Pam C BSc (Hons) OT

Specialisms 

Complex physical disabilities, including: 

• Burns and plastics including scar management for adults and children.
• Hand therapy.
• Single and multi-level spinal surgery.
• Upper limb surgery including shoulder and elbow replacements.
• Lower limb surgery including ankle, hip and knee replacements.
• Upper and lower limb amputations.
• Arthritis, including Rheumatoid and Juvenile Idiopathic.
• Bone infection.
• Internal injuries and bladder and bowel disorders.
• Pain including Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome.
• Neurological conditions including stroke, MS, MND, Parkinson’s and dementia.
• Visual impairments.
• Cancer, including palliative care.
• Psychological impact of physical disabilities.
• Vascular impairments.
• Fatigue.
• Associated brain injury.

Profile 

I am currently employed as a Senior Occupational Therapist by Oxfordshire County Council.  I work with adults with a range of chronic and degenerative conditions that require medical and surgical treatment, in addition to rehabilitative services. I work autonomously and have a highly varied and complex caseload including assessment and treatment of individuals with orthopaedic, neurological and musculo-skeletal problems within a community setting.  I am responsible for assessing individual needs and have extensive experience in assessing functional ability.  This allows me to provide accurate recommendations for equipment and care provision on a long and short-term basis. 

Given the chronic and degenerative nature of the clients I work with, I have extensive knowledge of joint protection and pacing principles, fatigue management and workplace ergonomic assessments which encompass predictions for future requirements in line with disease progression.  I have also developed an in-depth understanding of the potential debilitating psychological implications of chronic and degenerative conditions, and the impact this may have on an individual’s day to day functioning. 

Since qualifying as an Occupational Therapist in 2001, I have worked in in-patient and out-patient settings, and have gained comprehensive experience and specialist skills and knowledge across a wide range of clinical areas.  This has included hand therapy, burns and plastics, scar management for adults and children, neurological intensive care, orthopaedics, rheumatology, chronic pain and general medical conditions.  My roles and focus have been to assess individual needs and to design treatment and rehab packages that would achieve patients’ short and long term goals, whilst providing recommendations for the necessary care and equipment that would facilitate independence and maximise functional ability. 

Qualifications and Membership 

• BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy Oxford Brookes University (2001).
• British Association of Hand Therapists (BAHT) Level 1 (2003).
• British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT).
• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Specialist seating assessments (2016).
• RCOTSS Medico-Legal Forum Committee member (2016/2017).
• Best Interest Assessor (2017).

Career History 

2012-date
Expert Witness
Jacqueline Webb & Co 

2017-date
Private Practice
The OT Practice 

2016-date
Senior Occupational Therapist, Social Services
Oxfordshire County Council 

2005-2016
Senior Occupational Therapist, Outreach and Rheumatology
Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust 

2002-2005
Senior Occupational Therapist, Plastics
Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust

2001-2002
Basic Grade Occupational Therapist, Hand Therapy and Plastics
Wexham Park Hospital 

Teaching and Lecturing

Oxford Brookes University – associate lecturer, delivering the upper limb module (2017).
Oxford Brookes University – associate lecturer, Mental Capacity Act (2017).
Oxford Brookes University – Interviewing Occupational Therapy Students (2017).
Presentation on ‘Hand Function’ – In-service training programme, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (2016).
School’s presentation scheme on ‘Bones and Muscles’ (2016).
Presentation on ‘The Charcot Ankle’ – training programme to regional junior doctors (2015).
Formal presentation, National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society on ‘Joint Protection Principles’ (NRAS) (2012).
‘Occupational Therapy for Rheumatology Patients’ – training programme presentation to regional junior doctors (2010).
‘Rheumatology Workshops’ for Oxford Brookes University Occupational Therapy BSc (Hons) course (2010).
Presentation on ‘Anatomy of the Hand’ to course candidates – accredited British Association of Hand Therapists (BAHT) Level 1 course (2007).

Home Base
Oxford