Specialisms
- Complex orthopaedic injuries including multiple fractures.
- Lower limb amputation.
- Hip and knee replacement.
- Internal injuries.
- Spinal injuries.
- Cauda Equina.
- Pain.
- Cancer.
- Chronic obstructive airways disease and other respiratory conditions.
- Terminal illness and palliative care.
- Neurological conditions such as stroke, motor neurone disease and Parkinson’s disease.
- Associated renal.
Clinical Currency Statement
As at January 2024, I am engaged in the role of Occupational Therapist for South Coast Occupational Therapy Ltd for an average of 70 hours per month.I also work as Case Manager for Ainscough Associates for an average of 25 hours per month.
Specific Injuries Experience
As an Occupational Therapist and Case Manager, Caroline regularly works with individuals who have sustained catastrophic and life-changing injuries. The majority of individuals Caroline supports are those with orthopaedic injuries, lower limb amputations, internal injuries and chronic pain. She also regularly works with clients who have a spinal injury, such as Cauda Equina or low level spinal damage.
Caroline manages each client’s ongoing rehabilitation, care and support needs including setting up and managing formal care packages, and working with clients to overcome accommodation issues, arranging minor and major adaptations and dealing with suitable equipment purchases.
Caroline provides support to those who are just coming to terms with a new disability, as well as those dealing with longer term consequences of their injuries including clients with long term neurological and deteriorating conditions. She has experience of working with an ageing population, dealing with the consequences of ageing on chronic long-term disability.
Caroline has a keen interest in palliative care, having experienced this within her clinical work and also first hand with her own family members. She works alongside statutory providers to support discharging clients home, and helps to manage their ongoing needs.
Caroline also has experience working with adults managing colostomy and ileostomy, addressing care needs relating to the stoma, alongside other disabilities. She keeps herself updated on products and equipment by attending continued professional development opportunities.
Employment Profile
Throughout her career Caroline has written detailed reports providing information and recommendations on care and equipment needs. As an independent Expert Witness, Caroline is experienced in attending experts’ meetings and pre-trial conferences. She has also attended and given evidence in Court.
Since 2008 Caroline has worked as a freelance Occupational Therapist in the field of physical disability, undertaking work for local authorities, charities and private individuals. She completes assessments of an individual’s needs in their home environment and provides recommendations for care and equipment. She also carries out assessments for insurance companies, providing them with detailed reports of an individual’s ability to complete daily living tasks and recommendations to meet their care and equipment needs.
Caroline has significant and ongoing experience of working as a Case Manager with a complex caseload of all age ranges and disabilities. She has undertaken immediate needs assessments and supported individuals to directly employ carers. She has experience of co-ordinating large care packages, and working with multi-disciplinary teams and overseeing rehabilitation plans. She offers support to clients around maximising function through accessing rehabilitation packages in the private sector.
On qualification as an Occupational Therapist in 1992 Caroline worked for the NHS in a variety of settings gaining experience in stroke rehabilitation, amputees, oncology, orthopaedics and general medicine. In 1995 she joined social services as a practitioner and a manager. Caroline has many years of experience in assessing and planning adaptations to properties, alongside making recommendations for care packages. She has also worked with patients recovering from bowel surgery. She has gained extensive knowledge of physical disability, including long term conditions such as multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease. Whilst working as an independent Case Manager and as an Occupational Therapist in Adult Social Care she has experience of assisting individuals with spinal cord injury when planning adaptations and acquiring appropriate equipment. Caroline has a keen interest in palliative care and has worked supporting discharges from a local hospice to enable individuals to be cared for at home.
Qualifications and Membership
- DipCOT, London (1992).
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
- The Case Management Society UK (CMSUK).
Career History
Present
Care Expert Witness
Jacqueline Webb & Co Limited
2008-Present
Case Manager
Ainscough Associates
2008-Present
Independent Occupational Therapist
1998-Present
Consultant Occupational Therapist
Various, including Swiss Re Life and Health, Scottish Widows and Prudential
1995-2008
Occupational Therapist – Practitioner and Manager
Social Services
1992-1995
Occupational Therapist – rotational post
London Teaching Hospital
Publications
- An investigation into occupational therapy referral priorities in Kensington and Chelsea Social Services’, British Journal of Occupational Therapy (2001)