As a Children’s Occupational Therapist, I help babies, children and young people to develop skills that will help them to thrive in day-to-day life. My aim is to support children to become as independent as possible and achieve their potential at home, at school and most importantly, when playing.
Since qualifying as an Occupational Therapist (OT) in 1999, I have worked in a variety of NHS settings, including hospital and community-based children’s services. From 2000 to 2003 I worked in Greenwich NHS community paediatrics, specialising in developmental coordination disorder / dyspraxia and other neuro-developmental conditions including autism and ADHD. From 2003 to 2016 I was part of the Occupational Therapy team at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, initially within paediatric rheumatology, then going on to lead the Neurology and Neurosurgery OT team and outpatient neuro-muscular service for 12 years. I left London to work in Kent Community NHS as the clinical lead for early years OT, with a specialism in neonatal and early intervention for children with Cerebral Palsy. In 2020 I joined the expert team working with young people with complex motor disorders (such as genetic dystonia’s) at the Evelina London Children’s Hospital. I currently work at a local NHS hospital, providing neurodevelopmental assessment and early intervention, and am leading the development of a new service for children and young people with complex upper limb conditions, who may require intervention adjuncts such as Botulinum Toxin or orthopaedic surgery to achieve functional goals.
As well as my NHS work, I provide a range of private assessments and specialist occupational therapy services.
I offer assessments for dyspraxia / development co-ordination disorder and have particular specialism in working with babies and young children who have cerebral palsy, neuromuscular conditions and developmental disabilities.
I have a BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy and have completed postgraduate qualifications in areas including Bobath neuro-developmental therapy, hand therapy (BAHT), sensory integration (SI), the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (COOP) approach and the Chailey approach to 24 hour postural management. I am trained and accredited in the use of various specialist assessments, including the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, the Assisting Hand Assessment, Hand Assessment for Infants and the General Movements Assessment (Prechtl). I have published peer reviewed research papers and taught at the Institute of Child Health and at Southbank University, in London. I am currently undertaking a Masters on Infancy and Early Childhood Development.
I am a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and the British Association of Occupational Therapists and an active member of the Children and Young People specialist section. I am registered with the Health Professionals Council.
