Private occupational therapy in the South West of England

Qualifying as an occupational therapist in 1993, Val specialises in housing & equipment and rehabilaition for adults. She is based in Cornwall and will travel across the UK, completing assessments with clients in their own environment. Val is an accredited Best Interests Assessor (BIA), having developed sound knowledge of the legislation to support clients, families and Local Authorities.

Val's experience is in working with adults with a variety of physical and mental health needs, providing equipment and adaptations to homes to promote independence and safe living conditions. This includes completing BIA assessments, where Val requires knowledge of both the Mental Health Act and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards assessments and applications. She also carries out Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) assessments.

To continue her professional development, Val has completed postgraduate training including courses in counselling and therapeutic listening. She also keeps up to date with the current legislation and policies surrounding her work.

Alison has over 30 years of experience in Occupational Therapy and currently visits clients across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, and Gloucestershire. She helps clients with complex needs including learning disabilities, mental health issues, dementia, physical impairments, and long-term health conditions.

Alison utilises her expertise in learning disability and mental health alongside her extensive expertise in person-centred practice and personalisation. She provides comprehensive assessments and interventions for clients in their home environment, helping them to maintain independence and enhance their quality of life. Alison can support clients with neurological conditions, using standardised assessments which focus on cognitive and physical impairments. She once led a national provider to develop a new model of personalised provision for people with Huntington’s disease, acquired brain injury, and motor neurone disease. Recently, Alison has also developed clinical expertise working with adults and young people who have severe mental health issues, both in the community and in hospitals.

Alison is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists’ Specialist Section for Independent Practice and develops her expertise through continuous professional development including networking with other Occupational Therapists, attending courses, and completing self-directed study.

Dawn is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist based in Truro, Cornwall. She supports both adult and paediatric clients, covering key areas such as Penzance, St Ives, Falmouth, and Newquay. Dawn provides Functional Rehabilitation for clients with a wide range of conditions and injuries, helping them with daily living skills to promote independence.

Dawn has previously worked in Adult Community Mental Health Team, Inpatient Acute Assessment and Discharge, and Inpatient Palliative Care. She draws on her extensive experience working with adults to support clients with self-care tasks, mental health challenges, and to provide suitable equipment to support safety and mobility in the home.

Working with children, Dawn provides expert assessments and interventions in schools, nurseries, and their home environment. She has experience working in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Children's Community Therapy, special needs schools, mainstream schools and the community. Dawn utilises the skills she has acquired in her career so far to deliver specialist interventions and support children to reach their full potential.

Dawn also has a particular interest in sensory processing disorders and in March 2021 completed Module 1 of her Sensory Integration training.

William is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist based in the South West of England. He specialises in Neurological Rehabilitation with particular expertise in acquired brain injury. He visits clients across Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset.

William supports clients throughout each stage of rehabilitation, from the acute stage of their injury to long-term community rehabilitation. William uses a range of client-centred approaches and techniques to overcome cognitive, physical, and behavioural difficulties associated with the client’s injury. William has extensive experience in training carers, families, and therapy staff on individual rehabilitation programmes and therapeutic approaches. He is confident at working with clients’ varying difficulties and can tailor his approach to maximise their rehabilitation potential.

William is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists including the Specialist Sections for Independent Practice and Neurological Practice.

Specialising in Neurological Rehabilitation, Jenni is an expert OT who has been delivering comprehensive assessments and therapy for over 15 years. Jenni is located in Devon, visiting clients across the county including Torquay, Exeter, and Plymouth. She specialises in brain injury, stroke, and post-concussion syndrome.

Jenni works holistically, addressing a client’s physical and cognitive needs. She focuses on developing fine motor skills and upper limb rehabilitation to support a client regain the ability to complete activities of daily living and manage fatigue. Jenni is also passionate about cognitive rehabilitation, having completed several Braintree courses, covering specific needs relating to attention, memory, visual and information processing. This extends to helping client’s with anxiety and social integration, supporting a return to work or leisure activities. Jenni also recommends suitable equipment provisions and specialist seating based on the client’s current and potential future needs.

Jenni is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section in Independent Practice. She keeps up to date with new developments in neurological rehabilitation through her continual learning and engagement with other professionals.

