Katharine Cooper

Delivered complex neurological assessment and treatment to varied service users daily.

Managed diverse caseloads for Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and spinal cord injury, ensuring tailored care and treatment plans.

Collaborated with multidisciplinary team, including consultants, GPs, nurses, OTs, SLTs, and social workers, to coordinate comprehensive patient care.

Applied FES spasticity management, orthotics fitting, Bobath handling, and taping techniques.

Completed upper-limb FES training and developed fatigue management and vestibular skills.

Completed PD Warrior level 1 training and led the group sessions.

Provided over 5 years of in-service training and clinical supervision, enhancing staff skills and service delivery.

• Supported inpatient teams and built experience across ward, outpatient, and community settings.

• Served trust for over 7 years, specialising in neurology and stroke, with a focus on stroke management.
• Developed comprehensive initial assessments and treatment plans, incorporating FES, spasticity management, orthotic provision, taping, Bobath concept, and personalised home exercise programmes.
• MDT working: spasticity clinic, GPs, nurses, psychologists, orthotics, dietetics, the Stroke Association, consultants, equipment provision and social services.
• Contributed to nationwide SSNAP audits and team-specific evaluations to enhance service delivery.
• Supervised therapy assistants and Physiotherapy students.
• Patients were referred from acute, primary care, social services and self referrals, classified as urgent, routine and ESD.
• The job included working in outpatient clinics, hospital-based and community settings.
• I have maintained and continued my professional development both at work and outside: Bobath, taping, PACE training. I attended the stroke conference in 2013 and again in 2020.
• Attended in-service training. Presented on the Tardieu Scale, taping and basic brain anatomy.
• Held additional role as the office Health and Safety Officer.

• Managed patient cohort with musculoskeletal issues, falls, orthopaedics, and neurology to ensure tailored rehabilitation approaches.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary team of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, and therapy assistants to deliver comprehensive patient care.
• Coordinated therapy assistants to implement therapy-led programs targeting functional ADLs and exercise-based activities, improving patient rehabilitation outcomes.
• Managed referrals from acute, primary care, and social services to facilitate timely interventions that prevented hospital admissions and supported early discharge.
• Worked in reablement and admission avoidance team called Promoting Independence to enhance patient independence and reduce hospital admissions.
• The role required ensuring client rights, dignity and confidentiality at all times. Therapists each led a team of around 10 assistants.

• Conducted 6 monthly rotations in MSK community intermediate care and acute stroke ward, improving patient treatment plans and outcomes.
• Completed 2 years of diverse physiotherapy rotations at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, enhancing patient care across multiple settings.
• Engaged in physiotherapy-led training scheme focused on time management and treatment strategy presentation, improving skills for effective patient management.