Specialisms
- Complex orthopaedic injuries including multiple trauma.
- Upper and lower limb amputations.
- Upper limb and hand injuries.
- Spinal injuries.
- Cauda Equina.
- Internal injuries.
- Chronic pain
- Loss of services in fatal accident claims.
- Associated brain injury.
- Associated hearing impairment.
Clinical Currency Statement
As at March 2023, I am engaged in the role of Case Manager for Tania Brown Limited for an average of 48 hours per month. I also work as an Occupational Therapist for Enable Therapy for an average of 16 hours per month.
Signed
Specific Injuries Experience
Rachel supports clients with a range of physical disabilities. She works with people who have amputations as a result of trauma, people who have sustained complex and multiple orthopaedic injuries including hand and upper limb injuries, spinal and internal injuries, and individuals experiencing chronic pain including Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome.
Rachel often supports clients who have sustained traumatic brain injuries in addition to complex orthopaedic injuries. Individuals present with a variety of problems including muscle weakness, reduced range of movement, fatigue, reduced activity tolerance and cognitive changes. In many cases her clients also have associated psychological difficulties in response to the impact of the injury on their lifestyle. Rachel identifies their current and future needs and co-ordinates their rehabilitation accordingly.
Employment Profile
Rachel has worked as an independent Expert Witness since 1997 and has prepared over 500 reports for both claimants and the defence. She has extensive experience of attending case conferences, experts’ meetings and has attended court. Rachel has prepared Loss of Services reports to assist the court in determining the amount of damages payable. She has written detailed reports quantifying the past services provided by the deceased to their dependants, as well as those that they would have provided in future.
Rachel works as a Case Manager for people with a variety of disabilities including amputations, traumatic brain injury and complex and multiple musculoskeletal injuries. This involves assessing their needs and co-ordinating intense rehabilitation. It also involves arranging and managing packages of care, liaising with other professions and agencies as appropriate and recruiting specialist services, as well as working with architects regarding adaptations.
Rachel also works as an independent Occupational Therapist for clients with a wide range of disabilities including chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS), multiple orthopaedic injuries, upper limb injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Rachel develops individual treatment programmes based on the client’s needs which aim to improve their functional independence. In addition, Rachel carries out Functional Capacity Evaluations in order to identify a person’s work capability, and Vocational Rehabilitation to facilitate a sustainable return to work for an individual following injury.
Rachel assesses individuals to identify any specialist equipment, or adaptations to improve their functional independence as well as providing specific treatment such as desensitisation techniques, ergonomic assessments, work site assessments, and cognitive rehabilitation.
Rachel is a Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy and is responsible for the teaching of post-graduate degrees including MSc Occupational Therapy and MSc Occupational Therapy Distance Learning.
Her university responsibilities include leading all Masters level research for occupational therapy, managing personal students and administrative duties. She is part of a research team who have been awarded a research grant from Versus Arthritis to establish the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an occupational therapy job retention intervention for people with inflammatory arthritis.
Rachel has extensive experience of working in hospital and community settings treating people with a variety of physical disabilities and complex needs. Rachel has considerable experience of assessments and care planning, development of intervention programmes to meet individual needs to restore function or improve independence, identifying equipment to improve daily living skills and providing training and advice to carers.
Rachel is a confident communicator, having considerable experience presenting at national and international conferences.
Qualifications and Membership
- PhD, University of Derby (2004).
- MSc, University of Derby (1996).
- Post-graduate certificate in professional practice (adult learning qualification), University of Derby (1996).
- Post-graduate certificate in health care research, Sheffield Hallam University (1992).
- Diploma College of Occupational Therapists, Derby School of Occupational Therapy (1988).
- British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT).
- College of Occupational Therapists – Specialist Section – Work (COT-SS-Work).
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Career History
Present
Expert Witness
Jacqueline Webb & Co Limited
2016-present
Case Manager
Tania Brown Limited
2011-present
Specialist Occupational Therapist
Rachel O’Brien Limited
2006-present
Senior Lecturer
Sheffield Hallam University
1995-2005
Senior Lecturer
University of Derby
1991-1995
Senior I Occupational Therapist
Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield
1990-1991
Senior II Occupational Therapist
Bolsover Community Hospital, Chesterfield and Northern General Hospital, Sheffield
1988-1989
Basic Grade Occupational Therapist
City Hospital, Nottingham and Chesterfield Royal Hospital
Publications
Rachel has spoken at seven conferences, presented on four occasions and has five publications.
Conferences:
- BHPR regional conference Leeds June 29. Work Rehabilitation in Inflammatory Arthritis: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial (2016).
- Health & Well Being conference, Birmingham, March 3 & 4. The Development & Evaluation of a Work Retention programme for Employed People with Inflammatory (2015).
- Health & Well Being conference, Birmingham, March 4 & 5. Vocational Rehabilitation & Hip Surgery (2014).
- Health and Wellbeing Conference, Birmingham. Evaluating the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation provided by the NHS in assisting those with inflammatory arthritis to stay in work (2013).
- The College of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference, Glasgow. WORK-IA: developing a trial of work rehabilitation in inflammatory arthritis (IA)(2013).
- Vocational Rehabilitation Association Conference, Manchester. Development of a vocational rehabilitation training programme for Allied Health Professionals (AHPs)(2013).
- British Health Professionals in Rheumatology (BHPR) Conference, Liverpool. Work Rehabilitation in Work-related Neck and Upper Limb Disorders (WRULDs)(2008).
Presentations:
- EULAR Work rehabilitation in Inflammatory arthritis: A pilot randomised controlled trial. (2014).
- The Royal College of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference, Glasgow. Development of a vocational training programme for occupational therapists (2013).
- Contributing author: The Royal College of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference, Glasgow. Low secure patient’s motivations to attend occupational groups (2013).
- The European League against Rheumatism (Eular) Conference, London. Modifying the work environment survey – Rheumatic conditions for use in the UK (2011).
Publications:
- I want to work: A vocational rehabilitation case study following a brachial plexus injury. International Journal of Therapy & Rehabilitiation (2017) – Link here.
- Regional Musculoskeletal Pain Syndromes. Module 4 Oesch P, Vlaeyen J, O’Brien R, McCabe C. (2015) Link here.
- The Development and Evaluation of a Vocational Rehabilitation Training Programme for Rheumatology Occupational Therapists. Musculoskeletal Care. O’Brien R, Woodbridge S, Hammond A, Culley J, Adkin J. (2013)
- Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy intervention for Fibromyalgia in Rheumatology: Evidence-based Practice for Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists. McVeigh J, O’Brien R.(2010)
- The De Quervain’s Screening Tool: validity and reliability of a measure to support clinical diagnosis and management. Musculoskeletal Care.6.155-167 . Batteson (O’Brien) R, Hammond A, Burke F, Sinha S.(2008)