Specialisms
Physiotherapy Expert specialising in adults with:
- Spinal and spinal cord injury (complete and incomplete).
- Cauda Equina Syndrome.
- Brain injury (acquired or traumatic).
- Stroke and long term neurological conditions.
- Orthopaedic injuries.
- Functional neurological conditions.
- Vestibular rehabilitation.
- Challenging behaviours.
- Tone management.
- Splinting and orthotics.
- Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES).
- Acupuncture.
- Aquatic therapy.
- Assistive technology including virtual rehabilitation.
- Associated hearing/visual impairment.
Clinical Currency Statement
As at March 2022, I am engaged in the role of independent highly specialist neuro and complex trauma Physiotherapist for an average of 130 hours per month.
Signed
Specific Injuries Experience
Claire is highly knowledgeable in the field of acquired and traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. She has extensive experience in the assessment and delivery of specialist physiotherapy as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Claire is familiar in rehabilitating patients with disorders of consciousness through to individuals exhibiting challenging behaviour. Claire is confident in all levels of spinal cord injury and understands the long-term implications of such injuries and the likely recommendations required.
Claire has experience in managing people with complex trauma, respiratory issues, cognitive impairments, significant pain, and visual or hearing deficits as a result of their injuries. She has significant experience in managing the functional consequences of physical disability including limb paralysis or weakness, sensory loss and abnormal tone leading to movement difficulties. Claire is skilled in using orthotics and different forms of electrical stimulation to maximise function.
Claire regularly works with case managers to facilitate rehabilitation for those with claims in progress. She works in a clinic or in a residential care setting or in the clients own home to optimise their recovery.
Employment Profile
Claire is a highly specialist neuro-physiotherapist with over 20 years’ experience in treating and assessing clients in a range of settings at varying stages of their rehabilitation. Claire has worked for the NHS in a variety of positions, gaining extensive experience in acute, critical care, rehabilitation and community environments. This has enabled her to develop excellent insight into her clients’ physiotherapy needs, throughout their life. Claire is skilled in the treatment of many neurological conditions but has particular expertise in the rehabilitation of clients with neuro-trauma and spinal cord injury, having worked in a spinal injury unit and as the Principal Therapist in Major Trauma at St George’s University Hospital Foundation Trust. As a Neuro-Trauma Co-ordinator Claire has gained experience planning adaptations, signposting to relevant services and helping acquire appropriate equipment alongside making recommendations for care packages and liaising with various case managers, statutory care services and solicitors.
Claire has also worked as an Outreach Therapy Expert at the Regional Spinal Cord Injury Centre. This involved visiting other hospitals as well as telephone triage. She offered expert advice, clinical support and lecturing to clinicians and patients in hospitals/rehabilitation units to optimise their management of spinal cord injury patients as well as supporting them in organising complex care packages and deciding future rehabilitation needs. As a result, Claire is highly organised and able to work under pressure. She is a confident communicator, having presented at various conferences and lectured to students.
Claire uses a goal orientated approach to support clients through their rehabilitation journey. She is specially trained in a range of neurological treatment techniques, including the Bobath concept, and also qualified in acupuncture and as a pilates instructor. She completed an MSc in Rehabilitation in 2016 at the University of London, where modules included topics on self-management in long term conditions.
Currently Claire works in the private sector as a community highly specialist physiotherapist. She assesses and treats adults with a wide variety of neurological conditions including SCI, TBI and stroke in their homes or in a clinic.
In addition, Claire has provided support to a law firm as a Rehabilitation Co-ordinator, helping ensure their clients receive the best rehabilitation and as well as supporting the set-up of their solicitor training and development. She has spoken to groups of personal injury lawyers as part of their in-service training.
Claire is passionate about, and has been involved in, research for traumatic brain injuries and stroke.
Claire is fascinated in the rehabilitation of individuals diagnosed with functional neurological disorders and is part of the national therapy network in trying to establish to optimise these individual’s rehabilitation.
Claire has had the opportunity to present at a number of conferences including the role of virtual reality in neurorehabilitation and neurophysiotherapy in the interdisciplinary team.
Qualifications and Membership
- MSc Rehabilitation, University of London (2012-2016).
- BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy 2:1, University of Liverpool (1998-2001).
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
- Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (MCSP).
- Multi-disciplinary Association of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (MASCIP).
- Association of Chartered Physiotherapists Interested in Neurology (ACPIN).
- Association of Chartered Physiotherapists Interested in Vestibular Rehabilitation (ACPIVR)
- Member of the physiotherapy medico-legal clinical interest group.
- APPI Pilates Instructor (including neuro-pilates).
Career History
Present
Care Expert
Jacqueline Webb & Co Ltd
2019-present
Highly Specialist Neuro-Physiotherapist
Chipping Norton Physiotherapy
2017-2019
Band 8a Principal Therapist for Major Trauma, including neuro-trauma
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
2017-2018
Highly Specialist Neuro-Physiotherapist
The Rehab Practice Ltd, Stroke and Neurological Rehabilitation
2017-2018
Band 7 Senior Therapist, Spinal Cord Injury Outreach Team
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital & London Spinal Cord Injury Unit Stanmore
2015- 2017
Band 7 Neuro-Trauma Therapy Case Co-ordinator & Band 7/8a Highly Specialist Physiotherapist
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
2015
Band 8a Principal Therapist for Major Trauma
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
2011-2014
Band 7 Neuro-Trauma Therapy Case Co-ordinator & Band 7 Specialist Physiotherapist
St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust
2009-2011
Band 7 Specialist Physiotherapist, Neurosciences
St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust
2008-2009
Band 6 Physiotherapist, Neurosciences Rotation
St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust
2007-2008
Band 6 Physiotherapist
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital & London Spinal Cord Injury Unit
2007
Band 6 Physiotherapist, Neurosciences Rotation
St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust
2004-2007
Band 6 Physiotherapist, General Rotation
St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust
2003
Senior II Locum
City General Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, Kingston Hospital, Central Middlesex Hospital, Darent Valley Hospital
2001-2003
Rotational Junior Physiotherapist
University Hospital Lewisham
Publications
Claire has three posters and two research papers.
Posters:
- Early Multi-Disciplinary Team Rehabilitation on NICU at St George’s Hospital (2013)
- Vent-free breathing: establishing a joint protocol between St George’s and Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (2013)
- The role of FES in acute spinal cord injury rehabilitation (2014)
Research:
- Member of the Advisory Group for Makela et al (2015) Early Integration of Bridges Self-Management Support into usual care following TBI: A feasibility study (2014-2015)
- Assisted in the recruitment for DREAM Study, University College London (2015)
- MSc Dissertation – a study to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and length of stay, complexity and injury severity in Early Physical Trauma Patients (in the process of writing for publication) – led as the Principal Investigator (2016)
- AFTER Study – assisted in recruiting traumatic brain injury patients into a behavioural study, University of London (2017)