Jan Harrison is an occupational therapist with over thirty years experience of assisting individuals with injury or illness to manage resultant disability. She has special experience in a full range of neurological conditions and has also worked in Australia and Germany. She has been preparing reports for legal purposes since 1986, assisting in establishing the needs of disabled and injured people.

From 1980 she worked at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, latterly as Lead Professional Occupational Therapy Advisor. She has a Master of Science degree in rehabilitation studies and lectures widely. She has undertaken research projects. She was for many years one of only three UK tutors of the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS), an internationally recognised method of ascertaining a person's level of function in daily living activities.
Past work includes:

• Chair of a working group on behalf of the College of Occupational Therapists (COT) to establish OT Standards in Brain Injury
• Development and implementation of a ‘Needs at Work’ assessment of Trustees for a National Charity (SCOPE)
• Advisory visit and report to the Falkland Islands Government to develop disability services
• Project officer for a Department of Health funded project examining models of health and community services
• Participation, on behalf of COT, in a DSS working party on the Incapacity Benefit, and a DWP working party on Early Rehabilitation
• Completion of a short report on brain injury services for the NHS Executive
• Professional supervision to OTs in a regional brain injury unit and in a community team

She founded and was twice elected chair of the National Association of Neurological and Neuro-rehabilitation Occupational Therapists (NANOT, a specialist section of the College of Occupational Therapists) which networks throughout Britain. She initiated NANOT clinical fora for therapists working with brain injured and stroke clients. She has been a member of working parties for the MS Society, the Parkinson's Disease Society and the Royal College of Physicians National Audit on Stroke. She has been a member of the Stroke Association Research Committee. She has on many occasions represented the College of Occupational Therapists and been an elected national member of its Council. She was on the convening committee for the World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress 1994. She is past Chair of the OTs in Independent Practice national committee and now chairs the Medico-legal Forum.

Harrison Associates has over 20 experienced OT associates providing litigation reports, initial needs assessments, case management, vocational rehabilitation, and consultancy. She has an active caseload. She has undertaken courses in relation to her work as an Expert Witness, and is a member of several Expert Witness organisations. She has appeared in court on many occasions as an expert witness. She is a recent Director of the Case Management Society of the UK. She chairs the CMSUK Standards committee and a jointly convened Ethics in Case Management committee.

Niccola is a state registered occupational therapist who has extensive experience in vocational and occupational rehabilitation, in both Australia and the United Kingdom.

Niccola Hain is an occupational therapist registered with the Health Professions Council who has extensive experience in vocational rehabilitation and case management, in both Australia and the United Kingdom. After graduating in 1996, Niccola initially worked in paediatric and community rehabilitation settings in rural Australia providing outreach services for clients with a range of injury and illness including orthopaedic, neurological and developmental delay. Niccola also commenced private work, undertaking home assessments, adaptations, equipment advice and functional rehabilitation programmes following medical or orthopaedic injuries.

After 2˝ years working in paediatrics and the community Niccola commenced work in the area of vocational rehabilitation. This included experience in conducting functional capacity evaluations, work site assessments, return to work programmes, ergonomic assessments, job analysis and vocational case management, to enable a safe and early return to the workplace. Niccola developed a high level of skill negotiating with employers, solicitors, insurance companies, medical practitioners and allied health professionals. Niccola also has experience in the provision of injury prevention programmes to large employers. These services include assessing risk in the workplace and education sessions, such as office safety and manual handling.

In the UK Niccola has worked within various private rehabilitation settings providing initial needs assessments and case management in line with ‘The Rehabilitation Code’ guidelines. She has also worked for the NHS in both hospital and community settings for people with a range of orthopaedic and medical conditions including amputation.

Niccola has been involved in supervision and training of case management staff, as well as promoting customer relationships and company business development. Niccola has also been involved in the development and delivery of post-graduate teaching programmes.

In 2004 Niccola joined Harrison Associates as Vocational Rehabilitation Manager and in 2006 she was promoted to Practice Manager. In this role she is responsible for the operational and clinical management of the case management and rehabilitation sections, as well as maintaining an active caseload and undertaking litigation reports.

Niccola holds current professional membership with the Case Management Society of the UK, the Vocational Rehabilitation Association of the UK and the British Association of Occupational Therapists. From 2004 until 2007 she was on the executive committee of the specialist section of the College of Occupational Therapy for Work Practice and Productivity, and continues to remain actively involved with this group. She is also a member of the College of Occupational Therapists specialist section for Independent Practice.

Niccola has developed a particular interest in outcomes of case management programmes, which is the topic of her dissertation shortly due for submission to the University of Brighton for the award of a Masters degree in Case Management for Health and Employment. In 2008 she was awarded the Bond Solon Expert Witness Certificate through Cardiff University for successfully demonstrating competency in all areas of the course assessment.

Jenny Atkinson qualified as a state registered occupational therapist in 1987. She has worked in the National Health Service in the areas of General Medicine and Surgery, Mental Health, Pain Management, Oncology, Paediatrics and more specifically Rehabilitation in the inpatient and community setting.

Jenny has specialised in community neurological rehabilitation but has also worked with patients in persistent vegetative state using the original SMART assessment which has subsequently become validated. Her experience also extends to stroke rehabilitation for the elderly.

