Janice Muradzikwa

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy

Specialisms

Adults with long term mental health conditions including, dementia, depression, anxiety & PTSD

Introduction

I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2012 from Brunel University.  I have spent most of my career working across different sectors including functional rehabilitation, neuro rehabilitation and mental health with both working-age and older adults. I currently work as a team manager for the Luton older persons Community Mental Health Team (CMHT). Within this job, I undertake the day-to-day management of the CMHT which includes managing demand and capacity, supervision, appraisals, training compliance, complaints, recruitment and KPIs and completing complex occupational therapy assessments.

I have significant experience in completing occupational therapy assessments and treatment of adults in their own homes, care homes or supported/extra shelter accommodation. The patients I work with have various mental health conditions, namely schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, mild cognitive impairments, dementia, bipolar and emotionally unstable personality disorders. In addition, they often present with physical health difficulties/conditions, including, but not limited to, Parkinsons' disease, arthritic conditions and are at risk of experiencing falls. My role involves completing an assessment to determine how their condition impacts their ability to function, then ascertaining the type of accommodation that is suitable and suggesting aids or adaptations that would enable them to live independently. It also involves completing safety assessments following a dementia diagnosis, fall risk assessments and recommending or reviewing their current care packages.

I have gained an excellent  understanding and working knowledge of the Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation through assessing mental state, completing risk assessments, raising safeguarding enquiries, de-escalating service users and working with service users in crisis. This experience was invaluable as I had the opportunity to work with experienced mental health clinicians who have helped me to develop sound clinical reasoning and be able to articulate this confidently during MDT meetings. Since graduating I have taken a keen interest in ensuring I contribute to training and providing practical experience to up-and-coming occupational therapists by completing the fieldwork educators training. 

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.