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Veronica Downing
BA (Hons) DipCOT |
Veronica qualified in 1976 at the Dorset House School of Occupational Therapy, Oxford, and has over 30 years experience as an occupational therapist working in brain injury and stroke rehabilitation, general rehabilitation of physical and neurological conditions with the elderly, children and adults with learning disability.
She graduated with an Honours Degree in Psychology in 1991.
In 1994 she established her private practice as a consultant in occupational therapy, providing assessment, advice and treatment services.
As an independent practitioner she has undertaken holistic occupational therapy assessments and implemented treatment programmes for private clients with neurological disabilities including stroke, brain injury, cerebral palsy, chronic fatigue syndrome and complex regional pain syndrome, identifying their needs for equipment, home adaptations, rehabilitation, care and support to meet their physical, psychological, social and environmental needs.
She has provided Expert Witness services as an independent consultant in occupational therapy since 1994, assessing the needs of children and adults with neurological and physical disabilities, acquired brain injury, cognitive impairment and learning disabilities.
Veronica has her own case load and her current work includes assessing the disability needs of clients, designing treatment programmes, advising on home adaptations and equipment and aids to daily living and rehabilitation case management.
She has Court experience, is trained in Single Joint Expert procedures and is instructed equally on behalf of claimants (40%) and defendants (40%) and also single joint instructions (20%).
She has recently expanded the occupational therapy services provided by her company through the establishment of an Independent Living Centre in an award-winning conversion of a 15th century barn.
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Justine Fawcett
BSc (Hons) DipCOT |
Justine qualified as an occupational therapist in 1991 and in 1996 gained an Honours Degree in Health Studies.
She has wide clinical experience in the rehabilitation of people with acquired brain injury, neurological diseases, burns and hand injuries, amputation and physiological conditions and in the assessment of equipment and aids to daily living, home adaptations and community rehabilitation.
In addition to working for Veronica Downing Associates, Justine works as a senior occupational therapist for Suffolk Brain Injury Services.
Her current work includes assessment of disability following brain injury and identification of rehabilitation needs, designing and implementing rehabilitation programmes, assessment for equipment and aids to daily living, identifying care needs and working with carers and families on rehabilitation issues.
She works for Veronica Downing Associates as an independent Occupational Therapist and Expert Witness, preparing rehabilitation costing reports in personal injury and medical negligence cases. She has experience of working for claimant, defendant and jointly instructed cases.
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Marie Palmer
Dip NZOT, Dip Management Studies |
Marie Palmer qualified as an occupational therapist in 1978 from the Institute of Technology, Heretaunga, New Zealand and in 1996 she graduated from Kingston University, Surrey with a Diploma in Management Studies.
She has broad experience as an occupational therapist in Health and Community settings in the rehabilitation of brain injury patients, complex neurological conditions, spinal injuries, orthopaedic and rheumatological conditions, amputees and hand injuries. She has worked with the elderly, and people with a variety of psychological and psychiatric conditions. Marie has worked as a Case Manager, arranging and conducting occupational therapy assessments including Immediate Needs Assessments for complex disabilities following trauma. This includes the assessment of equipment and rehabilitation needs, case management of individual cases, and return to work
assessments.
In addition to working for Veronica Downing Associates Marie also works for Social Care Services undertaking occupational therapy assessments of adults with complex disabilities, arranging for the provision of equipment, rehabilitation and home adaptations. She also assesses for major adaptations to the home through Disabled Facilities Grants.
She works for Veronica Downing Associates as an independent Occupational Therapist and Expert Witness, preparing rehabilitation costing reports in personal injury and medical negligence cases. She has experience of working for claimant, defendant and jointly instructed cases.
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Maggie Humphries
Dip COT |
Maggie qualified as an occupational therapist in 1988. She has worked within the Health and Voluntary sectors in both community and hospital settings.
She is an experienced occupational therapist whose work has included rehabilitation of elderly and adult mental health conditions, orthopaedics and surgical conditions, stroke rehabilitation, adults with HIV and AIDS, adults with learning disabilities, oncology and palliative care.
