In June 1997 I graduated with Degree in Psychology and Sociology from Derby University. During my degree course I developed a keen interest in cognitive neuropsychology and on completion, I began working a Rehabilitation Assistant at West Kent Neuro- Rehabilitation Unit (based within Sevenoaks Hospital).
My experiences as a rehabilitation assistant, instigated an interest in occupational therapy, due to its holistic/client centered approach and furthered my desire to work with people with brain injury. In 1998, I began a post-graduate diploma in Occupational Therapy at the Royal London School of Medicine (Barts, Queen Mary & Westfield College). I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2000 and worked on a generic rotation for Barking, Havering and Brentwood NHS Trust (subsequently known as Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust). I gained a wide range of experience working within acute, sub-acute and community settings within the fields of elderly medical, surgical/amputees, stroke, neurosurgery, brain injury and paediatrics. As an occupational therapist, key roles included: assessment of impairments and the impact on functional ability with everyday tasks; consideration of a person within their family/social networks and home environment; rehabilitation towards independence and maximising a persons potential; empowerment/ advocacy and discharge planning/risk assessment.
In 2002, I specialized in neuro-rehabilitation, taking up a post within the same trust within the local community hospital. The unit consisted of 15 rehabilitation beds for people over 16 years following brain injury, stroke and other non-progressive neurological conditions. It was within this role that I was able to further develop my knowledge and skills in the assessment and rehabilitation of cognitive and perceptual impairments, sensory and motor impairments, psychosocial adjustment and functional ability. I was also able to gain further experience of setting up support packages/equipment for people with complex needs in their home environments and recommending appropriate specialist rehabilitation units/therapy services.
Throughout 2005/06 I participated in planning for the opening of a new acute hospital, to where the unit moved in December 2006, specialising in acute stroke care. In December 2007 I joined Head First as a brain injury clinical case manager and I am in the process of applying for Practitioner member of BABICAM. I am also a member of the College of Occupational Therapists and the Specialist Section for Neurological Practice.
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