Specialisms
- Loss of services in fatal accident claims.
- End of life/palliative care.
- Mental health/psychiatric conditions including:
Schizophrenia, Anxiety, Depression, Post Traumatic Stress, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Dementia. - The impact of physical impairment on mental health.
- Associated upper and lower limb orthopaedic injury.
- Associated functional neurological disorder.
- Associated chronic pain.
- Associated visual and hearing loss/impairment.
- Associated cancer.
- Associated internal injuries and renal complications.
- Associated respiratory difficulties.
Specific Injuries Experience
Carmel has significant experience in working with individuals with psychological needs arising from physical health problems, trauma, injury and terminal illness. She is skilled in assessing the impact of physical and psychological symptoms and has held responsibility for making recommendations for care, treatment, equipment and additional therapy needs.
With 33 years’ NHS experience, Carmel is skilled in understanding the combined impact of physical and psycho-social aspects of ill health on an individual’s daily life and function.
In her substantive post as an Occupational Therapist in a community mental health team for older adults, Carmel conducted assessments, provided interventions and contributed to discharge planning and community support for those service users presenting with complex co-morbid physical, sensory and mental health impairments. To support the achievement of therapeutic goals, Carmel provided professional oversight within a multidisciplinary team as well as providing direct therapeutic interventions herself within the service user’s own home or care home.
Carmel planned and provided specific interventions to manage the functional impact of new onset and pre-existing co-morbidities such as cognitive impairment, mood disorder and psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety or depression.
Her post required her to have a sound knowledge of the associated impact of the environment, the aging process, frailty, confusion, visual or hearing impairment on the resulting total care needs.
Carmel has plentiful experience in recommending community discharge care packages, which take into account mental and physical health needs, the needs of carers and the limitations imposed by the home environment.
Carmel has reviewed levels of care provision, recommending an appropriate decrease in care as needs reduced following recovery or alternatively an increase in care due to deterioration or to meet end of life needs.
Carmel has extensive experience in working with patients following trauma and with life-limiting conditions, giving her a keen knowledge of disease progression and sensitivity to the needs of the individual and their family.
Employment Profile
Carmel has worked as an independent Expert Witness since 1998 and has completed over 345 reports, being instructed by both claimant and defendant lawyers and as a jointly appointed expert. She has participated in 57 pre-trial conferences, 49 expert meetings, and provided written and oral evidence to the courts in the United Kingdom and Ireland, attending court on 9 occasions. Carmel has prepared over 70 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 services that they would have provided in future.
Since qualifying as an Occupational Therapist in 1988, Carmel has experience spanning inpatient, day care and community services both within the NHS and non-statutory services. Her role focussed on assessment of needs, individualised treatment planning, rehabilitation and co-ordination of care packages.
Most recently, as a Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist for Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust in Mental Health Services, Carmel ensured patients were provided with the optimal care package to enable the management of their illness and to support them remaining in their own homes or moving into alternative accommodation.
Qualifications and Membership
- Diploma of the College of Occupational Therapists (DipCOT), Dorset House, Oxford (1988).
- Certificate in Counselling AEB/CSCT, Southport College (1995).
- Diploma in Counselling AEB/CSCT, Southport College (1996).
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section – Independent Practice (RCOTSS-IP) (1998).
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section – Mental Health (RCOTSS-MH) (1999).
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section – Older People (RCOTSS-OP) (2015).
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section – Housing (RCOTSS-H) (2017).
Career History
Present
Care Expert Witness
Jacqueline Webb & Co Limited
2021-June 2022
Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist, Older Adult Community Mental Health Team
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
2014-2021
Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist, Mental Health Hospital Liaison Service
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
2012-2014
Specialist Occupational Therapist, Wigan Memory Service
5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
2009-2012
Occupational Therapist – Primary Care Psychological Service
South Staffordshire and Shropshire NHS Trust
2003-2009
Occupational Therapist – Psychological Therapies Team
Mersey Care NHS Trust
2001-2002
Occupational Therapist – Elderly Mental Health Team
Guild NHS Trust, Preston
1995-2002
Occupational Therapist
Vine House Cancer Help, Registered Charity, Preston
1994-2001
Occupational Therapist – Adult Community Mental Health Team
Guild NHS Trust, Preston
1993-1994
Occupational Therapist – Mental Health Service
North Mersey Community NHS Trust
1990-1993
Occupational Therapist – Mental Health Service
Central Manchester Healthcare Trust
1988-1990
Occupational Therapist
Central Manchester Health Authority