Private occupational therapy in the North West

With over 20 years’ experience, Kirsty is an expert Occupational Therapist who specialises in the Housing & Equipment and Moving & Handling. She is based in Chester visiting clients in Crewe, Birkenhead, Macclesfield, and further afield in Greater Manchester and Cumbria.

Having worked primarily in the field of housing, Kirsty's experience includes identifying and recommending minor/major housing adaptations for all age groups. She also delivers moving & handling risk assessments, recommending Telecare equipment, such as fall detectors and sensors, to help keep her clients safe when moving around their home.

Treating clients in their own environment, Kirsty implements bespoke rehabilitation packages to improve her client's independence in their activities of daily living. She works collaboratively with the family or carers to encourage clients to reach their own treatment goals and improve their overall quality of life.

Kirsty is a member of the College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Sections in Independent Practice and is also qualified in carrying out Blue Badge mobility assessments.

Laura is an OT based in Stockport, visiting clients with a wide range of needs across Manchester and the surrounding areas. She has experience working with children and adults with a range of physical disabilities, learning and sensory impairments, and mental health conditions. This experience has provided her with an array of interpersonal skills, professional attributes, and knowledge to work collaboratively with clients and their families with the aim to improve their overall quality of life.

Laura's main area of expertise is in relation to housing adaptions and the assessment and prescription of specialist equipment. She carries out expert assessments and provides tailored treatment plans to her clients to help them achieve the most from life. She identifies needs focusing on mobility, transfers, activities of daily living, access, health & safety, and sensory ability, formulating goals jointly with the client, and formulating treatment plans. Laura provides recommendations on the provision of equipment and adaptations to meet these goals. She addresses client’s individual needs and wishes and assists them in the creation of a home environment that suits both the client and their wider family.

With over 10 years of experience, Sam is an expert in her field of neurology, working with clients with a range of neurological conditions. She works closely with her clients, carrying out full assessments and providing bespoke treatment plans to help her clients gain as much independence as possible. Sam is based in Cheshire and visits clients across the North-West of England.

Sam supports her clients with a range of needs including behavioural difficulties, cognitive assessments and rehabilitation, planning and execution of activities, upper limb treatments for both gross and fine motor deficits, assessment of ADLs, balance and co-ordination, visual perception and sensory deficits. Sam also provides training and advice to families and carers to help them understand her client's condition and the most effective ways to care for them, as well as training carers in safe moving & handling techniques.

Sam works closely with the charity, Headway, on a regular basis. She has completed a Bobath course in normal movement and has completed training in neurological splinting and casting to manage abnormal tone.

Julie specialises in adult rehabilitation across North West England and the West Midlands including, Manchester, Liverpool, Wolverhampton, and Stoke-on-Trent. She has been delivering expert care and advice for over a decade, covering neurological conditions, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, Alzheimer’s, anxiety, and depression.

Julie has extensive experience evaluating safety concerns in the home and community, conducting assessments to support suitable treatments and facilities, and the review of care packages. This includes suggesting specialist home adaptations and aids, such as beds and seating. She strives to enhance her client’s independence, delivering the best possible care and advice in regards to both physical and mental well-being. She can provide expert treatment on areas including fatigue management, routine planning, daily living skills, behaviour management, social integration, and anxiety management. Julie also spends time providing invaluable support to families and carers, whom she recognises are just as important to the overall care experience.

Julie qualified in 2006 from York St John University College. Her career has seen her working in a variety of settings, including in-patient psychiatry, community services, and forensic services. Julie is a member of the Independent Practice specialist section of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, and actively engages in peer supervision on topics surrounding mental health, brain injury, and dementia services, and is experienced working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Hazel is a highly skilled Occupational Therapist and an Approved Disability Analyst. She promotes positive therapy outcomes and works in partnership with clients and their families. She also has extensive knowledge in psychological processes and experience in many evidence based psychological therapies such as mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy. Hazel is based in Penrith, Cumbria, and visits clients across the North West of England.