In 1993, Jenny joined the Regional Neurological Rehabilitation Unit, Outreach Team, London, as a Senior Occupational Therapist, during the Department of Health five year Brain Injury research project, and continued until 2002. While working for the team, she was responsible for managing clients with acquired brain injury, often with complex needs. Her work involved carrying out interdisciplinary and uni-disciplinary assessments with clients as well as implementing tailor-made treatment programmes. The Team used the Contractually Organised Goal Setting System (COGS) which, following discussion with the both client and the carers, entails the drawing up of rehabilitation goals into a contract of a time limited period. She has had experience of work rehabilitation in the field of voluntary and paid employment, comprising liaison with employers, on-site assessments and setting up work trial contracts.

Jenny is a member of the National Association of Neurological Occupational Therapists (NANOT) and has played an active role on the committee in the past as well as presenting a paper ‘Community Working with Clients with Acquired Brain Injury’. She has presented a paper at the College of Occupational Therapy Annual Conference on the use of memory strategies and more recently presented a paper on the treatment of clients with complex needs in brain injury at the Clinical Practitioners Day at Homerton Hospital.

For Harrison Associates, Jenny prepares medical legal reports, undertakes private therapy, conducts immediate needs assessments and acts as a case manager. She attends the regular Harrison Associates Training Days and her commitment to continuing professional development also includes regular attendance at national conferences and at NANOT specialist courses. She is an associate member of BABICM and a member of the Case Management Society of the UK. Jenny has completed the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) 5 day course and has regularly undertaken supervision of occupational therapy students.

Clare is an occupational therapist registered with the Health Professions Council who has extensive clinical experience working with clients with complex neurological conditions, particularly acquired brain injury. On qualifying in 1993 she worked for four years at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in Putney, gaining significant experience in rehabilitation for complex neuro disability conditions. Clare worked on the specialist brain injury unit where she acquired skills in assessing and treating minimally responsive clients using the SMART assessment. Clare has also completed the AMPS (Assessment of Motor and Process Skills) course.

Following this Clare broadened her experience by working in acute elderly hospital wards. She worked as a senior member of an Intermediate Care Team in which she gained experience of care packages and working with carers.

Clare joined the Community Neuro Rehabilitation Team in Hounslow in 2000 as a senior occupational therapist, further developing highly specialist skills in assessing, treating and managing clients with a wide range of neurological conditions, in particular in the field of acquired brain injury. She has extensive knowledge in assessing and treating this client group within their home and community environments, addressing their complex physical, psychological and cognitive needs. Clare has also worked with individuals and their families educating them on neurological conditions, as well as liaising with various professionals to ensure the needs of the individual are met.

Clare held the lead clinician post for the Community Neuro Rehab Team and was responsible for the development and implementation of treatment protocols and pathways for this service, including the development of practice pathway guidance for clients to facilitate a smooth transition from rehabilitation to home. She also provided advice on a consultative basis to other professionals and local agencies on issues of brain injury and the management of complex neurological conditions. Clare has completed functional needs assessments for the joint health and social services panel for clients with complex needs.

Clare also has significant teaching experience and has for several years provided training on brain injury and other neurological conditions to social services, carers, other health professionals and voluntary agencies. She jointly developed a teaching package to improve the knowledge of local care agencies and social services staff in caring for and managing clients with complex neurological conditions.

Clare holds professional membership with the British and Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists and the College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section of Neurological Practice, and regularly attends the London Acquired Brain Injury Forum meetings. Clare regularly attends courses and forums to support her professional practice, including leadership and project management courses. She continues to provide training to occupational therapy students. Clare is also a member of the British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers (BABICM)

Clare now works as an independent practitioner. She joined Harrison Associates in 2009 and undertakes case management and treatment programmes for clients with complex needs.

Joanna Collins is an occupational therapist who has extensive experience in both the UK and Ireland working in the field of physical disability with both children and adults. After qualifying in 1977, Joanna gained her MSc in occupational therapy from Exeter University in 2003. Her research implemented and explored clinical reasoning techniques in occupational therapy.

Joanna’s earlier experience involved working at the National Centre for Childhood Epilepsy. She subsequently worked in social services teams in community settings providing equipment for elderly people with disabilities and undertaking assessments for grant work for housing adaptations. Her work in hospital settings, mainly in care for the elderly, included stroke rehabilitation programmes, co-ordinating discharge plans and managing therapy staff.

In Ireland, Joanna’s community caseload included adults with post-traumatic injuries and resulting disabilities. She was involved in setting up initiatives for adults with disabilities to engage personal assistants. This project was in line with the philosophy of empowerment of the Independent Living Movement pioneered in the US.

From 1998 Joanna worked with children and young adults with disabilities within the health services. As the first paediatric occupational therapist in the Midland Health Board in Ireland she was involved in the establishment and expansion of a new paediatric service covering two counties, contributing to detailed service plans, training and mentoring new staff. This service delivered occupational therapy to children and young adults with physical disabilities, involving the prescription of disability equipment and housing adaptations. Joanna also assessed and treated children with specific learning difficulties using amongst others, sensory integrative strategies. She developed an interest in conflict management often working with the more complex families.

