Specialisms
Children and young adults (up to the age of 25), including:
- Cerebral Palsy.
- Global developmental delay/developmental co-ordination disorder.
- Severe learning difficulties.
- Autistic spectrum disorder.
- Congenital conditions and syndromes.
- Brachial Plexus Lesions including Erb’s Palsy.
- Down’s Syndrome.
- Sensory integration.
- Neurological conditions.
- Associated visual impairments.
- Associated brain injury.
- Associated internal injuries (including stoma and PEG feeding).
- Wrongful birth cases.
Clinical Currency Statement
As at January 2026, I am engaged in the role of Independent Paediatric Occupational Therapist for Coordinated Kids for an average of 64 hours per month. I also work as Clinical Lead Neonatal Occupational Therapist for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for 64 hours per month.
Signed
Specific Injuries Experience
Dawn commonly works with children and young people with both mild and complex neurological needs. Dawn works together with the family and the carers to prescribe specialist equipment to help promote the individual’s well-being and sense of independence. Dawn frequently works with children and young people with a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy to prescribe and deliver a therapeutic programme of activities to help promote independence skills.
Dawn works in collaboration with agency and directly employed carers to ensure that care needs are met in a safe and dignified manner. Dawn reviews care policies for individuals including reviewing and producing moving and handling plans to ensure carer and service user safety.
Dawn has experience both in children’s and transition cases, often working with clients with Cerebral Palsy, learning disabilities and neurological conditions into their late teens and early adulthood. Her post requires her to have a sound knowledge of child development, in order to be able to clearly differentiate between expected age-related development, and condition related difficulties.
Related to the above, many of Dawn’s clients experience neurological impairments which commonly results in associated cognitive deficits and mental health complications. Dawn is often involved in the writing and delivery of positive behaviour support plans.
Many of Dawn’s clients also have medical needs such as catheters, stoma and PEG feed systems. These require ongoing consideration in relation to the prescription of specialist equipment and the implementation of moving and handling plans. She is happy to report on these areas in conjunction with a brain injury.
Dawn is a trained sensory integration therapy practitioner and therefore frequently assesses and treats children and young people with sensory processing difficulties either as a result of a developmental condition or due to a neurological impairment. Dawn then reviews the intervention programme to ensure that the frequency of challenging behaviours have reduced and that the service user is able to fully access their home and learning environment.
Employment Profile
Dawn has worked as an Expert Witness with Jacqueline Webb & Co since 2015.
Dawn is an experienced Paediatric Occupational Therapist with extensive clinical expertise across both the NHS and private sector. She has worked with children and young people aged 0-25 years who present with a wide range of mild to complex needs, including neurological, genetic and developmental conditions.
She currently works as a Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist in the private sector, providing comprehensive assessment and intervention for children and young people with conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, genetic disorders and coordination difficulties. Her work focuses on promoting functional independence, participation in meaningful occupations, and supporting families to manage complex care needs.
In addition, Dawn works as a Clinical Lead Neonatal Occupational Therapist within the NHS. She promotes infant neurodevelopment on the Neonatal Unit by empowering parents and caregivers to provide developmentally supportive care. This includes optimising the sensory environment and supporting families to understand and respond to infant cues and signs of stress, helping infants to regulate and engage in early co-occupations such as sleeping, feeding and interaction. Using a Family Integrated Care approach, Dawn provides early, individualised intervention to reduce developmental risk for infants born prematurely or with perinatal complications. She manages a complex caseload, works collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team, and supports infants and families through tailored assessment and intervention, discharge planning and anticipatory guidance to ensure a smooth transition home.
Dawn has worked across a variety of settings, including Child Development Centres for children aged 0–5 years, special schools, mainstream schools, colleges and within family homes. She is skilled in using both standardised and observational assessments to identify functional difficulties and to recommend appropriate strategies, equipment and environmental adaptations to promote independence.
She has extensive experience prescribing specialist equipment, including seating, bathing, toileting and moving and handling equipment, to reduce care demands and increase functional participation. Dawn also regularly recommends minor and major home adaptations to improve accessibility and support both the child or young person and their family.
Dawn works closely with social care teams and private care agencies, advising on appropriate levels of care and frequently reviewing care packages to ensure they remain appropriate to changing needs. She liaises with external professionals to ensure coordinated support and ensures carers are trained and equipped with appropriate moving and handling equipment to minimise risk and maximise independence.
She also has experience in Paediatric Case Management, including establishing and managing private and agency care packages, recruiting and supervising carers, and coordinating multidisciplinary teams. In this role, Dawn worked closely with solicitors and chaired MDT meetings involving statutory services, education providers and independent therapists to ensure a cohesive and child-centred approach to care, therapy, education, housing and equipment needs.
Dawn is passionate about helping children and young people to engage in activities of daily living as independently as possible. She has a special interest in neurological conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Autistic Spectrum Disorder and children/young people with sensory processing difficulties.
Qualifications and Membership
- Post Graduate Certificate in Advancing Practice Equine Facilitated Therapy (2023).
- Sensory Integration Practitioner (2016).
- BSc Honours Degree in Occupational Therapy (first class), St Martin’s College, Lancaster (2009).
- Open College Psychological Perspectives, Blackpool and The Fylde College (2004).
- Advanced Diploma in Anatomy and Physiology, Blackpool and The Fylde College (2003).
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
Career History
Present
Care Expert Witness
Jacqueline Webb & Co Limited
2026 – Present
Clinical Lead Neonatal Occupational Therapist
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
2012-Present
Independent Paediatric Occupational Therapist
2014-2015
Case Manager
Independent Living Solutions
2011-2016
Highly Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, St Annes
2009-2011
Paediatric Occupational Therapist
North Lancashire Primary Care Trust, Longlands Child Development Centre
2003-2009
Technical Instructor
Wyre Primary Care Trust, Wesham Rehabilitation Unit