Name: Kay McArthur

Position (specialist area): HCPC Registered Occupational Therapist – BSc (HONS) OT, MSc VR

Contact details: info@pacerehab.com   Tel: 0161 428 5500

Location: Based at Bredbury (Cheshire), domiciliary visits within the north and midlands areas.

Qualifications, accreditation & professional memberships:

• Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registered Occupational Therapist.
• BSc (Hons) degree in Occupational Therapy, St Loye’s school of occupational therapy, Exeter (1994-1997).
• MSc degree in Vocational Rehabilitation, Sheffield Hallam University (2012).
• British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT).
• College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section – Independent Practice (COTSS-IP).
• College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section – Work (COTSS-W).

Specialist areas include:

• Upper limb myo electric prosthesis – functional therapy.
• Complex orthopaedic conditions.
• Vocational rehabilitation & return to work.

Career:

After graduating in 1997 from the University of Exeter, Kay completed a basic grade and senior rotational posts covering a number of clinical specialties including hand therapy, community mental health, acute general medical and orthopaedics including amputees.  Following this in 1999, Kay moved to a senior therapist role within orthopaedics, providing a ‘hospital from home” service as part of a multidisciplinary approach, linking acute and community care services for patients.

In 2001, Kay commenced work in Australia where she was responsible for setting up and developing a new occupational therapy (OT) service to an inner city hospital with no history of OT involvement.  Close liaison with other service managers and providers was key as well as ongoing education for both staff and clients, regarding the role of the occupational therapist.

In 2002, Kay worked as a Head Occupational Therapist in an acute care setting and was responsible for managing acute team of OT’s and assistants. Here Kay was involved in the review of policies and procedures with the aim of improving response time to referrals, quality of service and effective intervention outcomes. It also included the induction and supervision of staff at all levels and the development of an induction programme to facilitate smooth integration for new staff members. Kay also developed a triage and priority system for OT’s to manage high caseloads and ensure prompt and timely intervention.

Kay commenced work as a rehabilitation consultant in 2003 specialising in case management of clients with work related injuries. Here her role as consultant/case manager required close and effective communication with all involved including treating parties, employers and specialist’s consultants. Worksite, ergonomic and functional assessments, prescription of equipment, job analysis and the development of graded return to work plans were important to facilitate a safe and effective return to work. In addition to the role of case manager Kay provided training for high profile customers, included ergonomics, manual handling, and stress management.

On returning to the UK Kay worked in the field of respiratory involved in the development and implementation of a new service as part of a trust wide strategy to develop services provided for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Kay providing training and workshops to key members of the multidisciplinary team and as the OT lead, provided input into the local steering groups as well as presenting at local and national conferences.

Over the last twelve years Kay has worked as an occupational therapy consultant and case manager. She currently provides OT assessments and treatment, vocational rehabilitation services and FCE assessments to clients following personal and work related injuries including complex orthopaedic injuries and amputation. Kay is part of the close working multi disciplinary team approach providing functional therapy treatment to Pace Rehabilitation clients prescribed myo-electric prosthesis.

Teaching, publications & presentations:

• Presentation: “Michelangelo Myo-electric system for transradial amputees – the value of therapy” – ‘Back to the Future’ Rehabilitation Conference hosted by Pace Rehabilitation, Exchange Chambers and Potter Rees Dolan. February 2016.
• Presentation: “Occupational Therapy”, Pace Rehabilitation Conference 2015.
• Article for the Occupational Therapy News publication – October 2007, 15(10) Vocational rehabilitation – overcoming the barriers.
• Article for Occupational Therapy News publication – February 2008, 16(2) regarding the specialist section for independent practice.
• Article for Occupational Therapy News publication – May 2008, 16(5) Welfare to work: providing support and realizing aspirations.

Further training:

• Design For Independence training event – September 2015
• UKFCE –  Functional Capacity Evaluation, Evaluator refresher course – May 2015
• Hand therapy assessment workshop – January 2015

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