“Since qualifying as an Occupational Therapist in 1997, I have worked with adults, children and babies with a wide variety of medical conditions and in different settings: special schools, hospitals, the community and the workplace.

 For the last 5 years I have worked at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital (GOSH) as the lead Occupational Therapist for the Haematology/Oncology service, treating babies and children with complex medical conditions.   I have also worked in many other areas within the hospital: Intensive Care, Orthopaedics, Neurology and Neurodisability outpatients. I now work at GOSH on an Ad hoc basis.

My experience has given me a very wide variety of experience. It has enabled me to gain skills in assessing and treating children with very complex needs, working with families at very sensitive times and working as a team member, as well as service development. Many adults and children I have assessed and treated have neurological conditions both acquired and congenital chronic and acute, mild neurological impairment to patients in persistent vegetative state.

Through my career,  I have gained the following skills: wheelchair and special seating assessment and prescription, upper limb splinting, driving assessments, workplace assessments, ergonomics, assessment and treatment of the minimally conscious patient, assessment and treatment of children with a hemiplegia, assessment and treatment of babies with suspected neurological impairment, assessment of children with visual impairment, assessment and treatment of children with autism, sensory processing difficulties and dyspraxia. I have used a number of standardized assessments for children.
I have continued my professional development by undertaking different courses both relevant to adults and children and been involved in writing a guidance document ‘Children with cancer – a guide for Occupational Therapists’.

I have worked abroad and I have also set up and run a small charitable trust, The Little Bubbles Charitable Trust, which helps children with special needs and their families in Sri Lanka. These opportunities given me skills to work with limited resources and to understand cultural differences.”

Annabelle is a private Occupational Therapist covering kent, London and the South East areas.

For more information or to arrange a free consultation call 01892 704065 or email info@inclusion.me.uk.