Christine S  BHSc (OT)  PG Cert 

Specialisms 

• Hands.
• Upper and lower limb trauma, including amputations.
• Burns and plastics.
• Orthopaedic injuries.
• Psychological issues including PTSD, anxiety and depression.
• Pain.
• Associated fatigue.
• Cancer (pre-existing, or in conjunction with the above).

Specific Injuries Experience 

Alongside her expert witness work, Christine spends the equivalent of 3 days a week as a case manager.  She regularly completes Immediate Needs Assessments (INAs) and is case manager for a high number of clients.  The majority of Christine’s clients have legal claims in process which have not yet reached settlement and it is part of Christine’s role to work with them throughout the litigation process. 

Christine’s clients have sustained multi trauma injuries, including hand, orthopaedic and plastics-based injuries, and upper and lower limb amputations. Christine arranges and monitors psychological care for clients with PTSD, anxiety and depression. She manages small care packages and arranges directly employed carer for clients. She also arranges and monitors physical rehabilitation, assists in the management, planning and implementation of housing adaptations, and assists clients in finding suitable alternate accommodation. 

Christine manages client accounts and provides rehabilitation update reports for her clients every 8 weeks. 

In addition to the case management, Christine works as an Independent Occupational Therapist for private clients, providing and monitoring upper limb treatment programmes, housing assessments, and return to work programmes.

Profile

I am an experienced Occupational Therapist, having qualified in 1998, and currently work as a specialist independent therapist, case manager, and expert witness. 

As a clinician, I have worked in major trauma units providing acute occupational therapy and hand therapy care for patients with upper and lower limb injuries, multi trauma injuries and amputations.  I continue to provide occupational therapy assessments and interventions as an independent occupational therapist within the private sector, predominantly in the client’s homes, to provide therapy programmes, equipment and adaptations to enable clients to reach their functional optimum. 

As a case manager, I work with clients with upper and lower limb injuries, multi trauma injuries and amputations managing and monitoring their rehabilitation needs from an acute stage through to case settlement and beyond.

I manage their rehabilitation funds, liaise with their solicitors and insurance companies providing clear and concise written communication for their legal claims. I can clearly and effectively communicate and am able to build rapport easily with clients, carers and health professionals. In my case management, I take a person-centred approach and consider all the client’s needs - physical, psychological, social and environmental. I use the best evidence-based information to enable individuals to live as independently as they choose. 

I have developed clinical expertise in hand therapy treatments for a large range of patients, analysing activity to give expert opinion and recommendations for compensatory and rehabilitation solutions to problems.  I am a member of BAHT (British Association of Hand Therapists) and currently assist their Education Committee in mentoring and peer marking research papers of other therapists.

Qualifications and Membership 

• BHSc (OT), Auckland Institute of Technology, New Zealand (1998).
• PG Cert (Hand Therapy), Derby University, UK (2004).
• Royal College of Occupational Therapists - Specialist Section - Independent Practice (MRCOT-SS-IP).
• British Association of Hand Therapists (BAHT).
• Case Management Society UK (CMSUK).
• Member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapist (MRCOT)
• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Career History

2014-date
Expert Witness
Jacqueline Webb & Company  

2013-date
Case Manager
Bush & Company Rehabilitation 

2013-date
Independent Occupational Therapy Practitioner 

2004-2014
Advanced Occupational Therapist in Hand Therapy
Queen Victoria NHS Foundation Trust, East Grinstead 

2011
Clinical Advisor
Derby University 

2002-2004
Clinical Lead Occupational therapist in Burns and Plastics
Queen Victoria NHS Foundation Trust, East Grinstead 

2001-2002
Locum Senior Occupational Therapist
Angela Shaw and Associates 

1998-2001
Rotational Occupational Therapist
Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand 

Home Base
West Sussex