Hazel works with clients with a variety of needs, including, acquired brain injuries, amputations, spinal injuries and neurological conditions. She helps her clients with vocational rehabilitation and pain management, to allow them to live life as fully as possible.

Achieving degrees in Occupational Therapy and Psychology, Hazel has a broad knowledge that she is able to draw from to help her clients reach their maximum potential. She also designs and delivers training for health professionals, service users, and carers.

Sorrel is a highly skilled OT specialising in Functional Rehabilitation. She is based near Lancaster and covers a client base across Lancashire, Cumbria, and Greater Manchester. Sorrel has over a decade of experience practising as an OT, working with adults with a diverse range of health conditions, including stroke, acquired brain injury, dementia, and musculoskeletal injuries.

She has experience in areas such as fatigue management, motivation and anxiety, and activities of daily living. Sorrel provides community and home-based assessments, with the aim to deliver a comprehensive analysis of a client’s needs and offers tailored physical rehabilitation.

Sorrel is extensively trained in stroke and acquired brain injury rehabilitation, specialising in communication in stroke, cognitive rehabilitation, and the physical rehabilitation of neurological disorders.

She has also undertaken many postgraduate training qualifications in areas such as fatigue management in MS, advanced Parkinson’s intervention, multi-disciplinary support of learning and assessment, falls training and prevention, and anxiety management.

Sorrel is a member of two specialist sections at The Royal College of Occupational Therapists, for Older People and Independent Practice.

Gill is a highly experienced OT based in Keswick, Cumbria. She covers a large client base across North West England and Scotland including the Lake District, the Borders, and Dumfries & Galloway. Gill specialises in Functional Rehabilitation and Housing and Equipment, supporting adults with injury and illness to retain independence at home and feel confident accessing the community.

Drawing on her extensive experience, Gill helps clients to improve their strength and mobility through bespoke activity programmes and supportive aids. She also conducts housing assessments to evaluate how a client can effectively move about their home and advise on suitable adaptations and equipment provisions to support a client’s needs.

Gill is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Sections in Independent Practice, Older Adults, and Rheumatology.

Holly is a highly skilled Hand Therapist with over 20 years of experience. She is based in Stockport, visiting clients in the North West of England including Manchester, Liverpool, and Derby. Holly has developed her clinical skill across NHS and private settings, including a lead role at The Alexandra Hospital in Manchester where she developed the specialist Hand Therapy service there.

Working with clients with acute and chronic conditions, Holly provides bespoke and intensive treatment programmes to increase function and improve overall independence. Using a holistic approach, Holly works with clients on all aspects of rehabilitation, including mobility and function, improvement of independence in home and leisure tasks, and advice on home adaptations and equipment procurement. Holly is experienced in a range of splinting treatments, including assessing and fitting pre-fabricated splints, tendon lengthening, and improving function.

Holly is a professional member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and the British Association of Hand Therapist (BAHT). She has completed levels 1 and 2 of the BAHT training courses, enabling her to provide expert hand therapy and rehabilitation to clients.

Jan is an expert Occupational Therapist who specialises in Hand Therapy and hand related conditions. She is based in North West England, treating clients in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, and Cheshire.

Jan is highly experienced, working as a specialist Hand Therapist for over 30 years. She provides rehabilitation and therapy to clients with hand injuries, working with both adult and paediatric clients. She has previously worked in regional units for burns and plastics, as well as establishing the role of hand therapist in two private hospitals.

Visiting clients at home, Jan provides clinical assessment of orthopaedic trauma, congenital and chronic conditions, as well as assessing clients who have suffered burns or have had plastic surgery. To improve function and increase the client's levels of independence, Jan provides treatment including mobilisation and exercise regimes, splinting, fracture bracing, desensitisation, and scar management.

Jan is a member of the British Association of Hand Therapists (BAHT) has been on the executive committee for 6 years, 2 of which she was Chairman of the Association.

Jill works with adults at home in North West England, including the Greater Manchester area, Cheshire, Derbyshire, and Lancashire. With over 20 years of experience, Jill has worked in a variety of settings advising on equipment, adaptations, and housing. Jill supports adults with a wide range of injuries and conditions including multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, learning disabilities, autism, and stroke. She assesses a client’s mobility and safety in the home, providing recommendations on equipment and adaptations to support a client maintain independence.

