Helen S...

About Helen

Helen is an experienced HCPC Registered Occupational Therapist with a strong focus on providing person centred assessments and targeted solutions to maximise client independence and the ability of carers to continue to provide care at home. Helen has an analytical approach to problem solving, working efficiently to find creative and innovative solutions to match individual needs.

Helen has a broad range of experience working with clients and their carers within their own homes. Helen is experienced in adapting properties, from minor adaptations to complex building extensions and new housing projects in both social and private sector housing. She has a thorough understanding of relevant legislation. She is able to draw sketch plans of existing property layouts and proposed adaptations, is skilled in writing detailed recommendations for adaptations and works collaboratively with clients, technical officers, surveyors and architects to overcome environmental and cost challenges to adaptations.

Where a property cannot be adapted, Helen is able to provide a thorough assessment of housing need and write a detailed re-housing report defining essential features of required accommodation. Helen is experienced in viewing properties and providing advice about the suitability of a property for a specific client or its suitability for adaptation.

Helen has a wide knowledge of OT equipment for home use. She is skilled in assessing for and prescribing specialist and bespoke equipment, providing detailed clinical reasoning, including functional positioning and postural needs advice, to support equipment recommendations. Helen is competent to demonstrate and practise equipment use with clients and carers to enable them to develop skills to promote safety and independence and maintain care at home. Helen is able to assess for essential hoisting equipment and slings and demonstrate safe moving and handling practises to clients and carers.

In recent years Helen has specialised in working with children whilst maintaining her skills in working with adults. Helen is skilled in using interpreters across a range of languages and cultures and aware of the affect this can have an on assessment process.