Private occupational therapy in Bedfordshire

Sarah is an experienced Occupational Therapist specialising in housing and equipment and moving and handling. She is based in Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

Sarah qualified at the University of Northampton in 2009 and has extensive experience in Social Care, assessing adults and children in their own homes for equipment, minor works and major adaptations.

Sarah has experience working with a broad range of conditions, including Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Acquired Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Global Developmental Delay, degenerative neurological conditions, stroke, heart conditions, Parkinson's Disease.

Sarah’s extensive career in OT has seen her work with children and young people with a broad range of physical disabilities, social and emotional difficulties including, autism, ADHD, Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, brain injury, and sensory processing difficulties. Sarah assesses and treats behavioural difficulties, fine and gross motor skills, balance, coordination, and postural management, to ensure that a child’s every need is addressed.

Sarah is SIPT (Sensory Integration and Praxis Test) certified, positioned to help children in any setting, whether at home or at school. She offers a holistic assessment, working collaboratively with families and other professionals, to ensure the best possible outcome for every child.

Since qualifying as an OT in 2008, Sarah is committed to her continual professional development. She completed a Sensory Integration qualification in 2012, leading to a MSc in 2014. Sarah also delivers training and mentoring with the Sensory Integration Education Network and the Advanced Practitioner training.

Based in Cambridgeshire, Lucy provides independent occupational therapy assessments to clients in the areas of Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough and St. Ives, as well as visiting Norfolk and Suffolk. She specialises in rehabilitation, seating & postural management and equipment, treating adults with those particular needs.

Currently working as professional lead occupational therapist within the NHS, Lucy works with clients with physical, learning and mental health needs. She provides assessments and intervention to clients to maximise their current skills, develop new skills and build on new coping strategies to support them in their everyday life. Lucy uses the Assessment of Motor Process skills (AMPS) to guide her interventions.

Visiting clients at home, Lucy provides intervention that is based on the client's functional goals. This includes providing expert advice on specialist equipment and seating that would increase the client's independence in their own environment. Lucy is also able to deliver accredited postural care training to families and carers.

Rachel is an expert Hand Therapist, practising in Occupational Therapy for over 10 years. Rachel has worked extensively with both long-term conditions and trauma, enabling clients to maximise function in their hands and upper limbs. Rachel is based in Peterborough and visits clients across East Anglia, including Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Northamptonshire.

Rachel is highly skilled to help with various hand traumas such as, fractures, dislocations, amputations, ligament damage, and arthritis. Therapy with Rachel typically includes the development of a personalised exercise programme, pain management, splinting (static and dynamic), and the utilisation of small aids.

Rehabilitation of the hands and upper limbs provides clients with the skill to carry out self-care tasks such as dressing and washing, and domestic activities such as cooking and cleaning. Through effective pain management and advice on how to adapt activities, clients can regain independence and control over their lives.

Rachel is a professional member of The British Association of Hand Therapists (BAHT) and regularly undertakes their specialist courses.

Specialising in a wide range of adult disabilities, neurological conditions, and brain injury, Tanya works with adults of all ages to enhance their independence at home. Tanya is based in Hertfordshire, covering a client base across London, the Home Counties, and East Anglia. She has an extensive understanding of multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease, focusing on how a client can manage fatigue, pain, and activities of daily living.

Through her holistic approach, Tanya considers a client’s every need to ensure they have strategies to move safely around the home, whether with basic mobility aids or larger pieces of equipment, such as chairs and hoists. Tanya also ensures that families and carers are fully engaged in the process and understand how they can provide support. Similarly, Tanya can advise on Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) assessments.

Tanya’s experience in Housing & Equipment means she can recommend an extensive variety of specialist aids to help prevent falls, improve mobility, and enable the client to carry out daily tasks. These aids can in turn help reduce and manage fatigue and improve confidence moving around independently. Tanya also supports clients to regain and maintain access to the community, assessing their needs getting in and out of the home, and any equipment they might require when travelling in the community.

