HEATHER PICKIN
REGISTERED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
P R O F E S S I O N A L R E S U M E - 2013
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Occupational Therapy & Rehabilitation Services, Toronto May 1992 - Present
Independent Consultant to personal injury and motor vehicle accident victims, their lawyers and insurers: providing Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Management Services following severe and catastrophic injuries; Future Cost of Care Analyses/Life Care Planning; Family Dynamics and Value of Service Analyses in cases of permanent disability or accidental death; Vocational Analyses: Transferable Skills, Work Site/Ergonomic Evaluations/Situational Assessments, Physical and Cognitive Job Demands Analyses; Return to Work Negotiating and Planning; Rehabilitation Case Management; File Review; In-Home Functional Assessments; Functional Re-integration Programmes; Attendant Care Needs Assessment; Accommodation Needs Assessment and Discharge Planning; Situational Post-104 and Catastrophic Assessments; Home and workplace design and modifications, in consultation with architects and quantity surveyors.
Acting Director of Clinical Services, RTW Integrated Health Management Inc May 2010 - Present
Consultant to J. Douglas Salmon Jr, Neuropsychologist: recruitment, training and supervision of Occupational Therapists, Neuro-cognitive OT and Catastrophic Head Injury Assessment and Treatment, Cognitive Job Demands Analyses, Vocational Analyses and Job Coaching, Situational Assessments and Life Care Planning.
Occupational Therapy Practice Consultant, LifeMark Assessment Inc March 2007 – Jul 2008
Acting Director of Occupational Therapy providing management and training support services; Consultant Practitioner - Catastrophic and Complex Injury Assessments, Discharge & Rehabilitation Planning, File Review and Life Care Planning.
Independent Rehabilitation Consultant - Toronto May 1993 - Dec 1997
Dynamic Rehabilitation: case management and occupational therapy services: MVA trauma - multiple orthopaedic, complex soft tissue, spinal cord and brain injury assessment and treatment; Future Cost of Care Analyses.
Human Resource and Management Consultancy - Toronto Jan 1995 - Apr 1997
Dynamic Rehabilitation & Therapy For Function: recruitment, training, HR policies, student placement co-ordination.
Manager - Warwick Row Centre, Westminster S.S., London, UK Sept 1988 - July 1991
Optimising personal, vocational, educational and leisure abilities for adults with acquired or congenital, neurological impairment, orthopaedic, spinal cord injuries and traumatic amputees living in the community. Staffing, training, supervising, budgeting, facilitating growth and development in community care, quality assurance, holistic approach.
Team Leader - Westminster Social Services, London, UK Aug 1985 - Sept 1988
Planning and Development, Staff Recruitment, Training and Management of New Community OT Services; set up "Access Committee" to collaborate and co-ordinate access issues for people with disabilities; publications on services for the disabled, inc. the "Mobility Guide", aimed at architects and designers; mobility, housing and home modification assessments; waiting list reductions; team management.
Occupational Therapist - Westminster City Council, London, UK Aug 1982 - Jul 1985
Provide community assessments and re-integration planning in all areas of physical and psychological disability, for all age groups.
Staff Occupational Therapist - Royal Free Hospital, London UK Jul 1979 - Jul 1982 Clinical assessment, evaluation, treatment of patients in: Neurology, Orthopaedics and Rheumatology, Gerontology, Cardiology and Oncology Departments; Splinting, Home Assessments and Discharge Planning.
Staff Occupational Therapist - Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK Aug 1978 - Jun 1979
Basic Grade rotational posts in: Neurology, Orthopaedics, Gerontology and Rehabilitation. Home Assessments and Discharge Planning.
