special interest in housing adaptions, seating & postural management.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

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

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, Postural managemen

Lesley

Birmingham, Worcestershire

Working in the West Midlands, Lesley provides expert rehabilitation and postural management treatment to adult clients in their own homes.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, South of England, Surrey, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Birmingham

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Pain management, Daily living skills, Self care, Postural managemen, Anxiety management & relaxation

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

Joanne

Worcestershire, West Midlands

Based in Warwickshire, Joanne specialises in seating & postural management, moving & handling and functional rehabilitation.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Birmingham, Leicester, Stoke-on-Trent

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Self care, Wheelchair accreditation, Anxiety management & relaxation

Jo

Lancashire, North West England

Specialising in Manual Handling and Functional Rehabilitation, Jo works with clients across Cumbria and Lancashire in their own homes.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Cumbria, Lancashire

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Wheelchair accreditation

Yvonne

Southampton, Dorset

Yvonne is an expert Vocational and Functional Rehabilitation specialist. She works with adults in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Southampton

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, PIPs, Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Social integration, Wheelchair accreditation, Anxiety management & relaxation

Carly

Perthshire and Kinross, Scotland

Based in Scotland, Carly specialises in paediatric occupational therapy. She has completed further sensory integration qualifications.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Scotland, Borders, Perthshire and Kinross, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Community access, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Co-ordination

Ebby

Glasgow, West Lothian

Having worked internationally, Ebby provides expert occupational therapy helping adults with functional and neurological rehabilitation at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Argyll and Bute, Borders, Clackmannan, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh (City of), Falkirk, Glasgow (City of), Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian, Glasgow, Edinburgh

Specialisms

Hand Therapy, Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Community access, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration

Louisa

Bristol, Newport

Specialising in rehabilitation, Louisa provides expert occupational therapy to clients across south west England and the south of Wales.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Wales, Avon, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Cardiff, Newport, Bristol, Cardiff

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

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

Karen

Edinburgh, Stirling

Working across Scotland, Karen carries out expert assessment and treatment of clients, providing advice on housing adaptations and rehabilitation.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, Angus, Clackmannan, Dundee (City of), East Lothian, Edinburgh (City of), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow (City of), Highland, North Lanarkshire, Perthshire and Kinross, Stirling, Edinburgh

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Self care, Anxiety management & relaxation

Victoria

Bedfordshire, East Anglia

Based in Bedfordshire, Victoria is an expert neurological occupational therapist having completed a postgraduate diploma in Neuro-Rehabilitation.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, London, South East of England, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, London - Central, London - North, London - East, London - West

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

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

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

Hand Therapy, Vocational Rehabilitation, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

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

Kirsty

Wrexham, North West England

Qualifying in 2001, Kirsty specialises in housing & equipment, moving & handling and rehabilitation for adults and children.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, West Midlands, Wales, Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Shropshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Powys, Wrexham, Liverpool, Manchester, Hull, Stoke-on-Trent, Salford

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, PIPs, Fatigue management, Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Social integration

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

Paula

Warwickshire, West Midlands

Paula is an expert neurological occupational therapist, delivering specialist functional and vocational rehabilitation assessments to clients at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, South East of England, Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care

Emma

London - South, West Sussex

Emma is an expert rehabilitation OT working with clients in Surrey and the surrounding area in their own homes.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

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

Specialisms

Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Fatigue management, Pain management, Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Anxiety management & relaxation

Pippa

Surrey, South of England

Working in Berkshire and the surrounding areas, Pippa provides expert care to clients in the own homes and workplaces.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

BOBATH, Train the trainer

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Self care

Sara

Brighton, West Sussex

Based in Brighton, Sara provides expert occupational therapy to adult clients. She has completed a Masters in Neurological Rehabilitation.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, South East of England, East Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, West Sussex, Brighton

Specialisms

Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Community access, Behaviour management, Visual perception, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration

Val

Cornwall, West and South West of England

Val is an accredited Best Interests Assessor, delivering specialist assessments to clients at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, West Midlands, East Midlands, West and South West of England, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Isles of Scilly, Bristol, Plymouth, Salford

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS, BIA, Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

Counselling, DFG Assessments, Fatigue management, Motivational issues, Daily living skills, Community access

Fiona

Birmingham, Staffordshire

Based in Staffordshire, Fiona provides occupational therapy to adults and children, specialising in moving & handling and housing & equipment.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Birmingham, Coventry, Nottingham, Leicester, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, Derby

Specialisms

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

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Anxiety management & relaxation

Joanne

Manchester, Greater Manchester

Joanne is an expert Occupational Therapist specialising in neurological rehabilitation, working with clients in their owns homes across Manchester.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, Greater Manchester, Manchester

Specialisms

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

Paul

Leicester, Worcestershire

Working in South Yorkshire, East & West Midlands, Paul carries out expert assessments and treatment of adults with various needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, West Midlands, East Midlands, East Anglia, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Blue Badges / Mobility Assessments, PIPs, Self care

Gemma

Birmingham, Worcestershire

Working in the area of rehabilitation and adaptations, Gemma provides expert Occupational Therapy to clients in the West Midlands.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, West Midlands, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Birmingham, Manchester

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Motivational issues, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Self care, Social integration

Louise

Birmingham, Warwickshire

Louise is an expert Seating & Postural Management OT, delivering specialist mobility and Rehabilitation assessments to clients at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, South of England, South East of England, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Birmingham

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

Postural managemen

Marie

Merseyside, North West England

Based in Merseyside, Marie provides expert neurological occupational therapy and rehabilitation to adults at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, West Midlands, Wales, Cheshire, Merseyside, Shropshire, Conwy, Flintshire, Wrexham, Liverpool

Specialisms

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

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Balance, Planning & execution, Self care, Social integration

Gary

Plymouth, Cornwall

Visiting clients across the UK, Gary provides expert treatment in the areas of rehabilitation and housing adaptations.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, North East England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, West Midlands, East Midlands, East Anglia, London, South of England, South East of England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Plymouth

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS, Ergonomics

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Fatigue management, Daily living skills

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

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

Sarah S

Southampton, Hampshire

Sarah works with clients across Hampshire and provides detailed assessments and treatment plans to clients in their own homes.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Hampshire, Southampton

Specialisms

Housing and Equipment, Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Community access, Self care, Social integration

Ganga

West Sussex, South East of England

Qualifying in 2008, Ganga specialises in rehabilitation for adults and children. She visits clients at home.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

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

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Self care, Social integration

Client feedback

Further reading

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

Our Experts' Blog

A professional’s guide to functional rehabilitation

What is Functional Rehabilitation? In this guide, Rachael explains how a functional OT assessment, learning about a client's personal goals, and a realistic treatment plan, can help a client achieve their optimum level of participation in daily activities.

Read more