Joanna Barnes

Based

Tonbridge Area, Kent

Overview

Joanna qualified in 1981 as an Occupational Therapist from Dorset House School of Occupational Therapy in Oxford.

She has wide experience of working as a therapist in varied settings and specialisms. Her areas of particular clinical interest are children young people and their families.

Jo has considerable experience in working with, leading and training multidisciplinary teams both as an Occupational Therapist since 1981 and Case Manager since she first joined Independent Living Solutions Limited (ILS) in 2002.

She is also one of the Professional Mentors for the staff at ILS since 2007.

Employment

April 2002 to present

Paediatric Case Manager for with ILS.
Professional Mentor for other ILS Case Managers since 2007.

Dec 2000 to present

Independent Living Assessor (ILA) for large health insurance company
Jo has carried out immediate needs assessments, set up care packages, arranged the trial and purchase of equipment as appropriate, dealt with funding issues and offered ongoing professional support for young adult and elderly customers and their carers within the South East.

1995 – 2002

Senior Practitioner and Occupational Therapy Services Manager, Social Services
During this period, Jo’s increasing experience resulted in promotion finally to the role of team manager, involving the management, supervision and training of the professional and support staff team as well as holding a small complex clinical caseload.

1987 – 1993

Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Working in a Child Development Centre with children age 0-19. Children were seen within the centre, schools – special and mainstream and at home. The children had a wide range of disabilities from mild developmental delay to severe learning, physical and sensory difficulties.

1984 – June 1987

Social Services Occupational Therapist, Brighton
Working mainly with frail and elderly clients in their own home providing equipment and recommendations for major and minor home adaptations within the public and private housing sector.

1982 – 1984

Occupational Therapist, Chase Village, Enfield
Working in a residential unit for Adults with Learning Disabilities who had been institutionalised from an early age and working on independence skills, social and self care skills, prior to them moving into small community sheltered housing units.

1981 – 1982

Paediatric Occupational Therapist, Chailey Heritage School & Hospital, East Sussex
Working with severely disabled children and their families at school and in their home setting.

Professional

• Member BAOT (British Association of Occupational Therapists)
• Member of BABICM (British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers)
• Member of CMSUK (Case Management Society for United Kingdom)
• Member of College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section - Independent Practice (previously OTIP).

Areas of Work

Case Management and Occupational Therapy for children with acquired brain injury as well as children with cerebral palsy. Assessment and provision of equipment and home adaptations, setting up and managing care packages including 24 hour care teams.

Geographical Areas Covered

Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex, South East and East London.