Tanya is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and belongs to a vast network of health professionals, providing ongoing personal development and learning.

Debra provides expert occupational therapy to clients in London, as well as visiting homes in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Middlesex. She specialises in housing & equipment, moving & handling and seating & postural management for both children and adults. Working collaboratively with the client, their family and carers, Debra provides a tailored treatment programme which aims to increase independence and improve quality of life.

Since qualifying in 2006, Debra has worked in a variety of health and social care settings, including inpatient, community and the private sector. She has provided care to clients with various physical and neurological conditions, such as brain injury, cerebral palsy, arthritis, stroke and dementia.

Visiting the client in their home environment, Debra is able to identify the individual’s needs and can recommend minor or major adaptations as appropriate. This could include facilities such as wet rooms, wheelchair accessible kitchens, ramps, through floor lifts or hoist systems, as well as grab rails, stairlifts and adaptive equipment. She works closely with carers, surveyors, architects and contractors to ensure that the adaptations meet the current and future needs of the client and to reduce the risk of injury and falls.

Alongside housing and equipment, Debra also provides expert advice and guidance on seating & postural management. Debra prescribes chairs with specialist accessories and functions such as a vertical lift, riser function, recline function or tilt in space. She encourages and advises on good seating support, training carers and families on the risks of poor skin integrity and pressure sores, as well as safe manual handling and transfers in the home.

Through her work, Debra aims to promote independence and reduce risk by enabling the client to have safe access to all essential facilities and to be safe within their home.

Since qualifying as an occupational therapist in 2009, Heather has specialised in the area of neurological rehabilitation. She works with clients in their home environment, visiting areas of Northampton and Kettering, as well as homes in Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Nottingham. Heather ensures her clinical knowledge is up to date, maintaining her memberships of the College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Sections in Independent Practice and Neurological Practice.

During her career, Heather has gained clinical experience in the NHS, working for charitable organisations and also in the independent sector, specifically in post acute, rehabilitation and community settings. She carries out specialist assessments on clients with complex neurological conditions, including brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis and those in prolonged disorders of consciousness.

Heather provides clients with a range of expert intervention, ensuring these are evidence based and meet best practice guidelines. This can include physical rehabilitation, focusing on upper limb rehab, balance and equipment provision, as well as cognitive rehabilitation and help with self care. She also provides education and training to the client's family and carers, ensuring they know how to use equipment safely and appropriately.

Lynn is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist with 24 years post-graduate experience. She works with children in school and home settings carrying out goal based occupational therapy assessments and intervention. She has specialist skills in paediatric assessments, including School Amps (Assessment of Motor and Process Skills) and is an Advanced Practitioner in Sensory Integration(SI) having successfully completed levels 1-4 Sensory Integration training.

Lynn devises treatment programmes tailored to the assessed needs of the individual child. She uses Ayres Sensory Integration assessment and treatment approaches and works with parents and teaching staff to empower them to implement strategies and activities at home and in the child’s setting.

She is skilled in writing reports detailing the assessment, outcomes and treatment recommendations, including reports for Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunals. She also delivers training to schools and parents on topics including sensory processing.

Based in Suffolk, Jen provides expert occupational therapy to adult clients. She travels to local areas such as Felixstowe, Ipswich, and Sudbury visiting clients at home, as well as travelling further afield to London, Hertfordshire and homes in Yorkshire. She specialises in a number of areas of occupational therapy, including rehabilaition, seating & postural management and housing & equipment.

Jen has spent her career working in acute wards, rehabilitation units, for social services and also in private practice. She has always held a varied caseload, treating clients with conditions such as chronic pain, Fibromyalgia, CFS/ME and Arthritis. She has a special interest in chronic pain and fatigue management, having provided group therapy on relaxation and sleep hygiene.

Jen works collaboratively with clients, family members and carers to ensure that the most appropriate equipment, seating solutions and housing adaptations are provided to enable her client to live as independently as possible. She also provides expert advice and guidance on work-related issues, having gained experience working at a vocational rehabilitation centre.

