Janice Muradzikwa

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy

Specialisms

Adults with long term mental health conditions including, dementia, depression, anxiety & PTSD

Introduction

I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2012 from Brunel University and have spent most of my career working across different sectors, including functional rehabilitation, neurorehabilitation, and specialising in mental health with both working-age and older adults.

I have significant experience in completing occupational therapy assessments and treatment of adults and older adults in their own homes, care homes, or supported/extra sheltered accommodation. The patients I work with have various mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, mild cognitive impairments, dementia, bipolar disorder, emotionally unstable personality disorders, and eating disorders. Additionally, they often present with physical health difficulties such as chronic fatigue, chronic pain, Parkinson's disease, arthritic conditions, and reduced mobility, which puts them at risk of falls.

My role involves assessing how these conditions impact their ability to function, determining suitable accommodation, and suggesting aids or adaptations to enable independent living. I also complete safety assessments following a dementia diagnosis, fall risk assessments, and recommend or review current care packages.

I have gained an excellent understanding and working knowledge of the Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation through assessing mental state, completing risk assessments, raising safeguarding enquiries, de-escalating service users, and working with service users in crisis.

In my current clinical role, I work as a bank occupational therapist across Bedfordshire, supporting patients aged 18 and above with a range of mental health conditions. I help service users manage complex mental health conditions by planning and running intervention groups on inpatient wards, completing functional assessments of mental and physical deficits, and recommending bespoke care and support packages to enhance independence. Additionally, I advise on housing and adaptations to meet physical and mental health needs, conduct complex functional assessments with older adults with cognitive impairments in various settings, and recommend ongoing therapeutic interventions to increase occupational independence.

Furthermore, I am a qualified CBT therapist, which allows me to provide cognitive behavioural therapy to support my patients' mental health needs effectively.

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.