The OT Service is led by Kate, Adam, Samantha and Lucy who are highly respected occupational therapists in their respective fields and continue to hold clinical caseloads to maintain an in-depth knowledge in their area of practice.
Directors
Kate Sheehan
Director & Occupational Therapist
Kate qualified from Derby School of Occupational Therapy in 1987.
Kate is a well-respected occupational therapist, with over 30 years of experience. She is the former chairperson and treasurer of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists specialist section – Housing (COTSS – H) and represented the Royal College of Occupational Therapists in Europe. Kate chaired the genHOME research project working on the evidence base for housing modifications.
Kate has worked in partnership with Bristol University on the publication of ‘Minor adaptations without delay’, funded by the Housing Corporation and Royal College of Occupational Therapists, co-authored the new 2018 edition of the Wheelchair Housing Design Guide and wrote two chapters of the “Essential Guide for Newly Qualified Occupational Therapists’.
She has presented her work on inclusive design and housing standards at the World Federation of Occupational Therapists in Sydney, Australia, COTEC in Milan and at the RCOTSS-H conference. She has also developed and taught on the first accessible housing course in Croatia and Bosnia.
Kate is a member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist sections – Independent Practice and Housing as well as being registered with the Health Care Professionals Council. She maintains a high level of professional development and feels the key to providing her clients with an excellent service is maintaining close networks within the commercial, housing and occupational therapy fields.
In her spare time Kate supports the local primary school in maintaining their wild gardens and is a campaigner for excellent education for all.
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Adam Ferry
Graduating in 2007 with an Occupational Therapy BSc, Adam worked in the NHS until he left in 2018 to work full-time in the private sector as a director of The OT Service, although there was a two – year period when these roles overlapped.
Whist in the NHS Adam worked in a range of clinical areas but predominantly emergency care, then neurological rehabilitation as a senior therapist. In the final 3 years of NHS employment Adam managed acute and rehabilitation services across four sites.
Over recent years Adam has continued to develop a clinical reputation within neurological rehabilitation and falls, holding a complex caseload supporting case managers and their clients. However, it is within commercial consultancy that Adam has developed his national and international profile, being responsible for development of The OT Show CPD programme as well as expert consultancy for high profile companies such as AKW, Closomat, Invacare, Mangar International and Abacus Healthcare.
Adam is a member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists and the College of Occupational Therapists Specialist sections – Independent Practice and Older People as well as being registered with the Health Care Professionals Council (OT52788)
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Samantha Shann
Director
Samantha qualified in 1992 as an occupational therapist and gained her masters in 2011. She also holds a post-graduate teaching qualification in academic practice. Samantha is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) and a member of RCOT’s specialist sections – Older Persons and Mental Health as well as being registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council.
Samantha’s clinical speciality centres on those with mental health concerns, while her wider role with The OT Service involves supervision and mentoring as well as consultancy to businesses focusing on training and occupational therapy expertise.
Samantha is the president of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). She is committed to promoting and advocating for the profession by supporting the development of professional standards and new educational programmes.
Until 2016 Samantha held the position of senior lecturer at Northumbria University overseeing aspects of the BSc (Hons) and MSc (pre-registration) occupational therapy programmes, with a particular interest in supporting students and graduates in developing new services. Samantha remains a regular guest lecturer at various national and international universities.
Through her work with the WFOT Samantha represents the occupational therapy profession at high-level World Health Organisation (WHO) meetings and contributes to specific WHO projects for example the GATE (Global Assistive Technology) initiative, Rehabilitation 2030 and Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP). Samantha is also a founding board member for the International Society for Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP).
Samantha is a sought after speaker at national and international conferences sharing her expertise on promoting professional identity and establishing occupational therapy services.
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Lucy Leonard
Occupational Therapist
Qualified to master’s level, Lucy graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 1999 and worked in acute mental health as well as rehabilitation for people with enduring mental health problems. She then went on to work in a community setting where she developed extensive skills in equipment and adaptations for adults with complex, long-term and neurological conditions.
In recent years, Lucy has worked as a specialist occupational therapist and having owned her own business providing expert occupational therapy she is now a director at The OT Service. Lucy has also worked as a consultant occupational therapist for several UK-based companies to advise on their new products as well as working with the Disabled Living Foundation Charity to develop their website.
Lucy has delivered lectures on integrated working and has spoken to academics at Sheffield Hallam on integration to support their new ‘integrated curriculum’ and was subsequently invited as the key-note speaker at the Inter-professional Education Conference. Lucy has appeared on BBC’s ‘Breakfast’ television to discuss innovative practice and has been interviewed on Radio 4’s ‘World at One’ regarding integrated working. She is an external examiner and guest lecturer at Sheffield Hallam and Salford Universities and also assesses undergraduate medical students at The University of Liverpool.
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Office Team
Our clients, partners and associates are fully supported by a skilled team of office staff, Brian, Lisa and Jill, ensuring a high-quality service in line with OT Service values.