Jill has completed training courses to accompany her clinical work, including a MSc with Distinction in Accessibility and Inclusive Design, Train the Trainer, and ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management. She is also a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section in Housing.

Sarah is a motivated and experienced Paediatric Occupational Therapist who has experience across many different clinical areas within the paediatric setting. She has specialist interest in working with children who have acquired/traumatic brain injuries as well as other complex medical conditions including cancer, spinal conditions, and orthopaedic conditions. Sarah is located just outside of Stockport and visits clients across Greater Manchester including Salford, Oldham, and Ashton-under-Lyne.

She has always wanted to work with children and young people and this passion comes across in her ability to build rapport with children and their families during therapy sessions. Through her experience, Sarah has gained considerable knowledge of child development, gross and fine motor skills, school reintegration, and equipment provisions.

Alongside her work as a private practitioner, Sarah provides OT assessment and input to children on an Intensive Care Unit & High Dependency Unit, as well as managing the team of OTs that cover the neurosciences, neurology, and long-term ventilation caseloads. She is proactive in her learning, seeking out opportunities to improve her skills and knowledge to ensure quality patient care.

Specialising in Functional Rehabilitation and Housing & Equipment, Carlie provides expert occupational therapy to adult clients. She has worked internationally but is now based in Lancashire, visiting clients at home in Blackburn, Blackpool, Lancaster and Warrington, as well as areas of Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

Carlie has worked across a number of clinical settings, including acute & forensic mental health, in-patient & community rehabilitation and psychogeriatric services. She specialises in working with clients with neurological and physical conditions, including dementia, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. Having worked in such different environments, Carlie has developed her core OT skill, including how to work as part of a team and the importance of including clients and their families within the rehabilitation process.

Carlie works with her clients to establish meaningful rehabilitation goals and develop a bespoke treatment plan. Carlie is also skilled in neurological rehabilitation, the provision of equipment and housing adaptations, fatigue management strategies, and return to work programmes. Carlie aims to help her client improve their quality of life and overall independence within their home and community.

Carlie is dedicated to her on-going education and professional development. She completed an Occupational Therapy MSc in 2016, focusing on the understanding of autonomy for people with dementia and how OT's enable autonomy for vulnerable clients.

Based in Ormskirk, Lancashire, Matt is an OT who specialises in Housing and Equipment. Matt works with adults of all ages across the North West including Manchester, Liverpool, and Cheshire. Matt conducts holistic housing assessments, evaluating all aspects of a client’s home and recommends suitable adaptations and equipment to maximise their independence and quality of life.

Matt has extensive experience advising on a range of home adaptations, both minor and major, including bathroom modification, stair lifts, and hand rails. He can recommend standard and specialised equipment based on the client’s individual needs, whether they are recovering from a short-term injury or adapting to life with a long-term condition. Matt’s overall aim is to help each client regain independence in the home, enabling them to complete activities of daily life such as cooking, cleaning, and washing.

Matt is highly committed to his profession, maintaining a membership to several prestigious bodies including the Royal College of Occupational Therapy, both their Housing and Independent Practice sectors, and The Occupational Therapy Hub.

Melanie is an experienced Paediatric Occupational Therapist working with children and their families across Merseyside, The Wirral, and broader Cheshire. Throughout her career, spanning over 20 years, she has worked in a wide variety of roles both in the UK and in New Zealand. She specialises in early child development, having worked for many years with infants and young children with a range of neurodevelopmental conditions, complex neuro-disabilities, motor difficulties and sensory processing disorders. Melanie also specialises in working with children with vision impairments, having completed a Post Graduate Diploma with a blind and low vision endorsement.

Melanie has developed her expertise working for the NHS, public health services in New Zealand, and special educational schools. She has extensive experience of working with children with a wide range of conditions including cerebral palsy, global developmental delay, genetic conditions, autistic spectrum conditions, down's syndrome, and sensory integration difficulties.

