Registered General Nurse

Level 4 Managing Brain Injury (University of Northampton)

Certificate of Brain Injury Studies (University of Northampton)

Diploma in Professional Management Studies (Health & Social)

Certificate in Professional Management Studies (Health & Social)

ENB998Teaching and Assessing

Member of CMSUK

Member of BABICM

Caroline Knighton is a Registered General Nurse with extensive experience within the NHS, the private and the not-for-profit sector, specialising in catastrophic case management and complex health needs in the community.  She trained at Stoke Mandeville Hospital qualifying in 1992 and remained there until 1995,during which time she undertook further training in health promotion, teaching and assessing.  She gained experience across many specialties, including neurology (spinal and brain injury), amputation and general surgery. 

Whilst continuing to practise as a nurse, Caroline undertook part-time management studies in health and social care management and, following graduation, joined a private health organisation as business manager, contracted to the NHS at both UCLH and Wexham Park Hospitals.  She returned to the NHS in 1995, to Ealing Hospital, as clinical manager, based in the Admissions Department and taking part in the clinical duty manager rota.  She gained a great deal of experience in the discharge planning of patients and assessment of needs, ready for discharge, or transfer, in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT). 

During a break from clinical practice Caroline took on part-time health lecturing at Harlow College.  She undertook a ‘return to professional practice’ course at Anglia Ruskin University in 2006, which led her to take on the role of Director of Clinical Services at Disability Essex, a charity focused on re-enablement of adult and child clients following acquired disability, predominantly spinal, amputation and acquired brain injury.  The charity provided helplines and retraining to disabled clients as well as assisting them to access all services and facilities available to them.  Caroline also carried out needs assessments, wrote legal reports and project managed two  triple-award winning initiatives, much of which focused on young people with complex needs. These took services into the community to assist in reintegration of those isolated by health needs, psychological factors, poverty, geography or communication needs, as well as providing outreach preventative health care and monitoring and contracting services to PCTs.   

In 2012 Caroline moved to a case management role, assessing and planning packages of care for children and adults in the community with complex continuing healthcare needs, including acquired brain injury, amputation, ventilated tetraplegic spinal injury, clients with interventions such as tracheostomy or tube feeding and severely disabled clients.   Caroline carried out training for carers in the community to enable them to successfully and safely care for clients and ensured care was of a high standard, in addition to facilitating statutory training, such as moving and handling and basic life support.  She ensured that both care and associated documentation was CQC compliant and worked closely with the wider MDT.  After nearly two years, Caroline left this role to continue independent case management. Specialising in catastrophic injury with a case load consisting of adult and paediatric acquired brain injury, spinal and adult amputations, Caroline optimises her clients’ opportunities for rehabilitation and, where possible, facilitates return to work or study if appropriate.  Caroline is experienced in PI and medical negligence claims. 

Over the course of her case management career, Caroline has attended numerous study days and conferences covering neurological and amputation disciplines and has also completed Northampton University Certificate in Brain Injury Studies. Caroline is registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, is a member of CMSUK and BABICM. She was a finalist in the CMSUK Case Manager of the Year awards in 2019 and awarded ‘highly commended’.