Jen likes to keep her clinical knowledge up to date, maintaining her professional memberships of The College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Sections in Independent Practice and Neurological Practice.

Cathy is an experienced and enthusiastic OT who has developed a vast depth of knowledge and experience in her chosen fields.

Since graduating from St. Andrew's school of Occupational Therapy in 1992, Cathy has become an expert in her fields of, Seating & Postural Management, Moving & Handling and Housing & Equipment.

She has worked in a variety of settings, working with adults and older people supporting them in the areas of Rehabilitation, Orthopaedics, Neurology, older peoples mental health, Dementia and supporting adults with learning disabilities. Carrying out detailed assessments and expert treatment, Cathy helps her client to live as independently as possible.

Cathy has experience in facilitating equipment & adaptations, reablement, moving & handling and managing a Dementia team.

Qualifying in 2003, Paul is an experienced occupational therapist specialising in housing adaptations, disabled facilities grants, housing suitability, equipment, assistive technology and moving and handling. He provides expert advice and enjoys helping his clients to achieve a higher quality of life by working collaboratively with them as well as with their carers & families.

Paul has a wealth of experience working as an Occupational Therapist within a social services role as well as with private clients with physical disabilities, including age related conditions, sensory impairment, neurological conditions, palliative conditions, catastrophic injury, amputation and brain injury, mental health difficulties and learning difficulties.

With a previous background in the construction industry, he has worked closely with architects, housing associations, councils, charities and contractors providing expert advice on the suitability of accommodation, adaptations to existing properties and new builds and has an in depth knowledge of assistive technology.

Qualifying as a speech and language therapist in 1983, Sharon has specialised in working with children and young adults at home and in school. She travels within Essex and Hertfordshire visiting clients, including the areas of Basildon, Grays, Colchester and Chelmsford.

Sharon has extensive experience in the field of paediatrics, spending her early career working for the NHS in mainstream and special schools, a child development team and a neonatal unit. Now working independently, Sharon provides assessments and treatment programmes to children in their own environment.

Sharon is experienced in the assessment and management of communication and language difficulties from birth to adolescence. She has a special interest in eating and drinking difficulties (dysphagia) in which she has completed post qualifying training. Providing a detailed treatment plan, Sharon provides direct therapy and training to parents, carers and teachers to enable them to implement the programme of intervention when Sharon is not there.

Sharon is a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, and is committed to maintaining clinical standards by continuous learning, following best practice and adhering to evidence based practice.

Working with both children and adults, Rachel provides expert occupational therapy in a home or school environment. She specialises in rehabilitation, providing assessments and treatment to clients with a variety of clinical needs and conditions. Rachel is based in Hertfordshire, travelling to Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead and St. Albans, as well as into London visiting clients and their families.

Since qualifying in 2006, Rachel has worked for the NHS, for charities and also in private practice, including within a specialist residential eating disorder service providing clients with individual therapy sessions and facilitating a weekly life skills group. She treats children with neuro-developmental conditions, as well as both adults and children with mental health needs.

Rachel uses a number of therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and sensory integration, in which she has completed postgraduate qualifications. Ensuring her client is at the centre of her care, Rachel works with the client and their family to help them regain functional independence and reach personal goals.

Rachel is committed to her professional development and is a member of several specialist clinical practice groups. This allows her to keep her skills and knowledge up to date and relevant to current practice.

Claire is an expert paediatric occupational therapist based in Hertfordshire. She travels around the South East of England visiting families, including Buckinghamshire and Essex and also parts of London. She has completed various postgraduate courses, including a qualification in sensory integration and training in the Alert Programme which is particularly successful for children with ADHD. Claire is also trained in the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS).