Sarah is a specialist in neurological conditions, working for adults with needs relating to Huntington’s disease, brain injury, dementia, and stroke rehabilitation. Sarah is located in Tavistock, near Plymouth, covering a client base across Devon and Cornwall. She strives to ensure clients regain independence, providing assistance to safely and confidently move around the home, carry out household activities such as cooking and cleaning, and personal care and dressing.

Sarah can evaluate activities of daily living (ADL), as well as cognitive and mental capacity. She is especially interested in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, choosing to undertake a post-graduate module while studying. Sarah also has expertise in Seating & Postural Management, Moving & Handling, and behaviour management.

Sarah offers a holistic approach to occupational therapy, supporting clients and their families from assessment through to treatment. Sarah can adapt well when required to serve a client’s individual needs, including liaising with other professionals and working as part of a multidisciplinary team. In particular, Sarah has extensive experience working alongside physiotherapists to provide adapted seating and aid in moving and handling therapy.

Sarah is committed to her continued professional development, regularly attending conferences and undertaking additional training. Sarah has leadership experience mentoring OT students from her local university, which she thoroughly enjoys and uses to enhance her own learning.

With over 15 years of experience, Amy is a specialist Occupational Therapist based in Devon. She visits clients across the South-West of England including Taunton, Exeter, Yeovil, and Weymouth. Amy has expertise in a wide range of complex disabilities and conditions including orthopaedics, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and motor neurone disease. She also has specific skills in the functional assessment and treatment of individuals with neurological presentations including stroke, brain injury, and long-term conditions.

Amy has worked extensively within acute and community rehabilitation settings and in recent years has expanded her practice to include private work. She provides holistic assessments of an individual’s functional limitations and is passionate about enabling them to regain their full potential and independence.

After gaining vital experience in moving and handling throughout her career, Amy qualified as a Manual Handling Trainer in 2018 and is skilled at skilled at completing complex risk assessments, identifying equipment needs and delivering practical and theoretical training to staff teams. She also has an interest in seating and postural management and is skilled at completing seating assessments.

Providing expert Occupational Therapy to her clients, Katrina specialises in Housing & Equipment, Seating & Postural Management, and Moving & Handling for adult clients. Katrina is based in Dorset, visiting clients in Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester, Shaftesbury, and Weymouth.

Katrina has gained extensive experience working for Dorset County Council. Working as part of the adult and community team, she assesses clients for housing issues and equipment needs. She carries out Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) assessments, working closely with other health staff, care agencies, and local authorities.

Katrina also works independently, treating clients in their own environment. She makes recommendations for minor and major housing adaptations, as well as providing equipment and specialist seating. She implements moving and handling care plans where appropriate, ensuring her client is moving safely and as independently as possible around the home.

To maintain her professional development and make sure her clinical knowledge is up to date, Katrina will attend conferences and exhibitions, as well as being a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists’ Specialist Section in Independent Practice.

Ellie is based in Gloucestershire, visiting clients in Wales and the South West of England. Her areas of expertise focus on Housing & Equipment, as well as Seating & Postural Management for both adults and children. She offers expert care and therapy to clients with a range of injuries and conditions, working collaboratively with families and carers.

Ellie has developed a broad clinical knowledge base, working with clients with complex neurological needs and physical disabilities. She has experience in specifying and prescribing specialist equipment and seating, as well as assessing and recommending home adaptations to benefit the client and encourage independence. She liaises closely with the wider support network of her clients, including families, carers, and other professionals. She can also support with Disabled Facilitates Grants and various mobility assessments, including for Blue Badge applicants.

Ellie is committed to keeping up to date of new developments, policy reforms, and writes and delivers training to other practitioners.

With over 25 years’ experience, Rachel has gained a broad clinical knowledge in both inpatient and community settings. For most of her career, Rachel has worked at a senior level in the field of complex disability, neurological impairment, and the management of long-term conditions. Rachel is based just outside of Gloucester, visiting clients across the South West of England and South Wales.

Rachel strives to deliver client centred and goal focused therapy. She has worked extensively with clients with progressive neurological conditions, brain injury, and stroke. She supports clients with specialist equipment needs, community access, vocational rehabilitation, and upper limb rehabilitation. She also has a particular specialism in postural management and tissue viability, completing a Post-Graduate Masters Certificate in 2007. Rachel also has extensive experience of working with adults who experience psychological ill health due to the long-term consequences of their illness or the impact of disability.

