Specialisms
Extensive experience working with children and young adults to age 25 years with a range of disabilities including:
- Acquired and traumatic brain injury.
- Cerebral Palsy and associated physical, cognitive, sensory and communication difficulties.
- Neuro-muscular conditions such as Muscular Dystrophy.
- Brachial Plexus Lesions including Erb’s Palsy.
- Foetal Valproate Syndrome (FVS).
- Developmental co-ordination disorders.
- Associated hearing loss.
- Associated hand injury.
- Loss of Services in fatal accident claims.
Clinical Currency Statement
As at March 2022, I am engaged in the role of Director and Case Manager for StanleySmith Case Management for an average of 100 hours per month.
Signed
Specific Injuries Experience
Heidi works as a Case Manager and Independent Occupational Therapist. Heidi has sound knowledge and experience of working with children who have had neurological injury either at the time of birth or acquired following birth. She has a special interest in working with children and young people who have had a traumatic brain injury.
Heidi is rehabilitation focused. In her Case Management role, she sets up and co-ordinates the child/young person’s rehabilitation to maximise their potential. In her Occupational Therapy role, she works on short term goals focusing on enabling her client’s development and independence through use of activity which is meaningful to them. Heidi is keen to ensure that therapy and quality of life is reinforced when organising care packages for her clients. She also promotes her client’s independence, posture, comfort and quality of life through use of specialist equipment. Heidi is able to ‘think outside the box’ when considering how equipment will help her clients. In her Case Management role she has been involved in providing advice and recommendations during the construction of several specialist properties and has carried out many assessments and recommendations for specialist vehicles and holidays.
In her case management role, Heidi has both privately employed and agency care packages that she has set up and manages. Heidi is driven to ensuring that there is a strong team approach around her clients and as such she organises and chairs regular meetings and ensures relevant information is distributed among the rehabilitation team. Heidi has been proactive in setting up electronic notes in schools and at home so that she is able to monitor her client’s progress at all times and identify their ever-changing needs. Heidi works collaboratively with the client and their family to promote engagement and autonomy.
Heidi’s experience in assessments, identifying needs and report writing enables her to write loss of service reports. Heidi is sensitive to people’s needs and empathetic in her approach to loss.
Employment Profile
Heidi qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2000 and worked in a variety of roles within Social Services and NHS Trusts for 8 years before moving into independent practice in 2008.
Since that time Heidi has been an independent Paediatric OT, Case Manager and Expert Witness. She has also completed a Masters and attained advanced membership of BABICM. She took the lead role in paediatric issues within Westcountry Case Management and provided mentoring to paediatric case managers.
Heidi has worked as an independent Expert Witness with Jacqueline Webb & Co since 2008. She has extensive experience in writing reports on children with complex needs and has regularly attended case conferences and experts’ meetings. Heidi has provided mentorship support to new paediatric experts joining the company.
Heidi considers her role as a Case Manager in particular helps her to evidence her recommendations when writing expert reports. With over 13 years’ experience as a Case Manager, Heidi is now joint director of StanleySmith Case Management. Heidi is Case Manager to a number of complex paediatric clients who have had brain injury at birth, as a result of an accident or injury after birth or as a result of illness.
As a Case Manager Heidi is an advocate for children and young people who have traumatic and acquired brain injuries. She is passionate about the importance of rehabilitation and as part of that she co-ordinates with the child/young person, their family, relevant professionals and outside agencies in order to ensure their care, therapy, education, equipment, leisure and housing needs are being met. She also gains statistical information so that she is able to evidence case management goals.
Heidi sets up and manages a vast range of private and agency care packages, regularly provides advice and support in sourcing and adapting suitable properties, make assessments for wheelchair adapted vehicles and specialist equipment, and regularly co-ordinates with therapists, psychologists and teachers. Heidi sets up and chairs therapy meetings to ensure that private and statutory therapists work together to meet the child/young person’s needs.
Heidi also supervises other Case Managers with paediatric clients and is the Company’s Safeguarding Lead and Clinical Governance Lead for children and young people.
Heidi has a special interest, sound knowledge and expertise in working with children and young people with neurological conditions, in particular acquired and traumatic brain injury. She has extensive experience of carrying out assessments, including use of standardised tests. As an Occupational Therapist she uses neuro-developmental and compensatory approaches to help maximise a child/young person’s potential. She has worked with children and young people in their own home, school and leisure environments to promote their function and independence. Heidi has gained extensive experience and skills in postural management, moving and handling, aids and equipment and housing issues. She is also passionate about facilitating opportunities to promote play, leisure and hobbies in daily life. She has completed Paediatric Hand Therapy Level 2 with the British Association of Hand Therapists, and is a member of the BABICM working group for ‘Professional Practice and Membership’. She attends frequent training in relation to the impact of acquired and traumatic brain injury.
Qualifications and Membership
- BSc Occupational Therapy, University of Derby (2000).
- MSc (Management), University of Bristol (2007).
- British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers – Advanced Member (BABICM).
- Member of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
Career History
Present
Care Expert
Jacqueline Webb & Co Ltd
2018-Present
Case Manager
Stanley Smith Case Management
2008-2018
Case Manager
Westcountry Case Management
2008-Present
Independent Practitioner
2007-2008
Advanced Occupational Therapy Practitioner – Community Paediatric setting
Weston Area Health Trust, North Somerset
2007
Paediatric contract – carrying out paediatric assessments
Alexander Leigh Consultants
2003-2006
Senior I Paediatric Occupational Therapist – Community Paediatric setting
Plymouth Social Services
2001-2003
Senior II – Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Leicester City West NHS Trust
2000-2001
Senior II – Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Caldwell Hall School for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and challenging behaviour