Karen Smith

BSc (hons) Psychology
BABICM Registered Practitioner Case Manager
Location

Hertfordshire

Areas Covered
  • London
Specialisms

Spinal Injury
Occupational Therapy
Neurological Diseases
Manual Handling
Cerebral Palsy
Brain Injury
Behavioural & Learning Difficulty
Aids & Equipment

Contact

hello@ccmservices.co.uk
01608 682522

Professional Qualifications, Registrations and Memberships>

  • BSc (hons) Psychology
  • MSc Occupational Therapy (pre-registration)
  • Member of British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT)
  • Specialist Sections: Independent Practice, Housing, Neurology, Vocational
  • BABICM Registered Practitioner Member
  • Member of Case Management Society UK (CMSUK)
  • Member of Multidisciplinary Association of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals
  • Member of Posture & Mobility Group

Experience >

Karen is a dedicated and HCPC registered Occupational Therapist having qualified in 2014 from Brunel University with a master’s degree; her bachelors is in Psychology. Karen has been practising as a highly experienced and senior Occupational Therapist in statutory services and independent practice with both adults and paediatrics.

Karen is able to provide case management for the following clients:

  • Spinal cord injury (Adults)
  • Traumatic Brain injury (Paediatric, Young Adults, Adults)
  • Cerebral Palsy (Paediatric and Adults)
  • Stroke (Adults)
  • Progressive Neurological Diseases (Adults)
  • Rheumatological, orthopaedic and musculoskeletal (Adults)
  • Cancer and cardiac diseases (Adults)

Additionally, she regularly undertakes:

  • Specialist seating and posture assessments
  • Moving and handling assessments
  • Management of adaptations and fixed / specialist equipment provision
  • Functional rehabilitation assessments and goal setting

Karen has worked at senior level where she operationally managed and clinically supervised all Occupational Therapists and facilitated continued professional development opportunities to maintain sufficient expertise in the service. Karen collaboratively worked with the Occupational Therapists and management to design and implement new assessment and SMART goals and paperwork to collect service performance data to improve service delivery. Karen assisted the Lead Operations Manager in co-ordinating the service in a multi-disciplinary environment.

Karen started working as an independent practitioner in 2020, gaining contracts with various private Occupational Therapist companies where she continued to work with adults with complex neurological and orthopaedic conditions, but also worked with people who have learning difficulties, lower limb injuries, amputations, spinal cord, and brain injuries and in clinical negligence cases.

As a case manager, Karen is experienced with working with clients in their own homes, carrying out collaborative and comprehensive assessments and setting goals. She can provide functional rehabilitation and designs living spaces to make the home environment accessible through major and minor adaptations. Karen has vast experience of using specialist equipment for people with complex postural and moving and handling needs due to a range of disabilities. Karen can confidently co-ordinate care packages and multi-disciplinary teams for her paediatric and adult clients.

Karen is committed to enhancing her client’s independence and participation in life and is well practised in identifying areas in need of functional improvement and interventions.

As a member of Royal College of Occupational Therapist, Specialist Interest Section for Independent Practitioners, Housing and Neurology, British Association of Brain Injury and Complex Case Management and Case Management Society UK, Karen has a broad network of colleagues for peer support.

Karen maintains a high level of professional development and independent monthly supervisions. She keeps up to date with developments in occupational therapy, case management, spinal cord, and brain injury. She completes specialist training courses, attends exhibitions, study days and conferences. This helps Karen to enhance and develop her clinical reasoning and expert advice to clients, carers, and other professionals.

Personal Profile >

Karen lives with her uncle and a 20-year-old cat called Solomon. Karen likes to eat healthy and loves cooking, making everything from scratch. She swims and uses the gym regularly despite having an injury to her lumbar spine from an underlying condition.

Karen has great friends and family whom which loves spending time with. One of her favourite things to do is natter or go on a bike ride with her best friend, read/watch sci-fi and crime fiction. Karen loves the sunshine and going to music events.

What our clients have to say:
  • “Kate, in my view, you are a case manager of highest level. Your knowledge, recognition and understanding of brain injury is second to none and I believe that anyone who has you as their case manager is an exceptionally lucky person.”

    Clients names have been removed for privacy
  • "I would just like to provide some feedback in relation to the case management services by [CCM case manager]. Her clinical expertise and cheery manner have been invaluable in successfully dealing with the matter. I have nothing but praise and gratitude for the professional way she has dealt with all the difficulties that have been presented in this case."