Rachel has had work published in the International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation and works in the medico legal field as a care and occupational therapy expert. She is also a professional member of the Neurological Practice Specialist Section at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

Katie is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist located in Tewkesbury. She visits clients across Gloucestershire and Herefordshire including Gloucester, Hereford, Cheltenham, Worcester, Stroud, and Evesham. Katie supports children with conditions such as autistic spectrum disorders, physical disabilities, Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy, global developmental delay, and learning difficulties.

Katie began her career supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism in the community. She then went on to apply her skills and passion in Paediatrics, which she now specialises in. Katie has enhanced her therapeutic skills through the completion of additional training including AMPS training and Sensory Integration Module 1. Katie considers a child’s sensory needs as part of holistic assessments, working collaboratively with parents, schools, and other professionals to identify and address a child’s individual goals.

She supports children to develop fine and gross motor skills, enabling them to complete activities of daily living such as dressing, feeding, and washing. Katie is also experienced in assessing for and recommending suitable home adaptations and specialist equipment.

Sarah is an expert Occupational Therapist specialising in Housing & Equipment interventions and working with clients with a range of needs. She has over 10 years of clinical experience working in a wide range of settings. Sarah works with adults and older adults who have a variety of physical, learning, and sensory needs. She is based in Somerset and visits clients across the South West of England.

Sarah has specific expertise in long term and complex degenerative conditions affecting adults and older adults. She is especially skilled in providing advice and guidance in compensatory techniques, equipment provision, moving and handling, postural management, and minor to major home adaptations including Disabled Facilities Grants.

Sarah is committed to maintaining her clients’ independence at home and is practised in identifying areas of functional difficulty within the home environment.

Cath is an expert Paediatric Occupational Therapist and has over 20 years’ experience working with children with a variety of needs. She specialises in working with children who have complex medical needs and disabilities, including those with neurological and life limiting conditions. Through joint working and expert assessment, she aims to support independence and participation whilst enabling families to provide dignified and excellent continuing care for their child. Cath is based in Somerset, covering a client base across the South-West.

Incorporating a professional OT role with hands-on 1:1 care at the Children's hospice, Cath gained an insight into the effectiveness of equipment and adaptations. She understands how the demands of caring for a child with complex needs affects the whole family, which has significantly shaped her practice.

Cath has developed highly effective communication and clinical skills, working with families to understand their needs and wishes, conducting thorough assessments, regular reviews of interventions and through robust report writing. She is also committed to professional development and learning.

Amie is an expert Occupational Therapist who specialises in Neurological Rehabilitation. Located in Somerset, Amie visits clients across the county including Bath and Bristol.

Throughout her her career, Amie has worked in a variety of settings including acute neurology, slow stream inpatient, and intensive community stroke/brain injury rehabilitation. This has enabled Amie to develop a great understanding of the long-term effects of disability on the client and their family. Amie has experience working with clients with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, stroke, and brain injury. She has particular expertise in postural management, having completed postgraduate training in the field. Amie is passionate about maximising an individual’s independence and quality of life.

Amie is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and their Specialist Section for Independent Practice.

Based in Devon, Elana is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist with over 10 years of experience. She visits children and their families in the West and South West of England across a variety of settings including homes, schools, and colleges. Elana assesses and treats children with a wide range of conditions such as autism, learning difficulties, ADHD, and other mental health conditions. She supports children with clinical needs surrounding Sensory Integration, gross and fine motor skills, balance and coordination, and handwriting.

Elana is able to utilise her wealth of experience across community and education settings to help children achieve their occupational goals. Her main area of expertise is in Sensory Integration, having completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Sensory Integration Level 1,2 & 3 and currently completing research for a PhD in Sensory Processing and Occupational Therapy. Elana works collaboratively with parents, carers, and school staff to ensure they are able to utilise therapy techniques into a child or young person's daily life.

Elana gained invaluable experience from a senior role with a secure mental health service. She was responsible for managing a team and providing assessments and intervention of complex cases. This position included delivering comprehensive assessments and report writing, the coordination of services and multi-disciplinary working, which often included working with social workers and psychologists to achieve the best outcomes for service users.

