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Expert qualified as an Occupational Therapist from Salford University College School of Occupational Therapy in 1990.

Expert worked initially at a hospital specialising in orthopaedics and rheumatology working with orthopedic conditions as well as in the specialist Hand Function Unit before moving to a large Metropolitan Borough Council.

This role involved working as a Community Occupational Therapist assessing the needs of clients of all ages for provision of equipment and adaptations in their home. Assessments were also completed in day centres and in local authority treatment centres for physically disabled clients and those with learning disabilities and traumatic brain injuries undertaking ongoing treatment programs as well dealing with the as provision of specialist equipment.

Since 1993 and the introduction of the Community Care Act Expert developed her community skills by working as a Care Manager as part of a multi-disciplinary team. This involved assessing clients in hospital prior to discharge or admittance to a residential or nursing home as well as working with clients in the community in order to formulate, implement and monitor packages of care according to strict criteria to meet assessed need.

This role involved liaison with other professionals both in the Local Authority and Health Authority as well as careers, voluntary and charitable organisations and private agencies.

Expert was commissioned to act as the Moving and Handling Advisor for a social services department undertaking risk assessments and training of staff in the correct moving and handling procedures following implementation of the Manual Handling Operations regulations 1992.

Since 1993 Expert has worked in private practice specialising as a consultant preparing reports for use in Personal Injury and Medical Negligence Litigation.

Expert has been instructed as a care expert for claimants of all ages, with a variety of needs including those of a complex nature, from those with a high level of medical risk and challenging behaviours to those in a vegetative or minimal awareness state.

Since 1999 Expert has also acted as a case manager dealing with complex, catastrophic cases involving clients who have been identified as having complex, social, medical and welfare needs.

Expert uses her experience as a case manager to provide in-depth assessments and recommendations for future care provision and any other heads of claim which are identified. Expert’s experience as a case manager enables her to project realistic and accurate costs for future case management recommendations.

Expert has experience of attending and giving evidence in court as an Expert Witness and has maintained professional development by attendance at regular training seminars. Expert receives instructions from both claimant and defendants and she has been instructed as a single joint expert,in the ratio of Claimant 50% Defendant 45% Single Joint Expert 5%. She has completed Single Joint Expert training and more recently attended training on CPR Part 35. Expert has prepared over 800 reports for court and continues to complete reports on an ongoing basis.

In her role as case manager and care expert Expert has completed in-depth assessments, reports and care plans which have been tailored to the client’s specific needs.

Expert has been required to liaise with established statutory provision and the formulation of bespoke packages of care.

Expert has experience in completing risk assessments and responding to high risk management issues to establish communication with treating clinicians, maintenance of protocols and policies to meet the client’s daily and emergency needs.