Pam Clarke

In addition to the primary condition, Pam’s clients frequently have associated internal injuries, vascular impairments and infections including bone infections, and inevitably associated pain conditions such as phantom pain, chronic pain and Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome.

The complex nature of the clients Pam works with frequently results in there being a neurological component to the injury or condition, either as a result of a traumatic event or through an acquired brain injury.  This commonly results in there being a significant psychological or psychiatric overlay, in addition to behavioural and mood disturbances, difficulties with executive functioning and cognitive deficits.

Pam has regularly worked with clients with Cauda Equina Syndrome, both in acute and community settings.

She also has substantial experience working with clients with sensory impairments, visual impairments in particular, both as a primary condition and as a consequence or complication of either brain injury, or rheumatological condition, such as temporal arteritis.

She has extensive experience of working with children and adults with burns and the resultant need for plastic surgery, both functional and cosmetic, rehabilitation and scar management.  Pam’s role requires her to have
in-depth knowledge of the unique challenges that this client group face both in terms of physical rehabilitation and psychological support.

In all cases, Pam is responsible for identifying, co-ordinating and managing her clients’ care, equipment, rehabilitation and housing needs, across both statutory and private services, working towards achieving her client’s goals, maximising their independence and overall quality of life.

At times her role requires her to plan and co-ordinate palliative care, either as a primary or secondary complication, supporting the client and their family/loved ones to access the services they require in a timely and unobtrusive way, either in the community, hospital or hospice setting.

Pam currently works as an Occupational Therapist and Case Manager, primarily with clients with life changing physical and neurological conditions requiring medical and surgical intervention in addition to rehabilitation.  Although Pam works autonomously, her caseload is highly varied and involves managing and working within multi-disciplinary care and therapy teams, to ensure the best outcome for each client.

Pam has extensive experience in assessing individual needs, working collaboratively with clients and their carers to maximise and maintain their potential in both the short and longer term.  This includes co-ordinating and implementing bespoke packages of care, including therapy services within statutory and private services, to ensure creative and cost-effective solutions.

Given the chronic and degenerative nature of many of the clients Pam works with, she has gained extensive knowledge of joint protection and pacing principles, fatigue management and workplace ergonomic assessments which encompass predictions for future requirements in line with disease progression.  She has also developed an in-depth understanding of the potential debilitating psychological implications of chronic and degenerative conditions and, the impact this may have on an individual’s day to day functioning.

Pam has a background in sensory impairment and has a caseload that includes clients with varying degrees of visual impairment, up to total visual loss.

Since qualifying as an Occupational Therapist in 2001, Pam has worked in in-patient and out-patient settings and has gained comprehensive experience, specialist skills and knowledge across a wide range of clinical areas.  This has included hand therapy, burns and plastics, scar management for adults and children, neurological intensive care, orthopaedics, rheumatology, chronic pain and general medical conditions.  Her roles and focus have been to assess individual needs and to design treatment and rehab packages that would achieve patients’ short- and long-term goals, whilst providing recommendations for the necessary care and equipment that would facilitate independence and maximise functional ability.