With over 20 years’ experience in, Stephen is an expert OT in Seating & Postural Management, both static and dynamic seating. Based in Frome, Somerset, Stephen covers a client base across the South West of England including Bath and Bristol. He works with both adults and children with a wide range of conditions including cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, head and spinal cord injuries.

Stephen works with adults and children, providing specialist seating assessments and provision of seating solutions which are tailored for the client’s individual needs and circumstances. His extensive product knowledge and clinical skills meet complex needs surrounding mobility and posture. He can advise on modular and cast seating, both manual and powered wheelchairs, and pressure cushions. For his Paediatric clients, Stephen can find a wheelchair and seating solution to suit both home and school life, accommodating the ever-changing needs of childhood, activities and play.

Stephen’s wide-ranging career has seen him work for many specialist services and has even taken him abroad, sharing his expertise on wheelchair therapy across the world. Stephen is a member of the Posture & Mobility Group which brings together professionals from various disciplines to share and advance knowledge.

Sarah is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist based in Swindon, she visits clients across the South-West, including Bristol, Wiltshire, and Oxfordshire. With over 10 years of experience working in a variety of settings, Sarah has acquired a breadth of knowledge and skill. She is particularly focused on Functional Rehabilitation and Seating & Postural Management for children with conditions such as autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, global developmental delay, sensory difficulties, and many more.

Sarah works with children at home or in a school environment, assessing their needs relating to fine and gross motor skills, their ability to act independently and carry out activities of daily living, and sensory challenges. Sarah is used to working in a multi-disciplinary team, coordinating efforts with various professionals to ensure the child is fully support in all areas.

Sarah can offer handwriting assessments and treatment, focusing on the fine motor skills of using a pen or pencil. Sarah has also undertaken training in Makaton, a type of sign language that incorporates speech. This has proven particularly beneficial to children of all ages and with a variety of needs.

Sarah is a professional member of The Royal College of Occupational Therapists and regularly undertakes additional qualifications to enhance her skillset.

Amanda is an expert Occupational Therapist who specialises in Housing & Equipment, Rehabilitation, and Moving & Handling. She is located in Portsmouth, visiting clients in Fareham, Southampton, Winchester, Andover, and Basingstoke.

Amanda has worked in a variety of settings withing the community and acute hospital settings for the NHS. She has experience treating clients with a variety of clinical needs such as multiple sclerosis, dementia, spinal injuries, orthopaedic traumas, as well as working with clients with mental health needs. Amanda is also a qualified Best Interests Assessor (BIA).

Carrying out independent assessments with clients at home, Amanda will work with the family to ensure all of her client's needs are being met. She will develop a treatment programme which aims to improve the clients overall functional independence; this could include minor and major housing adaptations, equipment provisions, and moving & handling advice.

Amanda is committed to continuing her learning and development and keeping up to date with recent advancements in the field of OT. Part of this is through her membership at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists’ Specialist Sections in Independent Practice.

Based in Staffordshire, just south of Stoke-on-Trent, Amy is a highly experienced OT specialising in Housing & Equipment. She covers a client base across the Midlands, offering expert housing assessments and recommendations. Amy has worked in this field for over 15 years, supporting adults with a wide range of physical disabilities and conditions often with secondary sensory and cognitive needs.

Amy conducts holistic assessments of a client’s functional needs in the home and strives to maximise their level of independence. This includes their ability to safely and confidently undertake activities of daily living such as cooking and cleaning. Amy can recommend both minor and major housing adaptations to suit the client’s individual needs. Amy has particular expertise working with older adults, supporting with mobility and home adaptations. She has also undertaken specialist training in dementia awareness. Amy is skilled in complex manual handling, including specific training in bariatric moving & handling. She can also advise on Disability Facilities Grants and Personal Independence Payments, having had experience as a Disability Assessor in the past.

Amy is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists’ Specialist Section in Independent Practice.

An Occupational Therapist with over 30 years’ experience, Kate specialises in Housing & Equipment, as well as providing Moving & Handling support to adult clients. She has built up an excellent understanding and knowledge of housing needs, from basic equipment to larger home adaptations. Kate is based in Stratford-upon-Avon and visits clients across the Midlands.

