Children’s occupational therapy team

My name is Rachel and I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1991 (long before many of the team were born!)

I'm passionate about supporting children to reach their potential. I have even worked and supported teams in Russia.

I work within the Children Rheumatology team which is a regional service and often sees me visit patients across the North East.

Fun Fact: I'm a bit of a petrol head and love my cars and motorbikes. My dream car is a 1970 Mercedes SL 280.

Hi! My name is Emily Adams and I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2021. Following my graduation, I spent a year working with adults before joining the children’s team. I am currently working in the community.

Fun fact: Dolphins!!! When paddle boarding in Ireland Dolphins came alongside my board and nearly knocked me off!

Hello my name is Nicole McCook. I moved to the North East from Northern Ireland in 2014 to study Occupational Therapy at Northumbria University Newcastle. I started off my OT career by working in Adult Trauma and Orthopaedics however I always wanted to work with children so jumped at the chance to move to a Community Paediatrics Team.

I am now in a new rotational post within the Acute Paediatric Team at the RVI working in Respiratory. I have a special interest in neonates, early years development and physical disabilities.

Fun Fact: I love to travel and I'm currently trying to visit 30 countries before I turn 30... I am almost half way there!

Hi! My name is Amy. I qualified as an Occupational Therapist from Northumbria University in 2015.

On first qualifying, I worked in Adult Orthopaedics and Trauma until a perfect opportunity arose to join the world of Paediatrics at the RVI.

I am currently in a rotational post and have been at the hospital for over 3 years. My areas of special interest include: rehabilitation, physical disabilities including upper limb intervention in relation to hemiplegia, and early intervention in neonatal care.

FUN FACT!: I like PEACHES on pizza! (Parma ham, peaches and rocket! Yum yum).

Hi, My name is Cheryl, I qualified from Northumbria University as an Occupational Therapist in 2015 at the age of 41.

I came to work at Newcastle Hospitals in November 2015 and have remained in paediatrics throughout.

I have a strong interest in working with autistic children and children who experience sensory differences. I am also very passionate about equality, diversity, inclusion and reducing health inequalities.

Fun Fact: I once worked as a bingo caller.

Hello my name is Elizabeth Rowen, and I have been an occupational therapist since 1994. I went to Northumbria University.

My special interest is children and teenage cancer, bone marrow transplant and childhood development – working together to maintain play and participation whilst in hospital and at home.

My fun fact is that I once nearly sailed into an iceberg!

Hi my name is Vicki and I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1999 having trained at Derby University. After qualifying I returned home and joined the Newcastle Hospitals.

My passion has always been to work in the area of paediatrics and it wasn’t long before I secured a post in the Community Children’s team. I have experience of working both within the community and acute hospital setting in the field of paediatrics.

My specialist interest is in the area of physical disability specifically Cerebral Palsy – Hemiplegia.

Fun Fact: Did you know Kangaroos can’t walk backwards!

Hi my name is Cathy, I graduated from the University of Ripon and York St John as an Occupational Therapist.

My clinical experience has involved working with children and families in the community and school environments within the NHS and Children’s Social Care. I recently joined the paediatric orthopaedic spinal team and am excited to be part of this expanding service.

My areas of specialist interest are: paediatric physical disability, rehabilitation, equipment and environmental adaptations.

Fun fact: One of my favourite life experiences was sea kayaking off the coast of Vancouver Island.

Hi, my name is Tara. I graduated from The University of Cumbria as an occupational therapist. I have a special interest in selective eating subsequent to sensory processing differences.

I had significant difficulty as a child and adolescent due to selective eating therefore supporting children to develop their food preferences is very important to me.

The key ingredient to reaching goals is fun - I like to sprinkle a bit of fun into every day at work!

Fun fact about me: I have ADHD and I really do think that is my superpower! Does that make me a superhero?

My name is Chloe-Dawn and I graduated from Northumbria University in 2020 with a BSc in Occupational Therapy. I moved to Newcastle for university from County Armagh, Northern Ireland and have loved the toon ever since!

I worked in a previous Children’s Occupational Therapy team before moving to Newcastle to be a part of the acute/community children’s rotation.

One of my special interests is supporting children who have experienced disruption to their early development, such as an extended hospital stay from birth due to illness. I am also passionate about supporting Young People’s transition from children’s to adult services.

A fun fact about me is that I never broken a bone, but I have split my head open two times!!

Hi, I’m Nikki. I graduated from Northumbria University with a BSc Hons degree in Occupational Therapy in 2016. I grew up in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland and moved to Newcastle to study.

