Moira McFarnon

(Wiltshire)

Occupational Therapist, Case Manager and Care Expert

Profile:

I am an occupational therapist with over 35 years’ clinical experience.  I have extensive experience of working primarily with children and young adults with a wide range of complex neurological, physical and learning disabilities within the statutory, voluntary and private sectors.  I have over 25 years’ experience as an expert witness and have worked as a case manager on an intermittent basis since 1999.

Qualifications:

• HNC in Public Administration (1976).
• DipCOT (1982).

Skills/experience:

I have worked as an independent expert witness since 1993 and have prepared in excess of 1,000 reports.  I have extensive experience of experts’ meetings and have attended numerous case conferences, both as an expert witness and as a case manager.  I have attended court on a number of occasions and given evidence on two occasions.

I specialise in writing reports on children and young adults with cerebral palsy, brain injury and other neurological conditions, learning and behavioural difficulties, Erb’s Palsy and Down syndrome.

I originally trained as a hospital administrator before I developed an interest in rehabilitation and subsequently qualified as an occupational therapist in 1982. I initially worked in the NHS with patients of all ages with acute and chronic physical disabilities, but quickly began to specialise in the field of neurological rehabilitation, primarily cerebrovascular accidents (strokes) and brain injury.  From 1988 to 1993 I was employed as Regional Advisory Occupational Therapist to the Spastics Society (now SCOPE), which was a unique experience in terms of developing specialist skills and knowledge relating to cerebral palsy.  In this role I worked with all age groups from early childhood to adulthood, and in a variety of settings – the family home, schools, colleges, the workplace and residential care units.  I also played a significant part in assisting individuals in the process of transitioning from longstanding residential care placements to independent/supported living in the community.

Between 1999 and 2008, I worked as an independent case manager and occupational therapist, and at the beginning of 2015 I returned to case management and currently work with Westcountry Case Management.  In my case management role I work with children with complex needs and their families, assisting with all aspects of care and therapy provision, education, housing, specialist equipment and adapted vehicles.

Registrations and memberships:

• The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT)
• The Case Management Society UK (CMSUK)
• Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section – Children, Young People and Families (RCOT-SS-CYPF)
• Enhanced DBS checked
• ICO registered