Emma Benfield

Qualifications 

BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy

Specialisms 

• General Medicine & Surgery
• Mental Health
• Orthopaedics/ Trauma
• Amputation

Introduction 

I qualified as an occupational therapist in 2008 and completed training after obtaining a First Class degree from the University of Bath. Subsequently I have worked with clients with a variety of physical and mental health conditions both in the statutory and private sectors, primarily in and around London. These clinical roles have provided me with a wide clinical knowledge base and an in-depth understanding of the impact of pain, disability and loss of function. I have experience in the management of complex orthopaedic problems, upper and lower limb amputations, cognitive difficulties, pain management and mental health conditions, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and generalised anxiety disorder. I have worked as a senior occupational therapist for the Central and North West London NHS trust,  the Whittington Health NHS trust, and as an occupational therapy team lead for Barts Health NHS trust.

I have worked as a clinical case manager and private occupational therapist alongside my NHS roles since 2013, working with clients who have sustained multiple and catastrophic injuries as a result of road traffic accidents, medical negligence or workplace incidents. My role as a case manager and private occupational therapist involves working closely with claimants to increase function, promote independence and, where needed, achieve good vocational outcomes following their injuries. I am experienced in working with claimants to improve pain management and psychological distress following injury. I am competent at managing risk factors for clients associated with a decline in physical, mental and cognitive function.

I have prepared a large number of reports for private clients to date. I am a confident writer and I have excellent clinical and analytical skills that I have acquired throughout my career. I have a good knowledge base of private providers for health and social care, and utilise this when working with claimants.

I have prepared many evidence based assessments, recommended appropriate packages of care and assessed for and prescribed a range of adaptive equipment to support complex hospital discharges and community based clients. I have supervised junior therapists and students. I have facilitated training across therapy departments within the NHS and privately,  including for the personal injury department of a law firm. I have also been commissioned by another law firm to write articles on coping with catastrophic injuries for use on their website and have worked with the RFU Injured Players Foundation in their research to develop mental health services for their clients. I was also requested to assist in developing the private occupational therapy service provision for Bush and Co, the national case management company that I am an associate for.  

I accept instructions from both claimant and defendant solicitors and insurers. I have undergone formal training in the medico-legal process and am fully aware of my responsibilities under Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) pertaining to expert witnesses.