Independent Living Solutions - $cm_name
Jan Forwood
Based
Chelmsford, Essex
Overview
Jan qualified as an Occupational Therapist in July 1987 from the Essex School of Occupational Therapy. Since then Jan has gained wide experience working with people of all ages with varied types of disability. Jan has particular experience in social care and paediatrics within the NHS, Social Care and Private Sector Case Management, as well as working with children who have severe and complex disabilities particularly cerebral palsy.
Employment History
June 2009 - Present Independent Living Solutions Case Manager
March 2008-Date Band 7 Community Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Working from a child development centre as a community OT in Havering AFPO an outer London area covering a caseload of children with severe disability and complex needs within a special school for children with PMLD. Jan also has a small caseload of under 5's with a range of neurological disorders for whom she provides hands on play sessions. The role involves working in an area where many of the families experience social deprivation with poor housing and complex social issues.
November 2006-March 2008 Social Care Paediatric Occupational Therapist
Hertfordshire County Council as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist working in social care organising equipment and adaptations for children with complex needs within the community.
March 2002-November 2005 Paediatric Case Manager
Independent Living Solutions working as a Case Manager carrying a caseload of children predominantly with severe cerebral palsy and brain injury.
Achievements included:
Finding suitable housing and arranging adaptation for several families. Managing care teams, arranging training, supervision and appraisal of carers workingalongside parents to ensure a chiId-centred package to meet families needs.
Successfully supporting a child through the appeal/tribunal process of the Statement of Educational Need to obtain recognition and funding for an appropriate school placement.
Attending the High Court in London representing the family to secure a settlement which covered the childs care needs.
Co-ordinating a joint funded multi agency package of care bringing together services from the NHS, social care and the voluntary sector to provide the level of care required by the family. Provision of regular hands on OT which was organised to facilitate play sessions which were run by a care team.
Becoming an advanced member of BABICM.
Summer 2005- Self employed Occupational Therapist
Essex County Council CSCI Reports, provision of assessment reports on a range of residential homes to ensure Essex County County Council met CSCI requirements and liaison with equipment suppliers to source equipment as necessary to meet care standards.
November 1999- February 2005 Social Services Occupational Therapist
Essex County Council Social Services organising adaptations and equipment for a range of clients from birth to old age with a special interest in paediatrics.
February 1997-August 1997 Senior 1 OT
Highwood Hospital Brentwood at working in a small multidisciplinary team with stroke patients.
September 1992- September 1994 Senior 1 Community Paediatric OT
Moulsham Grange Childrens Centre Chelmsford working in PMLD schools and a school for children with physical disability.
April 1989-September 1992 Senior 11, then Senior 1 OT
Broomfield Hospital Chelmsford working in General Medicine and Orthopeadics.
September 1987-April 1989 Senior 11 OT
Southend General Hospital. Covering a caseload in Rheumatology and Oncology.
September 1982- September 1987 Occupational Therapy Technician/ Studen
Mid Essex Hospitals Chelmsford Essex working in a rotational post through general medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, care of the elderly.
Professional
Jan has attended courses on seating and positioning, manual handling, sensory integration with babies and small children. Jan has recently completed a post graduate certificate in occupational therapy distance learning at Derby and is now working on a post graduate diploma at Brunel. Member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists and the Health Professions Council.
Member of BABICM (British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers)
Areas of Work
Case management and occupational therapy with children and adults with physical disability and complex needs.
Geographical areas covered
Essex, East London, Kent, Hertfordshire, Suffolk and areas accessible from Stansted Airport.