Claire has spent much of her career in child and adolescent mental health services and has experience working with children with behavioural difficulties, eating disorders, psychosis, Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD and self harming behaviour. Currently, Claire is at a special school working with children with learning disabilities. She provides intervention to support children in reaching their maximum potential, including help with handwriting, motor planning and sensory integration techniques.

As an independent OT, Claire works with children and families in their home or school environment. Having assessed their needs, Claire will develop a bespoke treatment package for the child which will involve parents, teacher or carers where necessary. She ensures that the treatment sessions are engaging and work towards the child reaching their personal goals.

Claire is a member of the Sensory Integration Network and the College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Sections for Children, Young People and Families.

Lone is an expert paediatric occupational therapist who treats children at home, in nursery and at school. She is based in Hertfordshire, travelling to the areas of in Essex and North London visiting children and their families. She is qualified in both Bobath and Chailey approaches, as well as being trained in advanced sensory integration techniques and using the CO-OP approach.

Qualifying in 1996, Lone has spent her career working in UK statutory services, in schools and also independently in private practice. She previously worked in Denmark treating children with severe learning difficulties in various special schools.

Lone works with children with a variety of clinical needs, assessing functional and sensory or motor difficulties. She has experience helping children with conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, Downs Syndrome and mild to profound learning difficulties. This includes supporting children with postural needs, prescribing the right equipment and offering advice to ensure safe use.

Lone aims to enhance a child's independence and functional ability and will include family, carers or teachers into putting together a personalised treatment plan. To ensure the care she is providing to families is of the highest standard, Lone maintains professional development through her membership of the College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Sections in Children, Young People & Families and Independent Practice.

Qualifying as an occupational therapist in 2011, Meera specialises in rehabilitation and moving & handling. She has completed post qualifying training, including a masters degree to support her clinical practice. Visiting her clients in their own environment, Meera travels to areas of Berkshire, Hampshire and Hertfordshire, as well as homes in London.

Meera has experience treating clients with long term neurological conditions, as well as supporting older adults and end of life care. She completes detailed assessments with her clients using a variety of approaches, including using the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) to meet goals and record an individuals intervention. She aims to optimise their function in meaningful activities and promote quality of life.

Treating her clients at home, Meera will involve family members and carers to ensure that they are appropriately trained and that intervention can continue when Meera is not there. This includes providing moving and handling plans, specifically offering advice on positioning and complex equipment, aiming to improve her clients independence at home and in the community.

Karen is based near Watford, visiting clients across London and the Home Counties. With extensive experience in Housing & Equipment, Karen can recommend basic and complex home adaptations, including extensions. Whether a small piece of equipment or large adaptation, Karen’s aim is to help a client regain and maintain independence at home. Karen works with adults with a wide range of physical disabilities, brain and spinal injuries, and conditions such as cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, and motor neurone disease.

Through her rehabilitation programmes, Karen seeks to recommend practical strategies to overcome common issues such as getting in and out of the home, personal care and dressing, cooking and cleaning. These measures aim to help reduce the risk of falls, increase mobility, and build confidence. Karen can also advise on Seating & Postural Management, recommending suitable seating and standing aids.

Karen can advise and support clients through DFG Assessments, understanding the process and what is required. Karen is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Sections for Independent Practice and Housing, and has also completed additional qualifications in Housing Adaptations and Design.

Qualifying as a speech and language therapist in 2010, Debbie provides expert assessment and treatment to children and young adults at home, in school or at nursery. She visits children and their families in the London area, working collaboratively with parents and carers to ensure the child reaches their maximum potential. Debbie is a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).

Having gained experience working in the NHS and private sector, Debbie provides therapy to children of all ages with mild, moderate and severe communication needs. She supports children with the development of speech, as well as focusing on attention, listening and social skills. She provides fun and motivating therapy, working with a child to maximise their speech and language use and increase their independence. Therapy includes sensory stimulation, intensive interaction strategies and building on self-esteem.

Working holistically, Debbie provides training to parents, teachers and teaching assistants so they feel confident communicating with children and young adults with additional needs.