The Breadth of VR – Variety of roles and opportunities

An interactive session to explore how VR is implemented in various settings including:  NHS, case management, welfare to work, ergonomics, insurance and private sectors. Whether you are interested in working in VR or if you are already working as VR consultant, this session will help you explore roles and opportunities, for your career.

Your Speakers:

Julie Denning – Chair and MC – Dr Julie Denning is a Chartered Health Psychologist with over 17 years’ experience of working in the vocational rehabilitation sector. 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.

Andrea Fields – Andrea has been an Occupational Therapist since 2011. Upon graduating from York St John University Andrea started to work in the Welfare to Work sector. 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.

Monica Garcia – Monica is a Disability Insurance and Workplace Wellbeing Consultant, bringing a combination of clinical, vocational, research, and insurance experience, to promote and champion best practice in the UK’s Income Protection (IP) market. Through her work with insurers, employers, and third-party providers, Monica leads the development of evidence-based health initiatives to improve customers’ wellness and work outcomes.

Andy Tyerman – Formerly a consultant clinical neuropsychologist in the NHS for 28 years Andy played a lead role in the development and provision of a pioneering specialist community brain injury rehabilitation service in Buckinghamshire. From the start this included “Working Out”, a specialist brain injury vocational rehabilitation programme set up for those unable to return to previous work after ABI. This became an evidence based example of good practice for Quality Requirement 6 on Vocational Rehabilitation, National Service Framework for Long-term (Neurological) Conditions (Department of Health, 2005).

Maria Morris – Maria is a specialist adult OT and expert in vocational rehabilitation. She is tireless in her pursuit of removing barriers and obstacles to enable her clients to return to education, employment, and meaningful activity. She is highly accomplished in leading negotiations with employers to secure a return to the workplace or new career path.

Maria has comprehensive clinical experience, managing a varied caseload, working with clients who have suffered life-changing injuries and illnesses and has previously worked with military personnel, Government or members of the Royal Household.

Maria currently works part time as an employed Vocational Case Manager and Expert Witness.

She also has her own Occupational Health and Wellness At Work consultancy practice. Maria is currently expanding her consultancy services to provide wellness at work programs, crisis interventions for mental health as well as clinical supervision and mentoring for those in VR, Case Management or Independent OT practice.

Maria won VRA Individual practitioner of the year awards 2021 and is currently a finalist within the Neuro Rehabilitation Times professional awards for her VR work with acquired brain injury clients.

When not working, Maria can be found writing her first book about career redirection, painting and using her artwork for exhibition or wellness tools or out in nature.

Stuart Miller – As a soldier in the British Army and an Officer in HM Prison Service, Stuart has worked in some of the most demanding environments and been able to do so in a positive and determined manner. He delivers specialist employability training and coaching to those with barriers to employment. Working in an energetic and engaging manner he has knowledge and understanding of the challenges faced within the workplace and can adapt his style to suit. By taking a practical and proactive approach to key employability subjects, he can assist with planning a pathway to achieving job goals, in particular around developing job searching skills. Additionally, he can provide insight into disclosing of criminal convictions from understanding the status of an offence right through to questions that may be asked at interview.

Stuart’s work is varied and includes work within the Criminal Justice System, armed forces & veterans’ community, sport and vocational rehabilitation. A highlight across his career was winning a national award for ‘Managing Young People’, part of the HM Prison Service Prison Officer of the Year Awards. This was for his work on a dedicated unit, managing some of the most challenging young people in the justice system.