THRIVE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Advanced Occupational Therapist and Director of Thrive OT Services
Job Titles:
- Advanced Occupational Therapist
Alison has been working with Thrive OT Services as an associate since 2017, and joined the team as an employee in February 2020. She qualified as an Occupational Therapist with a BSc (HONS) OT from Coventry University in 2003. Alison has worked in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire in various adult physical and mental health services, then moved to working with children in 2017. She has worked with individuals and in specialist schools in Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire. Alison is HCPC registered and is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
Alison has experience working with children and adolescents with ASD, ADHD, DCD/Dyspraxia, attachment difficulties, trauma histories and behaviours that challenge.
She explores how an individual's sensory integration, motor skills, functional capabilities and emotional regulation impacts on their ability to access and engage in their learning and participate in their meaningful occupations. She provides advice, support, and consultation to school staff and parents, and direct intervention to children and young people to work on identified areas of difficulty.
She has delivered training within schools, to multi-disciplinary teams, and at carers groups about sensory approaches, sensory circuits and emotional regulation.
Alison completed an MSc in Advanced Occupational Therapy with the University of Northampton in 2011. She completed her Postgraduate Certificate in Sensory Integration in 2016 and completed further study to gain Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner status in 2019 from the sensory integration network and Ulster University. She also has training in the Interoception Curriculum and DIR floortime (101).
Alison enjoys keeping up to date with research and best practice and developing her skills as a therapist. She has been developing and delivering sensory sessions in a hydrotherapy pool and has seen the positive impact of this approach. Having worked in mental health services for years, Alison is interested in the impact of sensory difficulties on mental health and believes that sensory strategies can impact positively on everyone's mental wellbeing and occupational participation.
Alison is a mum to two children and spends time outside of work supporting and encouraging their varied interests, taking part in quizzes or venturing out to find the best coffee and cake in town!
Amy Martin joined the Thrive team in 2023 as an Occupational Therapist. She graduated from the University of Northampton in 2023 with a BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy and has worked in children's services, schools and CAMHS. Amy is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and is HCPC registered.
Amy completed a Health studies and Sociology Degree in 2003 and worked as safeguarding and nurture lead within a school setting for 8 years before deciding to complete her Occupational Therapy Degree. Throughout her career Amy has gained experience working with children and families with complex mental health needs, building therapeutic relationships to underpin practice. Amy has experience of working with Looked after children, children who have been through the adoption process, and children with complex eating conditions such as PICA and ARFID (avoidance restrictive food intake disorder).
Amy has completed training in Theraplay approaches, Protective behaviours, life story work, emotion coaching and sensory strategies to support home and school environments.
Amy has an interest in neuroscience, sensory processing, and complex eating conditions such as PICA and ARFID .
Amy enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, watching live music, and going to the cinema. Amy also enjoys water sports such as kayaking and swimming.
Job Titles:
- Advanced Occupational Therapist
Carly qualified as an Occupational Therapist with a BSc (HONS) OT from the University of Northampton in 2010. She worked for several years within mental health services, including women's services and inpatient child and adolescent mental health units.
She moved to school-based children's occupational therapy in specialist schools before joining Thrive OT in 2021. Carly is HCPC registered and is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
Carly has experience working with children and young people with autism (ASD), ADHD, dyspraxia/DCD, trauma and attachment difficulties, sensory difficulties, anxiety, PTSD and a variety of complex mental health disorders and needs.
Carly works to embed occupational therapy across school settings, as well as providing training to families and school staff.
She addresses difficulties with emotional regulation, sensory processing needs, fine and gross motor skills, and life skills. She works closely with families and school staff to ensure a joined-up and consistent approach across settings. Carly uses a variety of programmes and approaches, including sensory strategies and trauma informed approaches, tailored to each child's individual needs as necessary.
Carly has completed M1 and M2 postgraduate modules in sensory integration and is working towards M3, CLASI Certification in Sensory Integration (WWW.ICEASI.ORG) and Sensory Integration Practitioner Status.
