
Karen Smith
Specialisms:
Professional Qualifications & Memberships
- Health Care Professions Council Registered.
- Royal College of Occupational Therapy.
- Specialis tSections: Independent Practice, Housing.
- Member of Multidisciplinary Association of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals.
- Member of Posture& Mobility Group.
- Member of British Association of Brain Injury & Complex Case Management.
- Member of Case Management Society UK.
Profile
Prior to working as a Case Manager, I practiced as a highly experienced and senior Occupational Therapist. I graduated from Brunel University in 2014 with a Masters (preregistration) in Occupational Therapy; I also have a Bachelors in Psychology. I have worked in the Public Social Care sector, mainly working with adults and older adults who have had a range of physical disabilities including but not limited to neurological, brain, cognitive, musculoskeletal, rheumatological, cardiac, cancer, and obesity.
I have worked at a senior level, training and supervising non-qualified and qualified staff. Prior to commencing case management, and whilst working as an independent practitioner, I worked with multiple spinal cord injury, brain injury, and amputee clients working closely with case managers and solicitors and preparing reports for litigation. I have extensive adult basic and complex equipment needs, including seating and postural management, moving and handling, adaptation, and functional rehabilitation experience.
I am particularly skilled in providing advice on a range of equipment needs to people with complex physical and neurological disabilities and especially enjoy specifying major adaptation work to make the home environment meet the clients’ and their family's needs.
I understand the litigation process and my duties under the Civil Procedure Rules pertaining to expert witnesses and Part 35. Fundamental to my work as an expert witness is my consistent and fair approach, utilising my advanced skill set and building upon my philosophy of delivering a high standard of safe, equitable and effective care for all.
Professional Experience
- OT/Director- Occupational Matters
- Associate Case Manager - CCM Services Ltd
- Associate Case Manager - COOCI Associates LLP
- Associate OT - SHA Disability Ltd
- Associate OT - The OT Practice
- Locum OT -Tripods Partners
- OT – Serco Global Services