Joanna as been working as an independent practitioner from 2001, predominantly assessing and treating children with a variety of disabilities including those with autistic spectrum disorders. She established an innovative summer camp project for children with co-ordination difficulties, in collaboration with an adventure park, as well as initiating an “Explorers Unlimited” group for young adults with significant physical disabilities. Joanna has been consistently involved in training for parents, educators and therapists especially in the area of inclusive strategies for children with disabilities in school settings.

Joanna is a member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT), and the Case Management Society of the UK (CMSUK).

In 2008 Joanna joined Harrison Associates as a case manager, working with both children and adults with complex and multiple conditions. She also continues to provide paediatric occupational therapy programmes. Joanna regularly attends and contributes her expertise in relevant study days and professional development opportunities.

Clare qualified as an occupational therapist in 2000 and has worked with children of all ages, in a range of community settings.

Her first qualified post was as a junior therapist in the NHS working with adults in physical and mental health settings within Watford and surrounding areas. In 2002 Clare joined the children’s occupational therapy service as part of Wycombe PCT. During this time she was involved in the assessment, treatment and evaluation of children of all ages with both mild and complex disabilities; working with a range of conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Down’s Syndrome, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Co-ordination Disorder and Sensory Integration Dysfunction. Clare worked within the Child Development Unit, in both mainstream and special schools, nurseries, the children’s homes and respite care places.

Clare was responsible for setting up and coordinating the Rainbow Road School occupational therapy programme in over 15 schools within the area; providing training and consultation to school staff, screening and assessment of children within school and the set up of groups, lunchtime and after school clubs.

Clare then moved to the Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust where she held the lead occupational therapy post for under fives. During the time she was involved in the evaluation and re-development of the service in addition to carrying the under fives caseload assessing and treating children with a wide range of disabilities. She worked as part of multi-disciplinary team within the Child Development Centre as well as working within the community, in the children’s homes, the under fives centres and nurseries.

In addition to undertaking private occupational therapy work, Clare currently works part time for the Oxfordshire Community Children’s occupational therapy service as the lead for the Early Years team and within the multidisciplinary community team. She provides parent and child groups as well as a specialist nursery and outreach support, as well as assessment, intervention, consultation to schools and advice for parents, carers and teachers. Clare is also responsible for developing the pathways and service provided to children under five and those with developmental co-ordination disorder, supervising basic grades, assistants and students, training teaching assistants, teachers and SENCOs, managing the waiting list and developing the service provided by occupational therapy in her locality area.

Clare has undertaken further training in treatment approaches including the Foundation Course in Sensory Integration, the Introductory Bobath course, Handwriting without Tears, Clinical Reasoning and the Bayley Scales of Development courses. In 2005 she successfully completed a postgraduate diploma in Management of Childhood Disability.

Clare is a professional member of the College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section for Children, Young People and Families. For Harrison Associates she undertakes private assessments and therapy programmes for children, both in the home and school environment.

Siân Gouldstone is an occupational therapist registered with the Health Professions Council with a range of experience in the health, social care and private sectors.

She has considerable experience working for both acute hospital and community NHS trusts. Her main clinical specialisation is neurology, but she also has experience in orthopaedic, medical and elderly care. Intervention with clients has included maximising personal and domestic independence skills, wheelchair and equipment prescription, and home visits. Working for Wandsworth Intermediate Care Team, Siân had the additional responsibility of assessment for care packages and coordination of rehabilitation assistants to respond rapidly to need. Siân also played a lead role in facilitating the merge of a physiotherapy and occupational team within the primary care sector.

Her experience in Merton Social Services included assessment for the provision of equipment and adaptations and close liaison with social workers in the setting up of complex care packages. This position provided Siân with the opportunity to develop skills in assessing needs for children with disabilities. She has worked as lead occupational therapist for a team working with adults with learning disabilities. This position involved assessment and treatment of adults with complex needs. Many of these clients had severe physical disabilities and/or behavioural problems. Siân was responsible for training and advising care and rehabilitation staff on intervention with the clients. She was also involved with identifying needs for appropriate placement.

Siân has a particular interest in working with individuals who have acquired brain injury and spent six months in the USA working with people with acquired and congenital brain injury. She has additional experience of working with adults with brain injury in the community and more recently in a private rehabilitation facility. Siân was recently appointed to a contract post as a senior occupational therapist within a charitable organisation. Her work involved enabling individuals with acquired brain injury to maximise their independence and to acquire the skills for community living. She was responsible for the service including assessment and provision of equipment for clients and for the assessment of specialist housing needs.

Throughout her career Siân has taken an active role in service development and training. She has supervised other occupational therapists and rehabilitation assistants. She is committed to professional development and regularly attends development courses. Siân has completed the taught component of an MSc. in Neurorehabilitation with an ‘A’ grade average and is currently working on the research component of the degree. As part of the team of Harrison Associates, Siân undertakes individual assessments and prepares Expert Witness reports for the Court covering occupational therapy, aids and equipment and/or care requirements, as necessary. She also acts as a case manager. She regularly attends the Harrison Associates training and development days.

Jo Heller qualified in 1986 as a state registered occupational therapist. She has extensive experience of undertaking complex needs led assessments of people with physical and mental health disabilities within the NHS, social services, housing and residential settings.