She has additional training in Solution Focussed Practice, Protective Behaviours, SCERTS, DBT skills coaching and Trauma Informed Care, as well as keeping up her CPD with courses including Sensory Integration and Trauma in Children and Making Sense of Play.
Carly has a specialist interest in sensory processing and using sensory strategies to support emotional regulation and mental health, school-based occupational therapy, early years, ASD, and working with nature and play-based approaches to support occupational participation and wellbeing. She enjoys using creative approaches to deliver individual and group therapeutic sessions based on the children's interests.
In her spare time, when she is not ferrying her son to after-school activities, Carly enjoys travelling, photography, swimming, and exploring the great outdoors by kayak or campervan. She has volunteered with a local youth mental health charity by running mindfulness and coping skills workshops.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Advanced Occupational Therapist
Charlotte has worked as an associate since 2012. She qualified as an OT with a BSc (HONS) OT from the University of Northampton in 2002. Charlotte worked in Learning Disability Services in the NHS in Northamptonshire for over 10 years. She currently shares her time between Thrive and 4-Futures Supported Living Service in Rushden, where she is the Registered Manager. Charlotte is HCPC registered and is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
Charlotte has worked with children and adults with learning disabilities in a variety of settings: family home, residential units, school, college and an inpatient unit. She is passionate about ensuring individuals with learning disabilities are given opportunities to develop independent living skills and engage in activities of choice.
Charlotte currently provides support to a specialist college for young adults with autism and an independent school offering bespoke therapeutic educations for children with special educational needs. Charlotte works alongside teaching staff to support the children with sensory needs and emotional regulation. Following assessment, she works with individual students to identify strategies to help them feel ready to learn. She also provides staff training and informal staff consultations to discuss challenges preventing children from learning.
Charlotte has good knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act and the impact of this legislation as children transition into adulthood.
Charlotte has completed a Professional Certificate in Positive Behaviour Support and the ASI WISE CLASI Certification in Using Sensory Integration and Sensory Strategies to Reduce Restraint and Behaviours that Challenge. She is currently completing training on the Interoception Curriculum.
Charlotte has a specialist interest in Learning Disability and behaviours that challenge. She works intensely to ensure people understand that the term "Behaviour that challenge" is used to highlight that behaviours are a challenge to services rather than a problem belonging to the person.
Job Titles:
- Senior Occupational Therapist
Cindy gained her qualification in Occupational Therapy from the University of Northampton in 2007. Initially working at a specialist residential college, she moved into the local NHS children's OT service in 2009. In 2014 Cindy began working for Thrive OT services, staying until 2021 before leaving and returning again in 2022. Cindy is a HCPC registered therapist and member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
Cindy has spent many years working across various school and early years settings, as well as working with children in their This has meant she has gained skills in supporting children with a broad range of needs, including developmental disorders, neurological conditions, complex needs and life limiting conditions.
She also has many years' experience of managing postural control and specialist seating.
Cindy has undertaken additional training in the areas of postural management and seating, management of childhood hemiplegia, DIR Floortime and the Interoception Curriculum. In addition to this, she has begun training as a sensory integration practitioner.
Cindy has a particular interest in sensory integration and its implementation, as well as interests in neonatal OT and retained primitive reflexes.
In her free time, Cindy enjoys spending time with her family, walking their dog, reading, and sewing.
Ellie joined the team at Thrive, following her graduation from The University of Northampton in 2021. Prior to her studies at UON, she worked as a TA in a mainstream primary school with children with SEN, as well as running an equine-assisted learning centre providing individualised sessions for children with additional needs and ASD. These experiences have given her knowledge of child development and the additional needs of families and schools regarding developing strategies to overcome barriers to everyday activities of life.
Ellie works alongside Senior OTs within two specialist schools across Northamptonshire. Ellie's role and intervention involve supporting students and staff by collaboratively developing strategies that focus on children's individual sensory and functional needs.
Through the experience of working with children prior to becoming an OT, she has developed skills that enabled her to build strong therapeutic relationships with children and their families. In addition to her training at university, she has completed the DIRFloortime™ Introduction Course, which focuses on using playful, child-led activities to enable developmental growth through meaningful interactions.
