Specialisms
- Lower limb amputation.
- Orthopaedic injuries including joint replacements and spinal fractures.
- Cauda Equina.
- Adult Cerebral Palsy.
- Cancer, terminal illness/palliative care.
- Respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asbestosis.
- Neurological conditions including stroke, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis and progressive supranuclear palsy.
- Functional Neurologic Disorder (FND).
- Chronic pain.
- Associated brain injury or cognitive impairment.
- Associated mental health.
- Associated visual or hearing impairment.
- Associated pressure sores.
- Associated internal injuries.
Clinical Currency Statement
As at February 2026, I am engaged in the role of Occupational Therapist – Expert Practitioner for Darlington Borough Council for an average of 90 hours per month.
Signed
Specific Injuries Experience
Karen is a senior Occupational Therapist Expert Practitioner whose responsibilities include carrying out holistic assessments of individuals within their home environment, assessing, reviewing and making recommendations for personalised long-term packages of care in the community.
Karen commonly sees a variety of injuries including lower limb amputations, orthopaedic injuries (including joint replacements), cauda equina, adult cerebral palsy, cancer, and terminal illness requiring palliative care. Additionally, Karen frequently works with people who have neurological conditions (such as stroke, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis and progressive supranuclear palsy), long-term respiratory conditions (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asbestosis), as well as functional neurologic disorder and chronic pain.
The individuals that Karen sees often present with conditions secondary to the original injury. These conditions include associated brain injury, cognitive impairment, mental health, visual or hearing impairment and pressure sores. Karen is confident commenting on these issues when in conjunction with a primary injury. She is also experienced in supporting clients with bladder and bowel issues including stomas.
Karen’s substantial experience of working with a diverse range of people and injuries has given her the skills and understanding to recognise how an individual’s overall care provision and equipment needs may change throughout their life. She uses her clinical expertise to identify and put forward solutions to meet the individual’s needs – from standard and specialist pieces of equipment to compensate for the loss of independence to involvement with architects when planning for major adaptations.
Employment Profile
Karen began her career carrying out rotational posts with South Tees NHS Foundation Trust. During this time, she worked within adult social care and then in a hospital setting where she covered the elderly care, orthopaedic and medical wards. From here, Karen took a 12-month secondment at Teesside Hospice in a senior role which saw her involved in providing equipment and therapy needs for patients on the end-of-life pathway.
Following this, Karen spent 12 years as a Band 6 Occupational Therapist Expert Practitioner within a long-term physical disability community team. In addition to managing a large caseload of complex cases – assessing and providing specialist advice on support, aids/equipment and housing needs to help clients maintain or improve their independence at home – Karen sat on the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) reviewing applications for major housing adaptations.
Throughout her career, Karen has developed an excellent working knowledge of legislation around disability, health assessment under the Health Assessment Advisory Service, housing, direct payments, funding and personal budgets. She is proficient at writing comprehensive and timely reports to support her clinical reasoning and justify her recommendations.
Karen is passionate about making a difference in her client’s lives, using a holistic approach to help maximise their independence and rehabilitation potential. Karen is also a certified mindset coach and uses this knowledge to encourage and promote a healthy and productive mindset.
Karen attended the Bond Solon Courtroom Skills Familiarisation in 2025.
Qualifications and Membership
- BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy, University of Teeside (2008)
- The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Career History
Present
Care Expert Witness
Jacqueline Webb & Co Limited
2023 to present
Occupational Therapist – Expert Practitioner
Darlington Borough Council
2012 to 2023
Occupational Therapist – Expert Practitioner
Redcar and Cleveland Council
2008 to 2012
Rotational Occupational Therapist (Social Services, Medical, Elderly Care, Orthopaedic and Hospice Care)
South Tees Hospital NHS Foundation Trust