Brian Trotter
Practice Manager
Brian has a wide variety of experiences to draw on in his role as Practice Manager. He graduated in 1997 from The University of Brighton with a Ba (Hons) in Physical and Business Education. He spent some time in London fitness instructing and sports coaching before re-locating to the North East, setting up his own business with the help of the Prince’s Trust.
As personal and professional circumstances changed Brian moved into an 14 year healthcare career, firstly with the ambulance service and latterly in an NHS Acute Occupational Therapy service as a Technical Instructor. He is now our full-time Practice Manager and brings a committed and creative approach to the service we provide.
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Lisa Herron
Clinical Co-ordinator
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Jill Straker
Administrator
Jill began working for The OT Service in 2020 following 30 years of work in statutory services. She brings a wealth of experience from a variety of administrative and secretarial roles, many in the NHS and thus has a huge understanding of the healthcare sector and the importance of effective administration.
Jill has helped The OT Service go from strength to strength and she is the first port of call for referrals, associate queries and general enquiries.
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Associates
Aimee Crane
Occupational Therapist
Aimee qualified as an occupational therapist in 2009 and has since specialised in the field of adult physical disability. Her clinical experience includes dementia, chronic respiratory conditions, chronic cardiac conditions, rheumatology, trauma and orthopaedics, cancer, diabetes and various neurological conditions. In 2016, Aimee begun working as an independent occupational therapist. Her independent practice has given her the opportunity to support clients following traumatic injuries including orthopaedic injuries and traumatic brain injuries. She uses goal setting to enable clients to be as independent as possible and works closely with clients, carers and family members to offer her expertise and deliver the best possible outcomes.
Following thorough assessment, Aimee makes recommendations to reduce physical barriers and maximise her client’s independence and safety. Within her clinical practice, Aimee has gained significant experience in social care assessment, advising various local authorities on the implementation of care packages for clients living in the community, including direct payments, home care packages, day care, sitting services and long-term care including residential or nursing home placements. She has extensive experience in housing, equipment and adaptations, and has worked for two large housing associations to ensure best use of housing stock. Aimee has gained skills in delivering specific programmes including fatigue management, vocational rehabilitation, pain management and bespoke specialist rehabilitation.
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Joanna Glossop
Occupational Therapist
Joanna graduated from York St John University in 1999. She is a highly experienced occupational therapist and has worked in both the NHS and the private healthcare sector. She is a very motivated professional who aims to provide the best possible care to those she works with. Her experiences include neurology, orthopaedics and physical rehabilitation.
Through her clinical pursuits Joanna has developed notable skills in assessment, goal setting, treatment and the evaluation of client progress. She is a particular advocate of SMART goals and puts great value in the outcome measures COPM and FIM to review progress. She has extensive experience of standardised assessments, particularly for cognitive and perceptual issues.
Joanna’s experiences have allowed her to develop skills in carer and relative training with regards to equipment use, moving and handling and communication aids. Alongside manual handling, Joanna’s specific areas of expertise can be listed as pressure and posture management; upper limb management; cognitive rehabilitation and vocational rehabilitation.
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Fiona Leeming
Occupational Therapist
Fiona is a highly specialised occupational therapist with 14 years’ experience working in a variety of clinical settings including adult rehabilitation, condition management and paediatrics.
Recently working in paediatrics with children and young adults who present with a wide variety of needs including those with chronic, complex, disabling and life-limiting conditions, Fiona also has experience working within the community setting providing therapy within homes and schools. She works closely with childrens’ family or care givers, allied health professionals, education staff and social care to ensure a holistic approach, regularly supporting with the transition between services.
Fiona specialises in providing comprehensive assessments, including specialist standardised assessments, treatments and therapeutic interventions and promotes dignity and independence with daily living activities by engaging in play and fulfilling meaningful roles. She has comprehensive experience in prescribing standard and specialist adaptive equipment, postural management, manual handling and assessing for housing adaptations. In addition, she is skilled in upper limb splinting and the use of orthosis to facilitate function.
Fiona is passionate about occupational therapy and how this can enhance independence. She finds her job extremely rewarding and feels lucky to have the opportunity to work with such amazing children and adults in her role.
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Amy Gibbs
Occupational Therapist
Amy qualified in 2004 from Coventry University. She has 14 years clinical experience working within both health and social care statutory services and has worked within the private sector since. She also has experience working in the field of personal independence payment, local authority parking and concessionary travel for both physical and hidden disabilities.
Amy works with clients of all ages and varying health needs, predominantly those with physical health conditions but often additional needs such as sensory, mental health or cognitive impairment. She has specialist skills and knowledge relating to equipment needs, tele-care, minor and major adaptation, specialist equipment, complex manual handling, rehousing needs, and new-build housing
As with all our therapists, Amy is registered with the Health Care Professions Council and is a member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists. She is also a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist sections – Independent Practice and Housing.
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Testimonials
Hear what our team has to say about us.