Kirsty Barlow, Care/Occupational Therapist
Qualifications
BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy
Specialisms
General Medicine & Surgery, Neurology, Stroke, Orthopaedics & Lower Limb
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Professional Experience
I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1997 from University of Northumbria. Experience to date has been across a broad range of clinical areas within the NHS developing specialist clinical skills within acute medicine, neurology, surgery and elderly care. I am currently a Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist in a large multidisciplinary medical team in a busy city centre teaching hospital. I work and manage staff across a wide variety of acute clinical areas including emergency care, renal, gastroenterology, surgery, respiratory, elderly care and complex needs. This involves assessment of physical and cognitive deficits to plan for discharge, I consider the immediate and future needs of patients, liaise with other health professionals, identify rehabilitation potential, environmental assessments, provision of equipment and make recommendations for care support and ongoing needs in particular taking the lead on complex discharges.
I have worked at a specialist level within acute medicine, care of the elderly, stroke and emergency medicine throughout my career so have extensive condition knowledge and can confidently assess for the impact of conditions on an individuals occupations and quality of life whether young or old. My work has involved writing reports for environmental assessments and to justify equipment and adaptations.
Working both in a managerial and clinical role requires good leadership, time management and communication skills which are critical in any role. In my management role, I am responsible for the day to day management of the team involving staffing, absence management, appraisals, training, complaints and recruitment of band 5 staff across the whole trust. I am also lead for AHPs in safeguarding which requires higher level representation and timely dissemination of information across the organisation. Daily I support the site management team and local care organisation with complex discharges to ensure patient flow from within the trust into the community.
Professional Development
I maintain my professional development and HCPC standards by attending relevant training.
Medico Legal Experience
I 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 Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) pertaining to expert witnesses.