I’m Katie and I live by the coast in the North Tyneside with my husband, two children and two cats (Sam and Peanut Butter – named by the children!). I’m proud to be an Occupational Therapist working across private practice, the NHS, and as an Expert Witness. I qualified with an MSc in Occupational Therapy in 2010 and, having completed an initial rotation, chose to specialise in paediatrics which is my real passion. I love being able to support children and their families to engage in the daily activities that are meaningful to them. Outside of work I love spending time with my family, being on the beach and going on long bike rides.
Areas of Specialism
In my NHS role I lead on the Early Years pathway, supporting children from birth to
five years with their development. I have extensive experience working with children
with physical disabilities and ensuring the environment meets their needs. As part of
my NHS role I have also worked into the Under 5 Autism assessment service and
supported families with advice and sign-posting post-diagnosis. I enjoy working
collaboratively with families and often use an evidence-based coaching approach to
empower families to identify strategies to support their children. I also have a strong
interest in feeding having completed the Sensory Oral Sequential feeding course in
2017 and being involved in setting up a community feeding service when working in
London.
List of Training
- Foundations of Sensory Integration
- Sensory Oral Sequential approach to feeding
- Assisting Hand Assessment (for children with cerebral palsy)
- Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development
- Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance
- Occupational Performance Coaching
Occupational Performance Coaching
Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) is a collaborative, family-centred
approach used to support parents in achieving meaningful goals for their children in
everyday life. Through guided conversation, reflective questioning, and practical
problem-solving, it can help people build confidence, develop strategies, and
overcome barriers that may affect participation in daily activities such as self-care,
learning, work, play, or leisure activities. OPC encourages families to identify their
own priorities and create sustainable solutions that fit within their environments and
routines. OPC works best to support parents/carers of children between 2 years and
10 years, regardless of the child’s diagnosis, to find achievable strategies to support
their development.