Ruth Allen-Ashcroft
BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapist
Specialisms
- Lower limb amputations
- Polytrauma (e.g., orthopaedics, spinal fractures)
- Cancer
- Adult cerebral palsy
- Terminal illness
- Chronic pain
- Neurological conditions
- Associated cognitive impairment
- Associated visual and hearing impairment
- Associated paediatric experience
Clinical Currency Statement
As at October 2023, I am engaged in the role of Community OT for Herefordshire & Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust for an average of 88 hours per month.
Specific Injuries Experience
Ruth manages a clinical caseload of people over the age of 18 years who have a wide range of long-term complex health and social needs. The majority of the individuals she works with present with injuries such as lower limb amputation, polytrauma (i.e., multi-orthopaedic injuries, joint replacements, limb weakness and spinal fractures), adult cerebral palsy, cancer and terminal illnesses. Ruth regularly works with people suffering from chronic pain (i.e., fibromyalgia, functional neurologic disorder and complex regional pain syndrome) and neurological conditions including stroke, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Many of her clients also present with associated health issues such as cognitive impairment, and visual/hearing impairments. Ruth is confident in commenting on these conditions when in conjunction with a primary injury as indicated above. Although Ruth predominantly works with adults, she also has some associated paediatric experience having worked with children from the age of 2 years, up to and including young people transitioning into adult services, who have high-level care needs due to conditions such as cerebral palsy and complex epilepsy.
Ruth has extensive experience in identifying and implementing specialist equipment, transportation recommendations and housing adaptations to help promote independence and support her client’s wider rehabilitation. She is also confident in identifying and making appropriate recommendations for care provision, aids and equipment for terminally ill clients requiring palliative or end-of-life support.
She is very detailed in her approach and evaluates all suitable options for her clients who are at different stages of their rehabilitation journey. Ruth takes into consideration the appropriateness of her client’s care needs and how they are managing daily tasks to identify any gaps in the care and support provision.
Employment Profile
Ruth’s senior role within a Housing, Adaptations and Specialist Equipment (HASE) service sees her carrying out comprehensive functional assessments and reviewing individuals with complex needs that require specialist intervention relating to housing, major and minor property adaptations and non-standard equipment. She routinely writes detailed, timely reports to evidence her clinical justification to support her recommendations in respect of her clients.
As part of her role, Ruth frequently liaises with the wider multi-disciplinary team and statutory services which gives her a good understanding when it comes to making reasonable recommendations and the funding implications.
Between May 2021 and August 2023, Ruth took a secondment opportunity within another HASE service which saw her leading a team of around 14 clinicians. In addition to her supervisory responsibilities, Ruth maintained a small caseload of the most challenging and complex clients.
Prior to moving into the HASE service, Ruth built her career on 20-plus years of working with injured people in a wide range of NHS and social care services. Assessing, implementing, and reviewing care intervention plans for people in acute, inpatient and community settings has given Ruth a solid basis for understanding the long-term needs of individuals who have suffered life-changing injuries.
Qualifications and Membership
- BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy, St. Loyes College of Occupational Therapy, Exeter (1995)
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Career History
Present
Care Expert Witness
Jacqueline Webb & Co Limited
2018 to Present
Band 6 Occupational Therapist – Housing, Adaptation and Specialist Equipment (HASE) OT Service, Droitwich
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust
May 2021 to August 2023 (secondment)
Band 7 Team Lead – Housing, Adaptation and Specialist Equipment (HASE) OT Service, Redditch & Bromsgrove
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust
May 2015 to February 2018
Inventor/Entrepreneur
NHS England funded project on the subject of ‘reducing falls through bed exit predictive technology’
2014 (4 months)
Disability PIP Assessor with Capita
May 2010 to May 2015
Occupational Therapist, In-patient rehabilitation wards at Pershore Community Hospital
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust
2009 to 2010
Occupational Therapist, Howbury Rehabilitation Unit, Malvern
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust
2008 to 2009
Return to practice and registration
2005 to 2008
Career break to raise family
2004 to 2005
Occupational Therapist, Promoting Independence Team, Kidderminster
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust
2000 to 2004
Occupational Therapist, Hospital at Home Team, Droitwich
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust
1999 to 200
Locum Occupational Therapist
Various Settings
1997 to 1999
Occupational Therapist, Cheltenham Social Services
Gloucestershire County Council
1995 to 1997
Occupational Therapist, Rotational Posts
Gloucester Royal Hospital