Maggie’s current work includes the assessment of need for people who have a limited prognosis due to cancer and related illnesses where the focus of occupational therapy is on energy conservation, adapting to lifestyle changes, home adaptations and provision of equipment and aids to daily living. Maggie also provides anxiety management for clients whose mental health problems affect their daily living.
She works for Veronica Downing Associates as an independent occupational therapist and expert witness, preparing rehabilitation costing reports in personal injury and medical negligence. She has prepared reports equally on behalf of Claimants and Defendants.
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Onitha Jarrold
BSc (Hons) |
Onitha Jarrold graduated in June 1997 from Sheffield Hallam University with an Honours Degree in Occupational Therapy.
She has wide experience as a paediatric occupational therapist with a particular interest in treatment of developmental and coordination difficulties. She has worked both for the NHS and Social Care Services and in school and community settings.
She currently works part time as a paediatric occupational therapist for a Primary Care Trust and as an independent occupational therapist.
Onitha assesses children with co-ordination difficulties, providing programmes and advice for parents, teachers and other professionals and treating children with co-ordination difficulties and sensory integration dysfunction. She also undertakes group treatment of children with co-ordination difficulties, assessment of children with physical disabilities with recommendations for treatment and equipment.
Onitha works for Veronica Downing Associates as an independent occupational therapist specialising in paediatrics, carrying out assessments and preparing independent reports for Local Authorities and private clients.
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Lara Johnstone BOccThy |
Lara Johnstone graduated in 2002 from The University of Newcastle (Australia) with a Bachelor Degree in Occupational Therapy. She also has postgraduate training in Sensory Integration. She is registered with the Health Professions Council and British Association of Occupational Therapists, and is a member of the Sensory Integration Network. She has worked within Education, Health and Social Care services and is now employed full-time in the private sector as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist.
She has varied experience working in the United Kingdom and abroad, both in hospital, community and school-based settings, and has a particular interest in Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Sensory Processing Disorders and Information and Communication Technology.
Lara assesses children who have special needs from birth to 16 years and offers reports, programmes and advice to parents, teachers and other professionals. She also provides hands-on therapy, advice and recommendations on equipment needs and housing adaptations, and support for SEN Statements and Tribunals.
Lara works for Veronica Downing Associates as an independent occupational therapist specialising in paediatrics, carrying out assessments and treatment, and preparing independent reports for Local Authorities and private clients.
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Pat Kasprzok BSc (Hons) |
Pat Kasprzok graduated in 1994 from the University of East Anglia with an Honours Degree in Occupational Therapy, after which she worked for two NHS Hospital Trusts. In addition to working for Veronica Downing Associates she currently works as a Practice Consultant Occupational Therapist with Adult Social Services.
Pat has held a caseload of complex cases, including both adults and children with terminal illnesses, neurological conditions and brain injuries resulting in profound disabilities. Work with these service users has included complex moving and handling solutions and large-scale adaptations.
She has provided clinical supervision to Social Services team members, has had responsibility for the supervision of assistant grades and has been involved in the implementation of Care First, a new computer record system for Social Services, contributing to the development of processes for occupational therapists and to the use of the system by the Social Services team.
In addition to developing the Occupational Therapy Services for Veronica Downing Associates, Pat also prepares expert witness reports.
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Gemma Bates
BSc (Hons) |
Gemma is a qualified Occupational Therapist and has experience working in paediatrics, physical disabilities, vocational rehabilitation, hand therapy and mental health. She has carried out voluntary work in the Occupational Therapy department at Evelina Children’s Hospital in London; a craft group for people with learning disabilities; a day centre for individuals with learning and physical disabilities and a local stroke club. She has also worked in residential care for adults with learning disabilities.
Gemma has written a publication for the Children, Young People and Families Journal, a Specialist Section of the British Association of Occupational Therapists and College of Occupational Therapists.
She currently works for Veronica Downing Associates assessing children with learning difficulties within their home or school environment and provides recommendations to parents and teachers or treatment sessions to help facilitate development of the child’s skills.
Gemma also provides assessment and advice to people with physical disabilities and is involved with Care Farming at Bridge Farm. Care Farming is a service for people recovering from or managing with mental health conditions and rehabilitation for people following stroke or acquired brain injury.
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