• Registered Nurse Learning Disabilities (RNLD)
• NVQ Assessors Award
• Manual Handling Trainers Course
• Palliative Care Diploma
• A18 (Clinical Nurse Specialist)
• ENB 998 – Teaching and Assessing in Clinical Practice
• NVQ Level 4
• Registered Care Managers Award
• Counselling Diploma
• BSC (Hons) Palliative Care

A Registered Nurse (RNLD) with 40 years’ experience working within a variety of both NHS and private settings.

My nursing experience includes working with learning disability, brain injury, other central nervous system disorders, mental health disorders, spinal cord injuries neurological/genetic disorders; this incorporates working with children, young adults and the elderly. My varied experience over the years has equipped me with the necessary knowledge and skills. I am able to assess the needs of a diverse client group.

I was actively involved in the opening and managing of a specialised provision catering for younger clients from 18 years of age suffering from chronic neurological conditions, acquired brain injury and challenging behaviour. This included those with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Asperger’s, as well as other rarer syndromes.

My work has included specifically caring for those with a palliative care diagnosis and life limiting illness. Specific skills include pain and symptom management and holistic care. I am able to provide support and counselling to both the patient and their wider family.

I have extensive experience in assessment planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care. I am a member of BABICM and the Royal College of Nursing.

I worked as senior manager for over 13 years within the independent sector. This resulted in the development of excellent communications and interpersonal skills with clients, colleagues and fellow professionals.

I have been writing and submitting reports as part of multidisciplinary teams involved in the management of complex packages of clients either coming into care or on-going management with resource allocation required to meet the needs of this client group.

I represented my company, as a senior manager, nationwide, in raising the profile and needs of complex care packages involving brain injury clients.

When working as a Case Manager for eight years, I was involved in implementing, assessing, co-ordinating and monitoring complex care packages involving brain injury clients and their families.

As an Independent Expert Witness for the past 13 years, I receive approximately 45-50 new referrals each year.  I have experience of giving evidence in Court both in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

General Background

A Registered Nurse (RNLD) with 40 years’ experience working within a variety of NHS, community and private settings.  I have in the past been actively involved in the provision of specialised case management for those suffering from chronic neurological conditions, acquired brain injury and challenging behaviours. Whilst working in the independent sector I was involved in the setting up and managing of a specialist unit, which was the first in the local area. The unit provided care for clients with acquired brain injury, neurological conditions, palliative and life limiting illness.

For many years, I was involved in the learning disability palliative care focus group which involved the implementation of guidelines, policies and procedures specifically for those with learning disabilities who had a palliative diagnosis.

In 2004, I was involved in researching palliative care experiences of those in a nursing home setting especially with regards to pain and symptom management, with Kings College Hospital in London.

In 2007, I was involved in research with the palliative care network services in Birmingham. This included establishing a supportive care pathway document to consider the longer-term care needs of those with life limiting illness. The document was devised to support those with palliative and terminal illness throughout their journey. I had been a palliative care link nurse for many years, and as such I have dealt with many professionals and specialists within the area of palliative and terminal care.

Having undertaken a counselling course, which was invaluable in understanding the psychological needs of the client and their wider families, I attained a diploma in palliative care, which led me to undertaking my degree, which I was awarded in 2008.

I have implemented the pathway into the independent sector for younger clients with life limiting illness, and developed audit tools to assess the effectiveness of the pathway from the clients, families and staff perspective.

I have been responsible for educating and training staff, both qualified and non-qualified, in the principles of palliative care, which included pain and symptom management, bereavement and the provision of holistic care to both the client and their families.

I have experience in assessing/planning and delivering care in the Hospital environment, community settings and the private sector for clients with Acquired brain injury, Complex care needs, Chronic neurological conditions, Learning disabilities, Palliative care needs, and Pain and symptom management.

In addition, I have experience of day-to-day management of staff in respect of Teaching/training, Audit and quality to meet national initiatives and implementation of care packages with on-going assessment of needs.

I am a member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Royal College of Nursing, Headway and BABICM – British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers. I have undertaken the Bond Solon Expert Witness Court Room Skills Training course, and prepared quantum reports in; Life Limiting Illness, Orthopaedic Injury, Neurology, Genetic Disorders in Children, Birth injury, Cerebral Palsy, Non-accidental Injury, Vascular Disease, Traumatic Brain Injury, Acquired Brain Injury, Industrial Disease, Chronic Pain Syndromes and Pain and Symptom management.

I have an on-going commitment to the regular attendance of relevant seminars and conferences to maintain and update my expertise, as well as reading research and nursing journals pertinent to my area of expertise.