ABOUT US
What is Neurological Occupational Therapy (OT)?
Neurological OTs support the rehabilitation process assisting those clients and their families, affected by life changing acquired injuries such as brain injury, spinal cord injury and Stroke, and progressive neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, to establish a new version of normal life. They can assess for any equipment and adaptations required to facilitate independence in daily living tasks. OTs work with the client to manage issues impacting their day-to-day functioning, reducing symptoms, such as fatigue and anxiety, cognitive and memory difficulties or facilitating a client’s return to work, improving overall client wellbeing.
Sam Smith, Managing Director and Occupational Therapist
Sam Smith is a registered Occupational Therapist (OT) with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT). Graduating with a BSc (Hons) in 1996 and achieving her MSc in Neuromusculoskeletal Healthcare in 2005. She is highly skilled OT with over three decades of qualified experience. The past 27 years have been specialising in neurological rehabilitation and major trauma rehabilitation, in both NHS acute/ specialised rehabilitation settings and independent practice.
Her experience includes assessing and treating adults and children with complex long term neurological conditions/ disabilities. She has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in neurological injury/illness over many years as clinical specialist OT in the NHS and private sector. More recently enhancing her spinal management skills as the Advanced Clinical Practitioner for Spines in a busy Major Trauma Centre. Sam founded Staffordshire Neurological OT Services (NOTS) in 2022 and has worked full time as the Principal Occupational Therapist from April 2023.
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- Holder of Enhanced DBS certificate
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- Member of RCOT and specialist sections.
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- Registered OT with HCPC
Rachel Miles, Associate Occupational Therapist - Neuro-Rehabilitation
Rachel Miles has 19 years' experience working in occupational therapy. Clinical experience in ten different areas of clinical practice, as well as experience of interdisciplinary team working to develop new service pathways and competency frameworks within the NHS.
She specalises in:
TBI, ABI, Post-Traumatic Amnesia (PTA),
Hypoxic HI & Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness (PDoC)
Specialist fabrication & application of bespoke thermoplastic neurological
Splints and neurological soft casts to support management of spasticity.
If you would like a copy of her CV, please contact admin@staffordshirenots.co.uk
Claire Simpson, Associate Occupational Therapist - Neuro (Paediatric)
Claire is a highly skilled and experienced occupational therapist with a specialist background in neurological occupational therapy. During a career break, she gained valuable experience in early years education, which has since enriched her return to occupational therapy practice.
Claire completed her return to practice with Staffordshire NOTS, primarily working within two of their specialist SEN schools. Since regaining her HCPC registration, she has successfully developed and led occupational therapy services at a newly established independent SEN school, supporting children with Autism, ADHD, and Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Her ‘Ready Steady OT’ programme received commendation from OFSTED for its innovative and impactful approach.
In addition to service development, Claire has delivered training for teaching staff, mentored therapy assistants, and provided occupational therapy assessments, reports, and interventions for paediatric clients in both private and case-managed settings.
Earlier in her career, Claire worked extensively with adults with complex, long-term neurological conditions and disabilities, providing assessment and treatment across both inpatient and community settings.
If you would like a copy of her CV, please contact admin@staffordshirenots.co.uk
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OUR SERVICES
What we do.
At Staffordshire NOTS we are passionate about providing high quality, client centred Occupational Therapy.
We provide assessment and bespoke rehabilitation programmes for both adults and paediatrics, with neurological disorders. OT interventions are completed in the client’s home, community, workplace, educational or leisure facility as required.
Based on the North Staffordshire/South Cheshire border, we cover a wide geographical area including The Midlands, North-West, Mid and North Wales.
• Multidisciplinary Neurological Rehabilitation
• Functional Rehabilitation using Bobath Normal Movement Principles
• Neurological Splinting and Casting
• Cognitive deficit assessment and Treatment
• Fatigue Management
• Anxiety Management
• Environmental Assessment
• Activities of Daily Living assessment
• Falls assessment and prevention management.
• Assessment for Specialist equipment
- • Wheelchair assessment
• Neurogenic bladder and bowel management
• Functional assessment and treatment using Sensory Processing Principles
• SMART Goal setting
Upper Limb Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)
Patients, Carers
Parents
Case Managers
Solicitors
Expert Witness
Reports
Conditions we treat.
There is no physical condition that Staffordshire NOTS are unable to offer an Occupational Therapy environmental or activities of daily living assessment for. We specialise in the assessment and treatment of neurological conditions. If you are unable to see the relevant diagnosis below, please contact to discuss how Staffordshire NOTS can help you.
SUDDEN ONSET
Traumatic /Acquired/ Hypoxic Brain Injury
Spinal Cord Injury
Cauda Equina Syndrome
Stroke
Guillain Barre Syndrome
Long Covid
Post-Concussion Syndrome
Complex Polytrauma
Transverse Myelitis
PROGRESSIVE
Multiple Sclerosis
Parkinson’s Disease
Cervical Myelopathy
Dementia
STABLE
Cerebral Palsy
Disorders of Sensory Processing
Ataxia
Autism
ADHD
Developmental Coordination Disorder