Jo worked in the NHS specialising in rehabilitation of older people, rheumatology and neurology. She progressed to Head of Department (Acute Services) before changing direction to work within social services. Here she gained a wide and varied experience of assessments to identify the needs of children and adults with multiple disabilities. She participated in the planning and implementation of many major adaptation schemes and prescribed and range of specialist equipment. Since leaving social services in 1993 she has worked as a consultant occupational therapist for local authorities, charities, housing associations and private individuals. Jo has worked within a number of care management teams contributing to the assessment process and participating in the arrangement of domestic and nursing care packages from statutory, private and voluntary agencies.

Since 1994 Jo has undertaken costed reports for equipment and care on behalf of solicitors acting for both claimants and defendants. She has also acted as a single joint expert. Since 1998 Jo has specialised in the assessment of children and young adults with complex needs and has produced many detailed reports for the Court.

Jo acted as consultant to Threshold Architects, producing an authoritative design guide for wheelchair accessible homes aimed at housing builders across all tenures. The book was commissioned by the National Wheelchair Housing Group and was published in November 1997.

Jo is currently working as interim occupational therapy manager for three days a week within a London Borough Local Authority department covering children and adult occupational therapy services. She also provides clinical supervision to paediatric occupational therapists within two neighbouring PCTs. Jo runs a mobility clinic on two days per month for another London Borough. She assesses eligibility for concessionary transport including Taxicards, blue badges and freedom passes.

In 2007 Jo was appointed as a Regional Assessor for Canine Partners and carries out detailed home assessments to ensure that an applicant is capable of accommodating an assistance dog within their home and lifestyle. She also assesses the care and equipment needs of the applicant for their two week residential stay at the training centre.

Jo has attended many courses including: courtroom skills, the business of the expert witness, report writing skills, The New Civil Procedures Rules, two residential courses on designing and adapting properties for disabled people, access auditing, several rehabilitation courses associated with strokes, autism, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. She attends regular training on a range of different equipment and manual handling techniques and regulations. She also attends regular Training Days with Harrison Associates.

Sue Herrick is an HPC registered occupational therapist with 25 years’ experience. She has a post graduate diploma in vocational rehabilitation (University of Pretoria, South Africa) and has recently obtained her MSc in occupational therapy (Coventry University). Her thesis was a comparative quantitative study of pressure care cushions. Sue was a self employed occupational therapist in South Africa (rehabilitation, medico-legal work and trustee on settled cases). She has worked as a therapist in the acute NHS trust, in a wheelchair service, in social services and in a primary care trust.

Sue Herrick combines her rich experiences, networking and negotiation skills with her practical abilities to facilitate change in individuals, teams and parts of organisations. Sue’s work in South Africa covered a wide range of multiple disabilities in a diverse population. Sue worked with adults and children with spinal cord injuries and limb amputations and with adults following head injuries and neurological conditions. Sue has prepared reports for legal purposes since 1988. She has given evidence in several of the Supreme Courts in South Africa. Sue worked with disabled people following interim settlement or full settlement of cases to select, purchase and use equipment, supervise the design and building (or modifying) of homes, arranging and training carers and facilitating return to work. She was a trustee on several cases and a curator on one case. These were children with multiple amputations, and adults and children with combined spinal cord and head injuries.

Sue worked as a therapist in the Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust in elderly rehabilitation, including recommendations for care or care home placement. Sue worked as a senior therapist during 2002 and 2003 at The Royal Wolverhampton Hospital NHS Trust in surgery and orthopaedics (including amputations) and palliative care. She worked for 2 years as the clinical manager for Dudley Wheelchair Service. This client group was children from 2 years old to older adults. The clinical work involved prescription of wheelchairs (manual and powered), postural support and pressure care as well as staff and financial management.

Since 2006, Sue’s role is in joint funded project work for social services and the primary care trust in Telford as well as independent consultant work. Sue has written and implemented the falls strategy and integration of falls prevention work across all partners in Telford (Acute Trust, Primary Care Trust, Social Services and the voluntary and private sector). She is currently running a pilot project on falls prevention exercises for people with Dementia and assisting Shropshire Primary Care Trust with their falls prevention programmes. Sue remains committed to professional development and to client centred practice. She works for Harrison Associates as a case manager and expert witness, and participates in their regular training days.

Margaret Hynd qualified as a state registered Occupational Therapist in 1977.

After working for a short period within the NHS, the majority of her career has been spent within the Social Services setting, undertaking needs led assessments of people of all ages with physical, sensory and learning difficulties. During this time she has gained extensive experience in assessment of clients needs, implementing the provision of major adaptations and providing both standard and specialised equipment.

In her role as a Care Manager within Hertfordshire County Council she has gained experience in the assessing and arranging of home care packages, day care and respite care for all ages.

Margaret has experience of working as part of a Children, Schools and Families team where she assessed the needs of children with disabilities and those of the family, supplying essential equipment and implementing major adaptation work to property. She worked closely with local specialist schools and with the Social Workers she was based with, seeking to improve the quality of life for those families she came into contact with.

During her career Margaret has taken on a number of supervisory responsibilities and spent three years as an Assistant Team Manager within a large team of Occupational Therapists in a London Borough. During that time she helped in the development of service provision by managing a team of Occupational Therapists and Assistants, contributing towards their professional development through regular supervision and appraisal, allocating and monitoring workloads. She was instrumental in designing standards of specification for adaptation work.