    Clients names have been removed for privacy
  • "Thank you for being an absolute pleasure to work with- it’s great to work with someone who is so passionate, supportive, efficient and who really genuinely cares."

    Clients names have been removed for privacy
  • “Maggie ... amazing and credit to you, your team and all your clients. I was quite touched when watching this [YouTube video]. Just shows what you can achieve with the right support and attitude in place. Fantastic.”

    Jane Burns
  • “I’ve never worked on a case where there has been such a large clinical team and I was always very impressed with how you managed to liaise with so many people and hold so much information in mind. The logistical challenges of getting [client] home were immense, and you managed this expertly. There is no doubt that his quality of life is better for having had you as his case manager”

    Neuropsychologist to Case Manager AA
  • "I just wanted to say how greatly I appreciate having had the benefit for my client of your professionalism and expertise".

    Clients names have been removed for privacy
  • "I wanted to write to thank you for your ongoing help and support with this matter for the past few years. On many occasions you have gone above and beyond the usual requirements of a Case Manager and I know that [client] would most definitely had struggled without your constant support and assistance. This was at times a very challenging matter for everyone involved and your professionalism and guidance throughout was most appreciated. I would be happy to recommend you to colleagues and other clients."

    Clients names have been removed for privacy
  • " I appreciate that [client] has already responded but I just wanted to say it was lovely to meet you yesterday and also to thank you for all your help. It was so useful to have you there with your brilliant agenda! We achieved far more yesterday in an hour than I could have hoped for. I now feel far more confident that with your help we can get sorted everything that needs doing house wise, and indeed for [client]"

    Clients names have been removed for privacy
  • “[Case Manager], once again, thank you so much for joining the conference by phone, it was a real pleasure having you there. M cannot recall having worked on a case with you before and was so very impressed by you – I advised him that you have never failed to impress me on a case yet.”

    Clients names have been removed for privacy
  • "Thank you so much for all you're doing for us all. I know we took a lot of your time up today. You are fully aware of [Client’s] problems, behavioural and psychological, and believe that [Client’s] is treated with respect and allowed to live the sort of life any of us would want. The benefits for her and her girls will be so rewarding. Thank you so much."

    Clients names have been removed for privacy
  • " I am immensely proud and honoured to be a part of this amazing organisation; who work so hard to enrich & empower the lives of those that we have the privilege to work with."

    JE (Case Manager)
  • "It has been an extraordinary experience to take our first flight with [Client] and enjoy a long holiday weekend with our family. Without your help this would have been impossible, and although we know you consider all this being your job and responsibility, we truly appreciate that you went far beyond the expected support and allowed us to get it all organised on time. We want to thank you for your outstanding help."

    Clients names have been removed for privacy
  • "May I also take this opportunity to thank you and CCM for all of the support and assistance that you have all provided, not only to [Client] and their family, but also to me and my firm which has served to ensure that [Client] is to receive sufficient compensation to meet their future needs."

    Clients names have been removed for privacy
  • "My team have worked with a large number of case managers over the years and in my experience [CCM case manager] is up there as one of the best. I am very pleased to endorse [CCM case manager] as a very caring, professional and knowledgeable case manager which I have no hesitation in recommending."

    Clients names have been removed for privacy
  • “Thank you so much for the time you gave me today. I was most impressed by all that has been achieved on [Client’s] behalf and I congratulate you and the whole team. It was a pleasure to see [Client’s] looking so relaxed and to hear of the successful efforts which you have all put into giving her a new home and so evidently improving her quality of life… What a wonderful change of surroundings, approach and atmosphere! And [Client’s] looked so well and happy. Congratulations to all concerned.”

    Clients names have been removed for privacy
  • "CCM has earned a reputation for being one of the country's leading Case Management Practices. As for litigation expertise, they are top of the tree. As a practice, we only deal with catastrophic injury cases. Our clients need the best experts available and we insist upon it. Maggie and Kate will always form part of our "dream team". Good case management entails knowledge, experience, determination, and diplomacy. CCM ticks every box."

    Clients names have been removed for privacy
  • "The conference day was full and interesting. The organisation from our perspective was excellent. As you explained, the result demonstrates the importance of high-quality case management! The topics were all important. It was an education which demonstrated that life can and should continue after a disaster. Everyone learned a lot, including your fellow professionals. You had a very good attendance. Well done! You should continue to bring your message to everyone; it is most important."

    CWW - QC

If you have any questions, or would like to reach out to a member of our team regarding the help we can offer you, please contact us today.

hello@ccmservices.co.uk or call 01608 682522