After working in Craigavon Area Hospital, I realised my heart was still in the Toon and I came to work for the Newcastle Hospitals in 2018.

I love being involved in supporting children, young people and their families to access meaningful activities in their everyday lives, to enjoy life to the full. My special interest is early intervention and working with physical disabilities to ensure every has access to equal opportunities.

A fun fact about me: my udder job before this was milking cows to make ice-cream on a farm in Northern Ireland. My favourite flavour is mint choc chip.

I completed my MSc (Pre-registration) in Occupational Therapy in 2008 with the University of Northumbria. During my career I have worked across a number of trusts in the North East and joined the Newcastle Hospitals in January 2023.

I am passionate about ensuring that all children are able to engage in their everyday tasks to the best of their ability. At the moment, my special interests lie in the areas of early years and early intervention, developmental delay and autism.

Fun fact: When I was younger I was a huge Disney fan- my favourite films were Aladdin and Mulan. When we meet, tell me your favourite Disney movie!

Hello my name is Abigail, I graduated from the University of Cumbria in 2016 with a BSc degree in Occupational Therapy.

I started working here at Newcastle Hospitals in 2017 within the adult OT team, before joining the paediatric team in 2019. I currently work in a rotational post, within the acute setting. I have special interests in acute intervention, physical disabilities, and equipment.

FUN FACT; I played the tenor horn in a brass band and travelled to play in concerts all over the UK for over 5 years.

My name is Tahlia, I have completed two degrees which I based around the aspiration to pursue a career working with children.

I completed my undergraduate degree in Childhood and Early Years Studies and my master’s degree in Psychology at Northumbria University.

I joined the community children’s occupational therapy team as an occupational therapy assistant in 2022. I have a special interest in Autism, sensory processing and advocating for inclusive opportunities. I find this role to be so rewarding and enjoy working alongside the therapists in helping children to achieve their goals.

Fun fact: I am from Australia and I had kangaroos, lizards and spiders living in my back garden. What animals would you want to live in your garden?

Hi, I am Lindsay, I graduated in 2005 from Newcastle University with a degree in Sociology and Social Policy. After researching career options Occupational Therapy stood out as a perfect fit and so I qualified in 2008 from Northumbria University with an MSc (pre-registration) in Occupational Therapy.

I previously worked in other Children's Occupational Therapy teams for 12 years before joining the acute team in Newcastle in 2020. I am now the lead OT on the Children's Neuro ward and I am passionate about supporting children and their families in their journey from acute illness, through the rehabilitation process and ultimately back home with as much independence, dignity and control as possible.

Outside of work I am a mum to two very energetic little boys. We love getting out and about in the countryside and baking together.

Fun Facts: I can touch my nose with my tongue, and also did you know that you can't hum if you hold your nose!

Hello! My name is Julia, I graduated in Occupational Therapy from Northumbria University in 2022. I’ve worked at the RVI for nearly 3 years now - as an OTTI during my studies and now as a qualified OT!

I am working in a Rotational Band 5 Post and so far, I have worked in the adults OT team and currently I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to work in the children’s OT team.

One of the reasons I wanted to become an OT was to get to work with people and their caregivers to support engagement in our daily activities – it is so rewarding to get to work with so many individuals every day and find out what is important and meaningful to them. We are all so unique in what we find meaningful and it is a joy to celebrate this through working as an Occupational Therapist! What is meaningful to you?

I have a special interest in physical disabilities, equipment to support everyday activities and rehabilitation.

Fun fact: My fun fact is that I am currently training to run the Great North Run for the Great North Children’s Hospital, wish me luck!

Hi, my name is Kirstie Dobbin and I joined the Paediatric Occupational Therapy Team in 2023.

I previously worked in a school for Autistic children and children with additional needs, this is where I realised my interest for Occupational Therapy and the positive impact it has on the children I worked with.

Fun fact - I used to do line dancing when I was younger and competed in a competition for my school.

I received a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2013 at the University of Northumbria. I am originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland and moved over to Newcastle to study.

I have a special interest and passion about early intervention and inclusion; ensuring all children have valuable opportunities for positive engagement and development.

Most importantly, I believe that all children learn and grow at their own pace, and their emotional well-being should be at the forefront of their therapeutic journey.

A fun fact about myself is, I worked as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist in a private therapy clinic in the Cayman Islands for 3 years, and spent 1 year in Naples, Italy supporting children and families from the US Navy base.