Quality Independence

28/09/2021

Home comforts made us this amazing spread for Ann's retirement! The food was so delicious!

17/08/2021

To see rest of interview look at our last post!

What have you enjoyed most about working at QI?

I enjoyed working with verbal and non-verbal children, seeing them grow in confidence, skills, abilities and independence. I enjoyed finding out about their personalities, their likes, dislikes,“because learning happens when we are relaxed and having fun”. If a session is not fun for the child, they will not engage and take on new skills. Learning new skills in a fun way helps gain confidence to choose and maximize ability, therefore helping and increasing wellbeing.

And lastly, what are you looking forward to, going forward?

I'm looking forward to having quality time with my retired husband and my eldely mother who is 91 and has dementia. (My mother now lives with us, as she is not able to live independently) Enjoying my five grandchildren who are growing up fast. Being an active member in my local community supporting and befriending neighbours. Working as a Street Pastor in the local community. Sharing the love and the good news of my faith in many different ways.

28/07/2021

Ann has retired - Abi interviewed her about her time with Quality Independence.

Abi: What brought you to QI?

Ann: Working in the NHS I became quite disillusioned, I had worked for 12 years years in the community with adults and children. I knew it was possible to do so much more for the clients and eventually found this frustrating. Carolyn Lovell (OT) who I’d work under in the NHS in the Children’s department had left to set up an independent practice called Quality Independence. Knowing my love, abilities and skills in working with children she asked me to join her team as an Assistant Occupational Therapist in 2011 - now 10 years ago!

Abi:What was the most challenging part of the job for you?

Ann:The biggest learning curve for me was working with children with complex needs; although I really find this rewarding it is often very challenging.
It pushes you to work really hard and stretches your skills to engage with a child that may be unused to new things. I felt sometimes that the parent or caregiver might think that I wasn’t doing very much; but a child with complex needs will always need time to engage and lots of time to respond independently. When they do it's so rewarding for the child, the carers and myself. I had to learn not to worry about what others think or felt but focus on what was best for the child and do what I knew would work.
I have always been given equal opportunity and valued in my role and felt appreciated in the team which adds value to a working culture.
Look for out for our next post where the rest of the interview will be completed!

13/07/2021

A great opportunity to work with children who have varying physical disabilities within an established independent OT service on London/Essex borders. We are looking for a confident applicant who can assess, provide direct treatment and also has some knowledge of seating and adaptations. We also offer supervision and training in areas of OT that you want to develop; although 4 years post graduate experience is required. Contact us to find out if we are perfect option for your career development.

27/06/2021

We are recruiting! If you are a Children's OT and would like to join our team - please contact Carolyn.

08/03/2021

OT Team assistant job advert is now live - so pleased to be able to support a potential OT with a 6 month placement with Quality Independence.

23/04/2020

If you are an OT can you take part in this product design review? these are great guys who are working hard to create a usable product!

Enayball are two young, creative entrepreneurs that make art tools for people with disabilities to independently create artwork; www.enayball.com

They have designed a new device that could be really beneficial for people with certain disabilities; It is a table-top assisted drawing tool that takes all art media - from thin pencils to chunky markers - which can electronically lift the tool off the paper. Follow this youtube link for a prototype demonstration: https://youtu.be/4Is6SNkeD0U

They would like feedback on this prototype from OTs (or others who are interested)!

If you work with people who have MS, MD, CP, SCI, CVA, Arthritis or Acquired Brain Injury, they would love to hear your professional thoughts. Please get in contact at either hello@enayball.com or call Pete on 07875357101 - it will only take 10 minutes of your time; and be a great help with the design!

23/04/2020

Enayball are two young, creative entrepreneurs that make art tools for people with disabilities to independently create artwork; www.enayball.com

They have designed a new device that could be really beneficial for people with certain disabilities; It is a table-top assisted drawing tool that takes all art media - from thin pencils to chunky markers - which can electronically lift the tool off the paper. Follow this youtube link for a prototype demonstration: https://youtu.be/4Is6SNkeD0U

They would like feedback on this prototype from OTs (or others who are interested)!

If you work with people who have MS, MD, CP, SCI, CVA, Arthritis or Acquired Brain Injury, they would love to hear your professional thoughts. Please get in contact at either hello@enayball.com or call Pete on 07875357101 - it will only take 10 minutes of your time; and be a great help with the design!

21/11/2019

I had a great session yesterday with an art student trying out the Enayball. This is a device that lets you to paint using a paint dispenser that is attached to your wheelchair. Pete and Eli (www.enayball.com) kindly lent us their prototype to test out. It was great fun, and I can see that it's potential to enable independent art is amazing! The enayball is going to be put through its paces over the next few weeks/ months by my student... I am hoping for great things!

31/07/2019

We are recruiting a Senior Children's OT to cover 12 months maternity leave from December 2019 (or earlier). You would have a mixed caseload of children with physical & sensory needs.

Salary: £30,400 per annum (36hrs worked flexibly)
Full Time, Fixed Term until 31st December 2020

Please telephone 0208 531 9916 for an informal discussion with Carolyn Lovell, Manager at Quality Independence Ltd

Closing Date: 16th September 2019
Email: Carolyn@qualityindependence.com for an application pack

A Car driver is essential. Are you interested? Please call for further information.