She also has experience with child-specific assessments and intervention approaches which will guide her thought processes and interactions with the children she will work with.
Ellie particularly enjoys expanding upon an individual's personal motivations and interests to build interaction, communication, and life skills. Sensory processing is complex and intriguing to her, so looking at a person holistically to further understand their wants and needs through their interactions with everyday objects and how their worlds can be opened up through these experiences is incredibly interesting.
Ellie is a friendly person who likes to be active and stay positive. When she is not working, she has a keen interest in horses, her young family, and being outside. She is a huge animal lover and currently has three horses, a pony, a dog and a cat.
During the weekend, Ellie and her family are found in a field at an equestrian event, or at a racetrack with her husband's motorbikes, which gives her a fill of adrenaline and satisfies her urge to live life to the full.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Advanced Occupational Therapist and Director of Thrive OT Services
- Member of the Team
Jennifer is a Director of the company. She qualified as an OT, B.Sc.OT. (Hons), in 1991 from Trinity College, Dublin and on moving to England worked in NHS adult services. She made the move to children's services while living and working on Guernsey in 2007. Jennifer is HCPC registered and is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
Jennifer has worked in a range of specialist and mainstream school settings, on children's wards in hospitals and in early years and early help clinics.
Jennifer works with children, parents and teachers to support participation in school through her work in mainstream and specialist schools. Jennifer has developed a role within schools to reframe behaviour, improve self-regulation and build resilience.
She runs regular workshops and drop-in sessions, hoping to encourage and promote the use of sensory strategies to enhance mental health, wellbeing, and participation in everyday life.
Jennifer's role includes delivery of and sourcing outside training including: Sensory Circuits, Handwriting, Sleep Strategies, Picky Eaters, Self-Regulation Strategies, The Role of OT in Schools, Embedding Therapy in the Curriculum, The Interoception Curriculum.
Jennifer has postgraduate training and is an Advanced Practitioner in Ayres Sensory Integration. She also has training in DIR Floortime, Trauma and Attachment, The SpIRiT© clinical reasoning tool, The Willbarger Technique, The Interoception Curriculum, Sign Along, and Sensory Attachment Intervention (Eadhaoin Breathnach).
Jennifer has a special interest in sensory processing and can be found with her head in a book about the vagal nerve, interoception and the body-mind connection when she is not at work. She loves a healthy debate on how we should "see behaviour, think sensory" and is championing the role of movement, and of interoception (8th sense) in emotional and physical wellbeing for all.
She also loves talking and teaching in workshops to small or large groups, head over to the training page for more information.
Jennifer is the oldest member of the team and has adult children. She has family in North America, Ireland and Hong Kong and she likes to visit them often. She is also a keen sportswoman, running in Park Runs and attending her local gym where she lifts heavyweights (good for women of a certain age) and attends instructor-led classes. Jennifer has recently trained as a Reiki Energy Healer.
Kerry started her career working for a large Building Society for 14 years before taking a career break to have children. She returned to work as a pre-school practitioner and obtained a Level 3 Diploma in pre-school child care before moving to a primary school as both class-based and SEN Teaching Assistant. She returned to her ‘admin' roots in 2015 by moving to the school office, where she spent four years before joining the Thrive Team in September 2019.
Kerry covers all aspects of administration and ‘office life' which include; organising OT's appointments and calendars, managing caseloads, sending quotes and invoices, liaising with parents, schools and other professional bodies, co-ordinating Thrive's training events and ensuring all staff are up to date with relevant training. She represents Thrive at various conferences and parent support events, offering advice and guidance. Proficient in excel, word and Microsoft office, she keeps the company organised and efficient!
Because of Kerry's background of working with children, she has a genuine interest and passion in ensuring the children and families we work with receive a professional and caring service.
Kerry is Mum to two daughters, so her time is taken up by being counsellor, shopping assistant and mediator! To unwind she enjoys long country walks with her dog, swimming and loves to ‘Zumba' to let off a bit of energy!
