She has designed and delivered work focused services to support people with long term conditions including, persistent pain, cancer, chronic fatigue and mental health to return to work when ready. As Managing Director for Working To Wellbeing she is responsible for the design and delivery of VR services that are multi and interdisciplinary in approach. She manages and clinically supervises a team of Occupational Health Physiotherapists, Cognitive Behavioral Therapists and Occupational Therapists. She has experience of providing services within the insurance, occupational health and business to business sectors.
As an ACPOHE tutor and lecturer she trains Physiotherapists to improve their communications skills with their patients by applying a biopsychosocial approach and using the most up-to-date psychological interventions in order to improve clinical outcomes with their patients. This includes a strong work focus. Julie also lectures at Kings College London on their BSc Physiotherapy course, MSc Health Psychology and BScI for medical students on topics including, communication skills, work and health, stress management and leadership.
Having worked in the Northeast for both Ingeus and then Northern Rights, both of which deliver work related programs on behalf of the Department for Work & Pensions, Andrea has supported many of her clients to manage their health conditions and go into or regain employment, and importantly to sustain that employment.
Initially, Andrea worked predominately with clients who had mental health conditions including, anxiety, depression, stress & panic. She delivered one on one support and facilitated group workshops around condition management with a clear aim of returning to the workplace.
Andrea now works as a health advisor and supports her clients with both mental and physical health barriers to returning to the workplace. Ensuring clients have a clear goal and a plan in place to help them make the steps needed to move into the workplace is an important part of Andreas working.
Each year Andrea supports 2 final year Occupational Therapy students on their final work placement within the Vocational Rehabilitation sector at her workplace, Northern Rights. Andrea has also started to guest speak at universities and secondary schools in the region promoting the career of Occupational Therapy and the specialist area of Vocational Rehabilitation.
She is an Associate Fellow of the BPS and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Practicing Occupational Psychologist. She is also a Professional Member of the Vocational Rehabilitation Association.
Sharon has experience of working in the Public, Private and Charitable sectors and has a background in HR, Training and Development that spans over 30 years across a wide range of sectors, providing a strong focus on supporting people to develop and thrive in work. She has extensive experience in psychometric assessments using these for recruitment and transitioning purposes, including assisting members of HM Armed Forces in their transition to Civvy Street after having been wounded or injured.
Since the start of the pandemic, she has trained over 800 managers in understanding how to better support their teams with their mental health and wellbeing, which enable them to cope better during these uncertain times. She has been able to help others understand the full extent of psychological difficulties experienced by employees, including the implications of transitioning to working at home, returning to the workplace, changes in the structure of employment and the impact of COVID-10 physically, cognitively and psychologically within the work context.
Heading up a UK-wide team of multidisciplinary health professionals who provide specialist assessments and vocational case management, supporting insurers, employers, and their employees to achieve successful return to work outcomes after illness and injury.
She has many years of experience working in vocational rehabilitation, in both the public and private sector. In 2021 her training course for new and aspiring Vocational Rehabilitation practitioners won the VR Project Award.
She has spent the majority of her career working with people experiencing persistent pain and fatigue. She worked in North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) for twenty-nine years, starting in the rheumatology service, then moving into the Specialist Pain and ME/CFS services. She also spent a period of nine years working one day a week for the Bath Paediatric ME/CFS service, developing her knowledge and expertise in this age group. In 2012, Beverly started work as an associate therapist with Vitality360, a private company working exclusively with people experiencing pain and fatigue. She now leads this specialist team full-time. Beverly is a trustee of the British Association of Clinicians working in ME/CFS (BACME) and is passionate about sharing knowledge and skills with other health professionals.
As Managing Director of Connect4Work based in Ireland, Mary focusses on providing tailored supports for businesses to retain employees who are at risk of absence to Stay-At or Return-To work in a safe, timely and sustainable manner.
Connect4Work derives its name from the collaborative approach Mary takes in delivering the service, liaising with Employers, Employees and Health Care professionals – all connected together and working toward a common outcome of sustainable work.
Mary has been a member of the VRA since 2019 and believes that work can be a health outcome – indeed, good work is important to a person’s health, it is part of their identity and nobody wants to lose that.
Mary maintains continuous professional development through regular training with particular attention to mental health challenges in the workplace and is a Mental Health First Aider.
She worked within the NHS, in both acute mental health inpatient and rehabilitation units, designing and delivering a range of therapeutic interventions and programmes, including symptom management and skills workshops to support individuals to access voluntary and paid roles.
Kirsty moved into the insurance sector 13 years ago, working within group income protection, and has a wealth of experience of working with employees, employers and healthcare professionals to support individuals to return to, or remain in work whilst managing varying health conditions. Having completed her masters in Contemporary Occupational Therapy, Kirsty has a keen interest in the psychosocial elements for individuals absent from work and has been a guest lecturer focusing on vocational rehabilitation and the biopsychosocial elements, exploring avenues to support individuals to remain in or return to work and thrive at work.
She has a keen interest in learning and development, actively creating and delivering training sessions to support others in their development and she is a is also a Certified Disability management Practitioner and Mental Health first aider.
Her expertise encompasses complex return-to-work planning, Functional Capacity Evaluations, and Activities of Daily Living assessments. She began her insurance career as a Recovery (Rehabilitation) Specialist in Australia, where she contributed to the leadership team through coaching, learning and development and change management initiatives. Upon relocating to the UK, Tahnee worked as a Clinical Team Leader position within the vocational rehabilitation sector, before joining Gen Re as a Claims Specialist. She is deeply passionate about advancing vocational rehabilitation excellence and enabling individuals to achieve their return-to-work goals.
Being a VRA member does not just open the door to exciting opportunities in your career development. It also gives you access to a first-class range of services designed to support you in your professional life.
Looking for help with Career Direction, Assessment, Health or VR Management? Use our directory to find a Practitioner to meet your specific needs today!
VRA – Informed Consent Guide
