Jonathan Tigwell

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy, MPhil

Specialisms

Spinal Injuries, Orthopaedics, Oncology, Fibromyalgia, Mental Health, Visual Impairment

Introduction

I am an experienced Occupational Therapist committed to providing the best possible outcomes for my clients. Since my initial training in 2011, I have worked for local authorities, the NHS, charities, universities and in private practice. This varied experience has enabled me to gain a high level of understanding of both health and social care systems and specific clinical specialisms.  

I can assess a client's current and future care and rehabilitation needs, as well as appropriate adaptive equipment to meet their needs and have specialised in housing needs and adaptations. I have been regularly involved with care packages and have a high level of understanding about optimum levels of care. I also have experience of mental health assessment, maintenance and treatment. I have extensive experience with orthopaedic injuries and conditions, including complete and incomplete spinal injuries. I also have extended knowledge of neurological conditions (e.g., multiple sclerosis, stroke, fibromyalgia, etc) and with visual impairment. I have completed published research into vocational rehabilitation for cancer survivors and as a result have an in-depth understanding of oncology and the various treatment impacts and outcomes.

For the past seven years I have worked both as Clinical Director within private practice and also within the teaching sector – providing further training to occupational therapists and assessors. I have conducted and supervised thousands of assessments since qualification, therefore I have the ability to accurately assess a person's level of disability, their current needs and likely needs for the foreseeable future. I also help run the OTAC adaptations conferences which has given me a very high level of understanding of adaptive equipment and their appropriate applications. 

My time as Clinical Director and as a DWP accredited Disability Assessor has given me the experience necessary to understand the importance of accurate and precise reports and the need for concise and well-written clinical reasoning. In addition to my clinical work, I have participated in clinical and academic research and was awarded the RCBC / Tenovus research grant to complete an MPhil study into vocational rehabilitation for cancer survivors. This study went on to receive national news coverage and was published in an occupational therapy textbook. I continue to research and apply evidence-based practice to my clinical and teaching work. This is evidenced by contributing content to an OCN-accredited Trusted Assessor training course and my continuing involvement in facilitating the training courses to occupational therapists, assessors and other professionals. 

I have worked hard to build a reputation as a reliable healthcare professional that can sensitively and efficiently resolve complex cases. This is evidenced by the positive feedback and continued referrals received from both clients and from organisations. 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.