Who we are…

Sian Gouldstone has 25 years experience as an occupational therapist and 15 years experience as an expert witness and case manager.

Sian is a state registered occupational therapist with a range of experience in health, social care and the private sector. She has experience of working for both acute hospital and community NHS Trusts. Her main clinical specialisation is neurology, but she also has experience in orthopaedic, learning disabilities, medical and elderly care. In addition she has worked with people with above knee, below knee and bilateral amputation as well as spinal injuries in an acute and community setting.

Sian’s experience of working in social services has included assessment for the provision of equipment and adaptations and close liaison with social workers in the setting up of complex care packages. This position also provided Sian with the opportunity to develop skills in assessing needs for children with disabilities and to work with people with sensory impairments.

Sian has worked as lead occupational therapist for a team working with young adults with learning disabilities. Many of these clients had severe physical disabilities and/or behavioural problems. Sian has worked in the United States of America in a unit that specialised in providing rehabilitation to children and young adults with acquired brain injury. She has also worked with adults with acquired brain injuries within a private facility and a charitable organisation. Sian’s role in all of these positions involved enabling service users to maximise their independence and acquire skills for community living. She has been responsible for assessing care needs and training and advising rehabilitation staff on intervention with the clients. In addition Sian has been involved in risk assessments and making recommendations on equipment and accommodation needs.

Throughout Sian’s career she has taken an active role in service development and training. She has supervised other occupational therapists and rehabilitation assistants and played a lead role in facilitating the merger of a physiotherapy and occupational therapy team within the primary care sector. Sian is committed to professional development and has regularly attended training courses, including the Bond Solon Courtroom Skills Training Day. She attained an ‘A’ grade average in a post graduate diploma course in neurorehabilitation.

Sian has worked as an expert witness since 2001 and has prepared numerous Expert Witness reports for the Court covering occupational therapy, aids and equipment and/or care requirements, as necessary. She has experience of giving evidence in court. Sian has also worked as a case manager since 2002 and received the Case Manager of the Year award in 2011 for work with a client who has complex needs as a consequence of a brain injury. Sian is a member of CMSUK and BAOT and has been trained in the revised Civil Procedure Rules.