Specialist Physiotherapist in Acquired Brain Injury & Neurological Rehabilitation

Susan is a self-motivated and passionate independent neurological physiotherapist who considers herself ‘proud and hugely privileged to support clients achieve their optimal physical recovery goals after acquired brain injury’.

Working exclusively in private practice since 2013 with both adults and children within the North West, Susan is highly skilled in supporting both case managed and privately funded individuals. Susan works across a wide range of neurological conditions and particularly prides herself on her abilities to work with those with highly complex needs after brain injury who require a multi-faceted holistic approach to their rehabilitation.

With over 20 years dedicated to neurorehabilitation across the NHS and private sector, Susan has a breadth of knowledge from acute through to community services to support the rehabilitation journey.

Her approaches are flexible to client need and can be delivered in a wide range of venues.

Proficient in clinical report writing and highly skilled in multidisciplinary team working, Susan considers ‘communication and a strong therapeutic relationship between client and therapist vital to driving rehabilitation forward’. In some cases, innovative or ‘less traditional’ physiotherapy approaches may be required. It is through such approaches that Susan was requested to become Lancashire’s county physiotherapist for Riding for the Disabled.

Susan’s core skills include:

• Advanced Bobath practitioner.
• Myofascial release.
• Spasticity management.
• Hydrotherapy.
• Movement & gait analysis.
• Gait & balance re-education.
• Postural management.
• Seating and positioning.
• Upper limb rehabilitation.
• Moving & manual handling assessments & risk management.
• Therapeutic riding and riding for the disabled.
• Training & engagement of families and support workers in rehabilitation programs.
• Access to disability sport.
• Challenging behaviours.

Susan’s passion for neurology began as a physiotherapy student working in paediatrics at Manchester, on the specialist stroke units in Liverpool and at the specialist spinal injury unit at Southport where she did her elective. Susan qualified as a physiotherapist in 1998.

After completing staff grade physiotherapy rotations, Susan quickly specialised in neurology as a senior member of the Integrated Neuro Rehabilitation Team at Rochdale NHS working across neurological in & out-patients, community, social rehabilitation and the Integrated Neuro-Rehabilitation Unit (Floyd Unit). This also involved establishing specialist spasticity and multiple sclerosis clinics locally and provision of motor neurone disease services. In tandem, Susan also delivered private neurorehabilitation physiotherapy for eight years at Honresfeld Leonard Cheshire Home, Rochdale where her first experiences of medico-legal processes became underpinned.

In 2006, Susan was appointed Community Stroke Lead for North Manchester, clinically leading a multi-professional team of senior specialists and driving service changes forward in line with national agenda.

After completing a leadership and management diploma in 2007 and a master’s degree in Rehabilitation (Neurology) in 2009, Susan’s Stroke Lead role was expanded (2011) to also lead community physiotherapy services (neurorehabilitation, musculoskeletal services, general community rehabilitation, respiratory and palliative care). Susan’s clinical responsibility, heart and passion always remaining in neurology.

Over coming years this role progressed to also include leadership of McMillan and the community falls service, until taking up her last post as an Acquired Brain Injury and Neurological specialist in November 2013.

Susan’s career experience is firmly underpinned with additional post graduate education, training and development. Susan is a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and is registered to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Susan is enhanced DBS checked, registered with the Disclosure and Barring yearly update service and has all appropriate medical, public and professional liability insurance.

In her spare time Susan loves all things outdoors. A keen horse enthusiast, Susan loves the freedom that riding across the moors brings. She is currently in the middle of a major house renovation and thinks nothing of getting ‘stuck in’ – after all, meaningful activity is key to driving motivation!

A full CV is available on request.