Since qualifying, Kate has worked with clients in physical and mental equipment, helping clients in regaining independence and living safely within their home. Kate works with clients with various medical conditions including arthritis, cardiac conditions, respiratory conditions, diabetes and cancer. Working collaboratively with the client and their family, Kate provides expert advice and support to help her client reach their rehabilitation goals and live a life to its maximum potential. This includes the provision of specialist equipment, recommendations of minor and major adaptations, and providing safer moving and handling techniques. She will also provide mobility and Blue Badge assessments where necessary.

Kate is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists’ Specialist Sections in Independent Practice, ensuring her clinical knowledge is kept up to date.

Jane is an expert Occupational Therapist based in Hampshire, visiting clients in Basingstoke, Andover, Southampton, and Winchester. She works with adults and children, assessing and treating Housing & Equipment and Seating & Postural Management needs.

Jane has worked in acute, community, and private settings for over 20 years. She provides assessments and treatments to clients of all ages, focusing on their housing and equipment needs, as well as working with clients who require seating and postural support.

Jane uses her previous clinical experience and expert knowledge when making recommendations to help her clients maximise their independence. She has experience liaising with architects and builders to help create an environment bespoke to each client's individual requirements, including advice on minor and major housing adaptations and safe manual handling in the home.

Jane has in-depth knowledge of current legislation and its impact on assessment and intervention. She has extensive experience of adapting properties through the Disabled Facilities Grant process as well as private funding.

Sue specialises in providing Housing & Equipment and Moving & Handling assessments to adults. She has completed various post graduate training including techniques in safer manual handling. She is based in Cardiff, covering client base around Wales and the South West of England including Swansea, Newport, and Caerphilly.

Sue has extensive clinical experience working in a variety of settings including private practice, health and social services. Sue is experienced managing a complex caseload of clients with a variety of needs including care of the elderly, amputees, orthopaedics, neurological rehabilitation, and community mental health.

Sue delivers expert assessments and interventions to clients in their own homes, working in partnership with clients, families, case managers, equipment suppliers, surveyors, and architects to offer a high-quality service. In her recommendations, Sue suggests specialist equipment and minor and major adaptations to encourage her client's independence. This also includes provision of manual handling plans to ensure effective and safe use of transfer aids, hoists, and alternative techniques.

As a specialist Hand Therapist, Edwina is an expert in her field and helps clients with a variety of hand therapy needs. She has a particular interest in elective and traumatic hand conditions, helping her clients to gain maximum independence in their daily lives. Edwina is based in Barry, South Wales, visiting clients across Wales and the South West of England.

Edwina completes detailed assessments of her clients and provides a bespoke report, detailing tailored advice and treatment plans to help her client get back to being as independent as possible. She has over 10 years’ experience helping with a wide range of functional challenges. She has expertise in splinting, assessments, exercise programmes, strengthening, scar management, joint protection and pacing, ADL advise, and compensatory techniques to aid maximum independence post injury.

Edwina is a member of The British Association of Hand Therapists and completed an MSc in Hand Therapy in 2017.

Located near Newport, Wales, Xenia delivers specialist assessments to her clients in south Wales, Gloucestershire, and Bristol. She specialises in Neurological Rehabilitation, as well as providing expertise in the areas of housing, equipment, and vocational rehabilitation. She has completed a number of post graduate training courses, including cognitive rehabilitation workshops and the use of Assessments of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS).

With over 15 years of experience, Xenia has extensive experience working across various community settings, and has treated conditions relating to orthopaedic, elderly rehabilitation, neuro-rehabilitation and more specifically, stroke rehabilitation. In her role as lead occupational therapist for a specialist stroke service, Xenia developed expertise providing neurological assessments for clients and developing treatment programmes that focus on the client's care.

Providing independent assessments, Xenia visits clients in their own home environment. She delivers goal-focused therapy programmes, including splinting, upper limb rehabilitation, cognitive rehabilitation, graded return to work programmes, activities of daily living practice and community reintegration programmes. She works with the client and their family to ensure that goals are being met and the client is as independent as they can be, recommending specialist equipment and housing adaptations to improve overall quality of life.

Xenia is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section in Neurological Practice and regularly attends professional development activities.