Jo is an Occupational Therapist, gaining an honours degree in Occupational Therapy at York in 1995, and is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. Since qualifying, Jo has gained in-depth experience working with children and adults with complex physical disabilities.
Jo’s first post at Queen Mary’s Hospital Roehampton was rotational and enabled her to gain experience in orthopaedics, mental health, general medical and learning disabilities. Jo then moved to a post within Surrey Social Services, working on addressing the equipment and housing needs of individuals. Her work with clients with a physical disability continued at Wexham Park Hospital, where she was responsible for the provision of the occupational therapy service to two surgical wards, as well as management of the service on the orthopaedic wards. Jo’s work on these wards was centred around the rehabilitation of amputees, and she created a community rehabilitation service for lower limb amputees aimed at improving access to work, social and leisure opportunities.
Following a move to Worcestershire, Jo continued to work in the community assessing both children and adults with complex and long-term disabilities in relation to their equipment, environmental, rehabilitation and education/ work needs. This post led her to work with adults and children with head injuries, spinal injuries, progressive neurological conditions, orthopaedic conditions, sensory disabilities and learning disabilities.
Jo moved into independent practice in 2005 providing comprehensive assessments, advice and training for a variety of statutory and charitable organisations; following two years as a case manager, Jo moved into expert witness work in 2007 and has continued this to date. In 2012, Jo returned to the statutory sector and was therapy manager, then principal OT, at Wolverhampton City Council. During her time there, Jo was responsible for the Occupational Therapy and Sensory Impairment Teams and, prior to a move to a Home Improvement agency, Jo also managed the Adaptations and Assistive Technology teams alongside the Community Equipment Store. Within this role, Jo led the therapists undertaking complex care reviews and regularly assessed individuals with extensive health and social care needs herself, alongside reviewing care assessments and recommendations of social work colleagues. Since leaving Wolverhampton in 2023, Jo has undertaken a Midlands-wide project for NHS England, and she is currently responsible for three Occupational Therapy outsourced projects using therapy staff to undertake care reviews and assessments.