Job Titles:
- Senior Occupational Therapist
Job Titles:
- Nurse
- Occupational Therapist
Rachael joined the Thrive team in March 2023 as an Occupational Therapy student. She qualified from the University of Northampton in July 2023 and is RCOT and HCPC registered.
Rachael has worked with children and young people for over 20 years in various settings including residential services (both children and adult), youth offending services (including police interventions and youth courts), nurseries and mother and baby units. Rachael has supported both children and adults with ASD, complex health needs, ADHD and Learning disabilities both within their homes and in care settings. She has worked with prolific young offenders to support positive engagement and repair social relationships. Rachael has spent a lot of time advocating for looked after children in order to ensure their voices are heard. This is paramount in ensuring they receive the right care.
Rachael is a qualified nursery nurse. Rachael is a qualified Health and Social care, and Children and young people tutor/ Educator and assessor.
Rachael is undertaking her SI training in April 2024. She has a keen interest in sensory integration and how it can support children and young people who have experiences trauma.
Rachael has two children and enjoys exploring with them, visiting different locations both in the UK and internationally. She also enjoys climbing, crafting and is a keen cinema goer.
Job Titles:
- Advanced Occupational Therapist
Stacey qualified as an OT from the University of Northampton in 2008 and has since worked with secure mental health services and autism services with both children and adults.
Stacey worked as an associate for Thrive from 2018 to 2022, she joined us as an employee in April 2022. Stacey is registered with HCPC and is a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
Stacey has many years of experience working with clients with an autism diagnosis. She currently works with children and young people with additional needs completing assessments and recommended therapy sessions. Stacey works with children and young people, both in school and in their homes. She supports children attending specialist school provision to support participation in the school environment through collaboration with teachers and parents.
Stacey has a post-graduate certificate in Ayres Sensory Integration and is a Sensory Integration Practitioner, and has training in Sensory Attachment Intervention. Stacey has also completed training in the Interoception Curriculum. Stacey is booked to complete the ‘Just right challenge' training with Eodhain Breathnach in Autumn 2022.
Stacey is especially interested in autism, sensory integration, trauma and attachment, and mental health. Stacey enjoys furthering her professional development, using her new skills to enhance her clinical practice and ensuring interventions best suit the needs of the children and young people she works with.
Stacey enjoys spending time with her family and friends when she is not at work. She also likes to bake, go on walks, spend time in the garden, and explore new places.
Job Titles:
- Advanced Occupational Therapist
Viki joined Thrive OTS in January 2023 as an Advanced Occuaptional Therapist.
Viki completed a psychology degree in 2002, worked in forensic inpatient mental health settings prior to undertaking her occupational therapy degree, gaining experience in working with people with trauma and challenging behaviours as well as a wide range of complex mental health difficulties.
Viki has experience working with young people with a range of mental health diagnoses, trauma and attachment difficulties, PTSD, neurodevelopmental conditions including ASD, ADHD, Dyspraxia. Viki uses sensory approaches in her practice to support the development of emotional regulation in a playful and individualised way. Viki is experienced in using a range of assessments to gain an understanding of people's needs as well as their strengths. She uses meaningful occupation to support people to reach their goals and develop their motor, process and social skills to participate optimally in their daily lives.
Viki is an Ayres Sensory Integration practitioner, having completed the training through the University of Ulster and Sensory Integration network in 2020. She has also completed training in Interoception curriculum, Assessment of Motor and Process Skills, Protective Behaviours, Trauma Informed Care, Transform leadership programme and has participated in various ASD related CPD events.
Viki is passionate about working with children and adolescents, firmly believing in the importance of early intervention to support young people to develop the skills and abilities they need to maximise their potential. She has a particular interest in sensory processing, emotional regulation and finding creative ways to engage with people therapeutically.
Viki is a playful, positive person who enjoys spending time with her young children, baking, pub quizzes, listening to live music, going on adventures around the UK in the family campervan and going on city breaks in Europe with friends. She loves animals and has 2 cats, fish, a snake and 3 chickens.