Margaret has taken part in a number of working parties, contributing towards the development of the service including the formation of the joint Health and Social Services Community Equipment store, within Hertfordshire. At that time she also worked closely with Housing Associations to improve service provision to clients.

Margaret has been working with Harrison Associates since August 2006. She continues to attend regular training sessions as part of her commitment to develop professionally. She acts as a case manager for adults and children with complex needs (including brain injury), as well as preparing litigation reports.

Kay McArthur is a state registered Occupational Therapist with experience in both clinical and vocational rehabilitation and case management.

After graduating in 1997 from the University of Exeter, Kay completed a rotational post covering a number of clinical specialties including hand therapy, community mental health, neurological rehabilitation and acute general medical. In 1999, Kay worked as a senior therapist in orthopaedics, providing a ‘hospital from home” service facilitating quick and effective discharge from hospital following elective surgery. Assessments, treatment and equipment provision were completed in the patient’s home as part of a multidisciplinary approach.

In 2001, Kay commenced work in Australia where she was involved in setting up an occupational therapy service to a hospital. This involved close liaison with other service managers and providers as well as ongoing education for both staff and clients, regarding the role of the occupational therapist. Kay worked with patients with a wide range of acute medical conditions and as part of the development of the service implemented and developed the required documentation and policies.

In 2002, Kay worked as a Head Occupational Therapist in an acute care setting and was responsible for managing a team of six therapists and assistants. Here Kay was involved in the review of policies and procedures with the aim of improving response time to referrals, quality of service and effective intervention outcomes. It also included the induction and supervision of staff at all levels and the development of an induction programme to facilitate smooth integration for new staff members.

Kay commenced work as a rehabilitation consultant in 2003 specialising in case management of clients with work related injuries. Here her role as consultant/case manager required close and effective communication with all involved including treating parties, employers and specialist’s consultants. Worksite, ergonomic and functional assessments, prescription of equipment, job analysis and the development of graded return to work plans were important to facilitate a safe and effective return to work. In addition to the role of case manager Kay provided training for high profile customers, included ergonomics, manual handling, and stress management.

On returning to the UK Kay worked in the field of respiratory involved in the development and implementation of a new service as part of a trust wide strategy to develop services provided for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Kay providing training and workshops to key members of the multidisciplinary team and as the OT lead, provided input into the local steering groups as well as presenting at local and national conferences.

Over the last five years Kay has worked as an occupational therapy consultant and case manager providing occupational therapy assessments, vocational rehabilitation services, training and rehabilitation case management.

For Harrison Associates, Kay undertakes vocational assessments, prepares rehabilitation and return-to-work programmes, provides vocational rehabilitation training and acts as a case manager. She regularly attends the Harrison Associates training and development days.

Kay is currently a member of the British Association for Occupational Therapists, College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section Work, and Vocational Rehabilitation Association and is a committee member for the Case Management Society UK.

Catherine McLaughlin is an occupational therapist registered with the Health Professions Council with over 20 years clinical and managerial expertise in the areas of complex neurological conditions, and service delivery and improvement. She completed a Masters degree in Health Science in 1994 and her research dissertation focused on the area of neurological activities used by occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

After graduating in Ireland, Catherine came to the UK in 1987 working in stroke and acute rehabilitation settings until 1989 when she moved to work in the Middle East. Her work there was with stroke and head injury rehabilitation clients including those in a vegetative state or with severe physical disability, as well as paediatric clients with neurological and congenital abnormalities. On returning to the UK in 1992 she worked in the private sector in stroke and brain injury rehabilitation, long-term neurological conditions, spinal cord injury and oncology. She continued to work in the private sector in London at the Devonshire Hospital until 1999 when she took up the post of Therapy Services Manager at the Wellington Hospital. Returning to clinical work in 2003 as Head of Occupational Therapy she has gained valuable skills and knowledge in the management of physical and cognitive impairments through her work, as well as extensive experience in staff and service management.

Catherine has developed a special interest in the area of brain injury as a result of her work at both the Devonshire and the Wellington Hospitals. Her various roles have included a clinical component providing complex assessments and accurate prediction of rehabilitation needs for ongoing care. In addition, Catherine gained experience of co-ordinating rehabilitation and discharge to appropriate community settings, as well as complex seating assessment skills. Catherine has been involved in providing training for carers and families.

Catherine has also worked in the area of complex discharge planning and rehabilitation for orthopaedic (including amputation), oncology and pain management caseloads. She has experience in manual handling training as well as ergonomic work place assessments.

Catherine is a member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT), the British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers (BABICM), the Case Management Society of the UK (CMSUK) and the Specialist Section for Neurological practice (SNNP). Catherine has lectured at national level on the management of progressive neurological conditions.

Catherine joined Harrison Associates in 2009 and undertakes case management and treatment programmes for clients with complex needs.

Steve McWilliams is a state registered occupational therapist with 24 years experience of assisting disabled people to manage their disability and lead as independent a life as possible.

Steve has spent some eight years working with adults with acquired brain injury in the acute, post-acute and rehabilitation settings predominantly in the NHS and also in the charitable and private sectors. He has published a paper on adult brain injury in a peer-reviewed journal and two chapters on brain injury rehabilitation in a primary occupational therapy text.

