I have the best job in the world! My role is a combination of leading and developing a centre of excellence for cerebral palsy and working regularly as a physiotherapist with children and families, using my Bobath clinical reasoning skills to understanding how to promote and maintain children’s participation in life roles.
I have worked for Cerebral Palsy Cymru (formerly Bobath Children’s Therapy Centre Wales) since 1998. Every day is different and usually exciting! The rate of change here is always rapid. We are continually looking towards the future, whether that is for individuals and their families, the population in Wales living with cerebral palsy, or our centre.
Before joining Cerebral Palsy Cymru I worked in the NHS, as a clinician and eventually managing a Health Authority wide physiotherapy, Limb fitting and Orthotics service for Luton and Dunstable NHS Trust. I have always been interested in service development and patient involvement and led our physiotherapy department to be the first to receive the UK Governments Charter Mark.
I have always felt it important to contribute broadly and in doing so have held a variety of extended professional roles including Chair of the Birmingham branch of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy; Treasurer of EACD (for 7 years); Member of the British Association of Bobath Trained Therapists’ (BABTT) National Committee (22 years); BABTT Newsletter editor (10 years). I am currently a member of the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability’s Global Professional Education Committee with a particular mandate for their Knowledge Hub.
It is important to be forward looking and strategic in how we support individuals living with cerebral palsy and this has led me to become Co-Leader of a project developing a Cerebral Palsy Register for Wales.
My job comes with huge privileges, particularly; working with the children and families; working with our fantastic community colleagues across the NHS in Wales; working with our amazing supporters and absolutely the best team ever in Cerebral Palsy Cymru!