Joanne Kennedy

BSc

Functional Capacity Evaluation

Introduction
I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1993 in South Africa. Since qualification, I have gained extensive rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation and case management experience while employed in South Africa, the United States and Britain. I have worked in a variety of rehabilitation and hospital based settings, as well as within the public, private and insurance sectors. Areas of special interest / expertise include conducting functional capacity evaluations, workplace assessments, job demands analysis and ergonomic assessments. I specialise in the provision of functional evaluation, vocational rehabilitation and case management services. I have knowledge in evaluating and treating clients with medical, neurological, rheumatological and orthopaedic conditions including upper limb and hand conditions, and I am experienced in the multidisciplinary team approach.

My current role in Independent Practice is varied and includes the following:
♦ Conducting functional capacity evaluations to determine a client’s functional and work related capabilities and their ability to perform their own or other occupations. I am experienced in evaluating clients with occupations ranging from those of a lighter physical demand including solicitor and dentist to those of heavier physical demand including labourer, machine operator and engineer.
♦ Conducting workplace evaluations, job demands analysis and ergonomic assessments with advice on reasonable adjustments, equipment needs and redeployment options. I have conducted evaluations within a range of work settings including nuclear power station, veterinary practice, law firm, bank and accountancy practice.
♦ Experience as a case manager assisting clients with their rehabilitation and vocational needs, as well as liaising with claims handlers and solicitors as part of the case management process.
♦ Experience in developing, implementing, monitoring and graduating structured and goal orientated return to work programmes.
♦ Knowledge in liaising and negotiating with employers in order to explore redeployment options, facilitate reasonable work place adjustments and assist employees to return to work.
♦ Claims assessment process knowledge having being employed as a disability claims consultant.

In addition, I undertake medico-legal work and accept instructions from both Claimant and Defendant Solicitors and Insurers. I have undergone formal training in the medico-legal process and am fully aware of my responsibilities under the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) pertaining to Expert Witnesses.

Professional Affiliations
♦ British Association of Occupational Therapists
♦ United States National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy
♦ College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section – Independent Practice
♦ College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section – Work

Professional Education
Registration Number: HPC: OT27054
1994    United States National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
1993     BSc Occupational Therapy, University of Cape Town, South Africa