Steve has worked with children over the past thirteen years in the acute and community settings and has maintained a clinical role whilst also being an independent practitioner. He retains a position with Stockport Primary Care Trust as a senior paediatric occupational therapist and works with a variety of children with a range of developmental and acquired disabilities.

Steve has prepared hundreds of medico-legal reports over the past seventeen years and is trained in report writing and courtroom skills, and has experience of giving evidence in Court. He has also acted as Case Manager in several complex cases.

Steve completed a B.A.(hons) in Social Dimensions of Health in 1989 at the Sheffield City Polytechnic and his research dissertation examined affective changes in adults following acquired brain injury as perceived by patients and relatives. This led to a publication in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy.

Steve completed a further Master of Research degree at the University of Manchester in 2004. His dissertation looked at the impact on self-esteem of group therapy for children with developmental co-ordination disorder. This led to a further publication and Steve presented this at The National Association of Paediatric Occupational Therapist annual conference in 2005.

Steve has been involved in fieldwork education and is trained as a fieldwork educator. He has undertaken more formal teaching sessions in local schools to teachers, parents and support staff, regarding various aspects of occupational therapy. He has presented a paper at a regional conference, ran a workshop at a national conference for occupational therapists in independent practice, and presented at local and regional meetings and study days.

Publications:

McWilliams S. 1991 “Affective changes following severe head injury as perceived by patients and relatives.” British Journal of Occupational Therapy 54 (7) 246-248.

“Head Injury” (McWilliams), in “Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction.” (3rd ed.), Turner, Foster and Johnson, 1992.

“Head Injury” (McWilliams), in “Occupational Therapy and Physical Dysfunction” (4th ed.), Turner, Foster and Johnson, 1996.

McWilliams S (2005) “Developmental Co-ordination Disorder and Self-esteem: Do Occupational Therapy Groups have a Positive Effect?” British Journal of Occupational Therapy 68 (9) 393 -400.

Janet Neyerlin-Beale is a State Registered Occupational Therapist with 19 years experience of assisting individuals to manage their disability and to overcome the handicap resulting from injury or illness. She has had experience of working in an acute psychiatric field, neurological rehabilitation, rehabilitation of elderly people and in the community with both adults and children with a wide range of conditions.

Since 1995 she has worked as a Community Paediatric Occupational Therapist within the Social Services setting, in what was a newly created post to provide a paediatric service within a children with disabilities team. The work includes carrying out assessments of need for children being cared for within the family, within residential settings or with foster or respite carers. Such work often involves recommendations for specialist paediatric equipment, and major adaptations to meet the long term need, as well as risk and handling assessments.

Since 1995 she has also continued to work as a freelance occupational therapist with adults and children. She has developed her skills in paediatrics attending several courses on posture and seating for children, spending time on clinical attachments to specialist paediatric institutes and centres. She attends regular courses on manual handling legislation and courses that develop her skills in accessible environments and building design. She has worked with children ranging in age from a few months to adulthood.

Janet’s caseloads will often include children with rare and complex conditions or multiple disabilities. She also works with children of various ages who have had a head injury with one or more of the following difficulties: mobility problems, behavioural and/or emotional difficulties, and perceptual and learning problems. She also works as a case manager including cases of children with complex difficulties following a head injury.

She also has a special interest in visual impairment and sat on the Committee of Sight Action as a professional advisor between 1998 and 2000.

In 2004 she completed an MSc in Paediatric Occupational Therapy at the University of East London. Prior to this she was the co-author of research in co-operation with East Anglia University School of Occupational Therapy, and published in 2001 in professional journals.

She is a member of several special interest groups involved with developing Occupational Therapy practice. The groups include:

• National Association of Paediatric Occupational Therapists (NAPOT)
• College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section in Housing (COTSSIH)
• Special Interest Group for Paediatric Occupational Therapists working in Social Services.

She has provided reports for the Court and completed training courses with Bond Solon in courtroom skills and report writing for the expert witness. She regularly attends Harrison Associates Training Days.

Janice qualified as an occupational therapist in 1993. She commenced working for Hertfordshire County Council, St Albans Social Services as a care manager with the elderly and with clients with physical disability. She gained extensive experience assessing clients and arranging the provision of major adaptations, equipment, home-care, day-care and residential care packages.

Janice progressed to a senior practitioner post, which involved managing the most difficult cases and included complex moving and handling issues. During this time she undertook an active management role, which included liaising with outside organizations, service planning and monitoring the equipment budgets.

Janice assumed the responsibility for the mentoring and supervision of occupational therapists and support staff. She also actively participated in research and completed an MSc in occupational therapy in 2001 with a thesis on evaluating a community based equipment service.

To gain experience in the health sector Janice took up a post as a head occupational therapist, specialising in surgery and orthopaedics, at Hemel Hempstead and St Albans General Hospitals. The role included both a management component and handling a client caseload. She took the lead in developing occupational therapy in the accident and emergency unit and the hospital at home service. The latter involved facilitating early discharge, advising on therapeutic input, liaising on care packages and training support workers.

Janice left the health service in 2002 to form her own company. She presently acts as a fieldwork care counsellor for an insurance company, assessing and providing advice and support to clients who have purchased long-term care policies. Janice continues to develop her knowledge base through working in a management capacity and as an occupational therapist within the community, on a part time basis and by participating in regular training sessions.

