Qualifications

BHSc (Hons), Dip COT

Bio:

Heather’s professional career spans more than 38 years within the neurorehabilitation and personal injury sector.

She has been devoted to the assessment and rehabilitation of patients with brain injury and neurological conditions within the Health Service, Social Services and within the Independent Sector, always carrying a clinical caseload, whilst gaining a wealth of experience in senior managerial roles.

She started her career as an Occupational Therapist within the Health Service where brain injury and neuro degenerative disorders dominated a clinical rotation including community psychiatry, orthopaedics, medical wards and learning disabilities. After this, she worked within social services in Leeds to gain a better understanding of community disability and solutions available through the Occupational Therapy framework. This was followed by setting up the Leeds Head Injury Service and a period of research at the Leeds Rehabilitation and Research Unit.

In 1995, she established Reach Personal Injury Services Ltd, which she developed to provide a National Home-Based Rehabilitation Service for both adults and children covering rehabilitation assessments and treatment for head trauma, concussion, moderate/severe traumatic brain injury and also Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). Heather sold Reach in 2020 and took on the role of Clinical Services Director.

As Clinical Services Director she served as the leading clinical figure within the business’ senior management team, embodying the company's commitment to excellence in brain injury and neurological rehabilitation. Her role encompassed the development and oversight of clinical services, ensuring they met the highest standards of practice and innovation. She was integral to the strategic direction and operational excellence of the clinical aspects of the business.

Of particular interest is her experience in assessing, treating and providing clinical guidance to stakeholders on patients suffering from head trauma (often part of a poly trauma accident), concussion, severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and FND. Her expert reports have focussed on neuro occupational therapy assessments and rehabilitation advice for both claimant and defendant solicitors.

Heather publishes and lectures (nationally and internationally) on FND and clinical aspects of TBI and concussion while also being an active Trustee of a Brain Injury Charity along with Chair of the Northern Acquired Brain Injury Forum (NABIF). 

Heather works for Jane James & Associates as an Independent Expert Witness, taking instructions from both Claimant and Defendant firms for full care reports, aids and equipment reports and neurorehabilitation reports.