Joel Crosland

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy

Specialisms

Physical Disabilities, Elective Orthopaedic Surgery, Trauma, & Stroke.

Introduction

I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2010. My current role is within a fast paced community rehabilitation service supporting patients coming home from hospital and also preventing hospital admissions. I complete comprehensive initial assessments with patients who have multiple pathologies, and provide holistic treatment using person-centred goals. I have specialist skills with regard to manual handling and regularly create care plans for patients with highly complex needs including those requiring spinal or neck braces. 

I assess for adaptive equipment, and undertake specialist falls assessments to aid collaborative rehabilitation programmes, focused on enabling or enhancing patients performance with everyday activities. I have gained specialist knowledge in the areas of falls and orthopaedics and regularly work with patients who have had either elective or traumatic orthopaedic surgery, such as hip and knee replacement surgery, and spinal surgeries. I have gained knowledge and experience of multiple orthoses and work collaboratively with patients and other professionals to achieve rehabilitation and recovery goals.

Prior to this I worked within stroke services within acute and inpatient rehabilitation as well as a community stroke team. In this role I enhanced my knowledge of brain anatomy and the different types of stroke. I have a sound understanding of the impact of stroke on all domains of health and well being. I am skilled in supporting patients using person-centred goal setting to regain independence with daily living tasks. I can assess and treat those who have experienced stroke physically, cognitively and or socially. I can complete the stroke drivers assessment, a wide range of cognitive assessments and screening tools for anxiety and depression. I am also highly skilled in identification and fitting of adaptive and specialist equipment.  

After qualifying, I worked in multiple areas as part of a rotational post which included orthopaedics, surgical, intermediate care, acute elderly and inpatient mental health. Within these rotations I had experience of working with patients with lower limb amputations including direct involvement with amputee rehabilitation, and post bowel surgery including colostomies, and urostomies. I also worked with patients who had multiple pathologies including acute infections, dementia, diabetes and other long-term conditions. In addition, I worked with a multidisciplinary team to complete a service improvement project for an outpatient Parkinson’s clinic.

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.