For Harrison Associates, Janice undertakes individual assessments and has prepared Expert Witness reports for the Court covering occupational therapy, aids and equipment and/or care requirements, as necessary. She also acts as a case manager for clients with complex conditions including those with brain and spinal injury. She has had training in the revised Civil Procedure Rules and regularly attends the Harrison Associates training and development days.

Mandy Richmond is an Occupational Therapist registered with the Health Professions Council. She has over 15 years clinical, managerial and educational experience both in South Africa and the UK. Her main area of expertise lies in complex neurological assessment and rehabilitation including severe brain injury cases.

After graduating in South Africa, Mandy worked in the areas of stroke rehabilitation, paediatrics, hand therapy and general medicine. Since coming to the UK in 1994 Mandy has worked in the National Health Service in the areas of healthcare for the elderly, neurological outpatients, rheumatology, cardiology and neurological rehabilitation.

Mandy gained her experience with working with younger persons with severe to moderate brain injury as Senior I Occupational Therapist at Kings College Hospital and later as Head of Occupational Therapy at the Blackheath Brain Injury and Neurodisability Centres in London. Her experience lies in the assessment and rehabilitation of those clients suffering behavioural disturbances following brain injury as well as to those with severe physical disability (including vegetative states) following a neurological incident. Her roles included a significant clinical component involving intensive assessments, accurate identification of resident’s needs, provision thereof and making appropriate future recommendations for ongoing care. She has extensive experience of case management tasks including training of carers, working closely with families, co-ordinating rehabilitation and discharges and accessing community and social services.

Mandy commenced post-graduate studies in 2001 and was awarded a diploma in Health Services Management in 2003. She has lectured at South Bank University on their Summer course programme in “Therapeutic Approaches in Neurological OT” and “Cognition and Perception”. During her career she has made several presentations at conferences and training days in the area of Neurological O.T. She completed a 3- week Bobath Adult Neurology course in 1997 and the AMPS training in 2004.

As a consultant Occupational Therapist Mandy is currently providing occupational therapy treatment and advice to Independence Homes, a specialist organisation for those suffering from epilepsy and learning disabilities. She also provides treatment and consultation to a seven-bed unit specialising in rehabilitation of young men with brain injury and challenging behaviour. As an independent practitioner, Mandy also provides moderate and complex case management and occupational therapy assessment and treatments to clients in the community.

Mandy is a member of the British Association of Occupational Therapy (BAOT), the Case Management Society UK (CMSUK), the Occupational Therapy in Private Practice group (OTIP) and the National Association of Neurological and Neuro-rehabilitation Occupational Therapists (NANOT).

As part of the team of Harrison Associates, Mandy undertakes individual assessments and prepares Expert Witness reports for the Court covering occupational therapy, aids and equipment and/or care requirements, as necessary. She also acts as a case manager for complex conditions including brain injury. She has had training in the Civil Procedure Rules and regularly attends the Harrison Associates training and development days.

Michelle Sharland is an occupational therapist, registered with the Health Professions Council, who qualified in South Africa in 1995. She has extensive paediatric experience in assessing, treating and case managing children with varying degrees of disabilities within community settings. Her experience extends to South Africa, New Zealand and the UK.

After graduating, Michelle worked as a community therapist and managed her own private practice specialising in neuro-development treatment and sensory integration with children with neurological and developmental disabilities.

Michelle has a particular interest in children with cerebral palsy, developmental delays and children with general co-ordination difficulties. She has been involved with setting up programmes and training carers and teachers as well as restructuring environments within which these children function. Michelle has worked with children in special needs schools as well as in mainstream settings providing advice and recommendations, adaptations and assessment for specialist equipment. Michelle also worked as a consultant occupational therapist for insurance and large private companies in assessing clients for workers’ compensation claims.

In December 2002 Michelle was appointed Head of Department for a community paediatric occupational therapy team in an inner London borough. She has been involved with multi-disciplinary service development looking at managing waiting lists, setting up of various specialist clinics while maintaining client centred care. She manages a complex paediatric caseload and is also involved in the training of medical doctors and paediatricians in the management of children with disabilities.

Michelle is a member of the National Association of Paediatric Occupational Therapists (NAPOT) a specialist section of the College of Occupational Therapists. Michelle has attended numerous courses covering clinical and managerial skills and is committed to ongoing professional development. She has completed a Bobath Centre Postgraduate Course on the Bobath approach to the assessment and treatment of children with cerebral palsy.

Michelle has experience of medical-legal assessments in South Africa and joined Harrison Associates to continue this work in the UK. She also acts as a case manager. She has had training in the revised Civil Procedure Rules and regularly attends the Harrison Associates Training and Development days on aspects of the litigation process and responsibilities in case management.

Sue Turner is a state registered occupational therapist in 1981 and she has extensive experience in the field of rehabilitation. Whilst training she gained practical experience in the field of learning disabilities, neurological conditions, psychiatry and orthopaedics.