She provides interventions at home, within education environments, and within clinical settings using a range of assessments and completing comprehensive reports. She is passionate about supporting families and enabling children to develop to their full potential through their gross and fine motor skills, balance and co-ordination, self-care tasks such as dressing and feeding, and specialist equipment provisions.

Katie is an expert Occupational Therapist with over a decade of experience in both NHS and private sector roles. She predominantly supports children and adults with learning disabilities, autism, and sensory processing difficulties. Katie is based in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and visits clients across the North-West of England including Manchester, Bradford, Huddersfield, and Leeds.

Using a person-centred approach, Katie is passionate about helping people to identify and overcome barriers; working together to recognise and reach their full potential in activities and occupations meaningful to them. Katie supports clients with a wide range of needs including behavioural difficulties, fine and gross motor skills, planning and execution skills, and self-care.

Katie has worked in various settings and undertaken several post-graduate courses to develop her practice and performance as an Occupational Therapist. She has completed Sensory Integration Levels 1-4 and is currently in the final year of her MSc in Sensory Integration.

Alongside her normal work, Katie has also volunteered in Mexico for children with cerebral palsy through a charity called MeDiCT. She is now a trustee of this charity and continues to liaise and support the team.

Working as an Occupational Therapist for over 25 years, Lisa has worked in many different settings in the NHS, Local Authorities, and in private practice. Lisa specialises in Housing & Equipment, delivering expert home functional assessments of adults and children with highly complex physical disabilities. This can be a result of illness or trauma, neurological and congenital conditions, birth injuries, and chronic pain. Lisa is located in Derbyshire and visits clients across the UK.

Lisa works holistically to identify Moving & Handling and Seating & Postural needs with the client and their family, successfully implementing solutions to enable individuals to participate in day to day activities, engage in purposeful roles, and support them to lead an independent life.

She has held a number of senior and managerial positions within the local authority setting, being responsible for occupational therapy teams and the delivery of the service.

Katy has worked as an OT for over 15 years, attaining an invaluable breadth of knowledge and skill to assist children with a variety of needs. Katy works with children and their families across North East England, including Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Northumberland. She has extensive experience with both the physical and sensory needs of a child, providing bespoke and creative treatment plans.

Katy has worked with many different physical disabilities, conditions such as cerebral palsy, and acquired brain injury. In particular, she works on the development of fine and gross motor skills, helping a child to build up the strength, balance, and coordination to perform activities and maintain independence.

Alongside rehabilitation, Katy will also advise on home adaptations and equipment required to meet the child’s functional needs. For example, this could include a specialist chair or bed to assist with posture and comfort. Katy is an expert in this field, undertaking specialist training in the Chailey Approach to Postural Management.

Katy is dedicated to her continual professional development, regularly attending conferences and lectures to keep up-to-date with the most innovative research. She has completed additional qualifications in Sensory Integration and The Listening Programme, which is music-based therapy to help with mental, physical, and emotional health. Katy has also organised and delivered a range of training programmes for parents, carers, other healthcare professionals, and education staff on topics including handwriting difficulties, sensory processing, fine and gross motor skills.

Katy is a professional member of the Independent Practice section of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

Loveness is an experienced Occupational Therapist who has developed expertise in Housing & Equipment and Moving & Handling. Located just outside of Kettering, Loveness visits clients across the Midlands including Northampton, Peterborough, Milton Keynes, and Leicester. She supports clients with a wide range of physical conditions including arthritis, amputations, and osteoporosis as well as dementia, Alzheimer’s, and learning difficulties.

Loveness’ vast social services and community experience means she has developed a strong knowledge of patient-centred approaches to care. She is experienced in completing brief and complex assessments of need as well as developing, managing, and modifying individual care plans for desired outcomes. Loveness is skilled in major and minor home adaptations, specialist equipment, DFGs, Blue Badges, mobility assessments, and single-handed care.

Loveness is a highly self-motivated, determined, sociable, and enthusiastic individual who can adapt well in new environments. She is able to use her own initiative and practise professionally in a safe and excellent manner.