Sue has worked in the NHS in the field of trauma and orthopaedics, rheumatology, neurology, geriatrics and amputations. This work has included the rehabilitation of traumatised patients who have suffered from fractures, strokes and head injuries. In the field of rehabilitation she has worked with patients having had routine operations due to orthopaedic and rheumatoid conditions. She has had experience of working in a specialised hand injury unit which included conditions such as crush injuries, amputations of the fingers and arm, fractures of the upper limb, nerve and tendon injuries including brachial plexus lesions.

She has worked as a community occupational therapist for 21 years. Work here is wide and varied and includes clients with spinal injuries, back injuries, amputations of both lower limbs and upper limbs, cancer and arthritic conditions, joint replacements, head injuries and neurological disorders. A major part of assessment involves providing appropriate equipment enabling clients and their carers to be as independent as possible. Many clients require property adaptations to facilitate their independence. This involves planning for long-term needs as well as meeting their current requirements.

She has been involved in the care plans of clients requiring care in the community this involves liaison with various care agencies and establishing a package of care to suit the clients’ needs. Packages of care vary considerably from the minimum of a couple of hours for shopping to major packages involving daily personal care and childcare.

In conjunction with medico-legal work she has worked with two charities namely Headway, which assist victims of brain injury and Action for ME, which assists people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. She currently works with Dorset Social Care and Health. Assessments are carried out in combination with service users, families, carers and other professionals. They involve the evaluation of all aspects of an individual’s situation, including an assessment of jeopardy and risk.

Since joining Harrison Associates in 2006 Sue has been working as a case manager for adults with varying levels of trauma following personal injury. She has also been assessing personal injury claimants for 12 years dealing with both claimant and defendant cases. Sue regularly attends training days and maintains her CPD requirements and regularly attends Harrison Associates training workshops.

Joanna Walsh is a state registered occupational therapist with over thirty years' experience of helping disabled people to manage their disabilities and to lead as independent a life as possible. She has worked in a variety of settings, including mental health, rheumatology and neurology in England, Switzerland and Austria.

She was a project leader in Avon Social Services, managing a team of occupational therapists and co-ordinating all the major adaptations in the county. She lectured on an occupational therapy course in Hong Kong.

On returning from Hong Kong she obtained a M.Sc. in Rehabilitation Studies at Southampton University and then took up a post as Course Leader for an in-service diploma in occupational therapy at the University of the West of England. She designed the current B.Sc. (Hons) in occupational therapy there and was a senior lecturer on the course lecturing in anatomy, occupational therapy theory and management. She supervised students' projects and acted as link tutor to students on fieldwork placements. She had other lecturing responsibilities within the university and ran clinical reasoning workshops in the South West Region.

Her research project examined the relevance of statutory occupational therapy services to clients' needs and she presented this paper at the World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress. She has also worked with homeless people.

She was on a number of committees within the university, was a member of the occupational therapy tutors' group and was an external examiner for the BSc in occupational therapy in York. She was an external examiner for a Masters in Professional Development at Exeter University.

Joanna became an independent consultant occupational therapist in 1998. Her work includes sessions at the Disabled Living Centre advising people on specialised equipment, acting as a consultant for the assessment of people in a residential home and treating clients privately in their own homes. Joanna is trained to use the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills, an internationally recognised functional assessment.

For Harrison Associates, Joanna undertakes individual assessments and prepares Expert Witness reports for the Court covering occupational therapy, aids and equipment and/or care requirements, as necessary. She has acted as a case manager. She has had training in the revised Civil Procedure Rules and regularly attends the Harrison Associates training days. She has used her extensive experience in education to develop a range of new courses for Harrison Associates training division.

Lindsay Wasserfall is an occupational therapist registered with the Health Professions Council with extensive clinical and managerial expertise in the areas of complex neurological conditions and vocational rehabilitation.

After graduating in South Africa, Lindsay came to the UK in 1999. She has worked in a range of clinical areas, including stroke rehabilitation, brain injury (including those in a vegetative state with severe physical disability), long-term neurological conditions, spinal cord injury, oncology and vocational rehabilitation. She has gained valuable skills and knowledge in the management of physical and cognitive impairments through working in the National Health Service, Social Service and private sector. She has also had experience of working with clients with challenging behaviours, forensic, addiction and social skills problems.

She has developed a special interest in the area of brain injury as a result of her work at the Blackheath Brain Injury Centre in London. Her role included a significant clinical component providing complex assessments and accurate prediction of rehabilitation needs for ongoing care. In addition, Lindsay gained experience of co-ordinating rehabilitation and discharges to appropriate community settings as well as training carers and families.

Most recently she has worked in the area of vocational rehabilitation including functional capacity and ergonomic workplace assessments. She has developed her skills in negotiating with employers and other professionals in facilitating risk management and injury prevention within the framework of employment law and the Disability Discrimination Act. She has worked with many major national organisations and businesses.

Lindsay is a member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT), the British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers (BABICM), the Case Management Society of the UK and the National Association of Neurological Occupational Therapists (NANOT). Lindsay has played an active role on the NANOT committee in the past including presentations on ‘Challenging Behaviour in Adults with Brain Injury’.

Lindsay joined the team at Harrison Associates as a brain injury case manager and also provides expert witness reports for the Court. She also works as a lead trainer in delivering post-graduate education courses to occupational therapists across the UK in the area of neurology. In 2008 she was awarded the Bond Solon Expert Witness Certificate through Cardiff University for successfully demonstrating competency in all areas of the course assessment.