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
2012 Canadian Certification Life Care Planning
2011 Canadian Life Care Planning Programme, University of Florida, USA
1993 CAOT Certification Exam, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1981 Psychology Honours Programme, Birbeck College, University of London, UK
1978 Diploma of The College of Occupational Therapists, London, UK
1975-1978 The London School of Occupational Therapy, London, UK (now Brunel University)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
2011 - present Member of the Association of Caribbean Occupational Therapists (ACOT)
1994 - present Member of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO)
1993 - present Member of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT)
1993 - 1999 Member of the Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (CARP)
1978 - 1995 Member of the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM)
1975 - 1994 Member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT)
POST-GRADUATE courses
Rehabilitation Management
Toronto ABI Conference 2012 (2 days) – ABI Network, Toronto
Managing Injury to Independence - 2012 – Canadian Paraplegic Association of Ontario and Thomson Rogers
Accident Benefits Seminar WTF 2012- Where’s the Funding – Howie, Sacks & Henry, Toronto
CAT Brain Impairment (Rehabilitation Strategies) 2011– Thomson Rogers and Toronto ABI Network , Toronto
Harnessing the Power after Brain Injury 2010 – Provincial ABI Conference (2 days) – OBIA, Niagara Falls
Life after DACs – NRS, ABI Network & Thomson Rogers – featuring Willie Handler, FSCO
Mild to Moderate TBI, Current & Emerging Trends - Sunnybrook & Women’s HSC & University of Toronto
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression (2 days) - Dr Zindel Segal, Leading Edge Seminars, Toronto
Exploring the Spectrum of Brain Injury (2 days) – Acquired Brian Injury Network, Toronto
Bill 198 – Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and Thomson Rogers
Current Issues in ABI Rehab - legislation reform, current research, empirical service delivery: BIA, CRM, Thomson Rogers
Success After TBI: Clinical, Ethical & Medico-Legal Considerations in Defining & Measuring Outcome: NRS, Toronto
Communication Solutions for Complex Injuries: Conference Connections & Inter-Action, Toronto
Seminar on Bill 59: Management of Catastrophic Injuries: Thomson Rogers, Toronto
Disability Claims: Evaluation, Treatment & Validity: Prof. Training Seminars, Toronto
Understanding Loss of Earning Capacity Benefits: Marc Menard & Associates, Toronto
Auto Insurance Reform: What Lies Ahead (2 days) – University of Western Ontario, London
Treatment and Rehabilitation
Cognitive Assessment Tools to Treat Cognitive Deficits – 2012 (2 days) – University Health Network, Toronto
ACOT 10th Biennial Scientific Conference - 2011(2 days), Barbados, WI
Assessing and Treating Head Injuries: Maria Christienssen, Lier Canada, Toronto
Identifying and Treating Chronic Pain: Dr David Corey, Health Recovery Clinic, Toronto
Dealing with Psychological Disabilities (2 days) – The Canadian Institute, Toronto
80 hours of lectures in general medicine, neurology, neuro-physiological assessment, joint replacement and medical management of rheumatoid arthritis – Royal Free Hospital Medical School, London UK
Stroke Rehabilitation – Bobath Technique (1 week) – Bertha Bobath et al, Royal Free Hospital, London UK
Cerebral Palsy (2 weeks) – Cheyne Walk Cerebral Palsy Unit, London UK
Bereavement and bereavement counselling (1 week) – London Centre of Speech Pathology, London UK
25 lecture hours in general medicine and rehabilitation, Charing Cross Hospital Medical School, London UK
Accessibility Modifications
Housing Needs for the Disabled and Elderly (2 days) – John Penton, Castle Priory, UK
Designing for the Disabled (1 week) – Selwyn Goldsmith, Westminster Social Services, London UK
Housing Adaptations (1 week) – NW London Regional Health Authority, UK
Hoists and Lifting Techniques (1 day) – Disabled Living Foundation, UK
Wheelchairs and Seating (1 day) – Disabled Living Foundation, UK
Dial-a-Ride Schemes – The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation – London, UK
Driving for the Disabled (1 day) – Crowthorne Motability Centre, UK
Human Resources
Middle Management Course (3 weeks) – Westminster Social Services, London UK
Staff Supervision Course (1 week) – Westminster S.S., London UK
Health & Safety ay Work – Westminster S.S., London UK
Selection Interviewing (3 days) – Westminster S.S., London UK
Disability Issues and Discrimination at Work (3 days) – Greater London Employers Secretariat, London UK
AIDS and Community Services – Westminster S.S., London UK
PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE
CAOT: malpractice, errors & omission
VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
Member of the Board of Directors (Secretary) Interval House, Toronto February 2003 – 2012
Interval House is a non-profit organisation first opened in 1973 providing shelter and a continuum of residential and community services for women and children fleeing abusive relationships. Interval House’s Residential Programme provides a safe physical environment, emotional and psychological support, and in-house services to enable women and children to rebuild their lives and move on to violence-free alternatives.
The Board works in partnership with the Management Executive on effective Governance, Strategic Planning, Programming and Services, e.g. BESS - Building Economic Self-Sufficiency through development of employment skills and confidence, planning and career development through mentoring, sponsorships and work placements, employment opportunities, economic independence and safe affordable permanent housing; communication, decision making, accountability mechanisms and fiduciary responsibilities to private, government and corporate funders.
I also advised and worked with consultant architects to improve accessibility to enable services to be extended to women and children with disabilities.
Volunteer and Member of the Board of Directors, Kirabo Seminars Canada October 2007 - present
Kirabo Seminars Canada is a non-profit organisation providing opportunities for Canadians to experience a developing nation while making a difference in the lives of children in Northern Uganda, many of whom have been affected by the civil war since 1987 and HIV/AIDS; matching the volunteers to the needs of teachers, health care professionals, administrators and children on site.
Kirabo Canada works closely with local NGO’s, particularly The TOFTA Educational Trust (T.E.T), Lords Meade Secondary School in Jinja, The Almond Secondary School in Lira and the Rachele Rehabilitation Centre which opened in 2003 and has since rehabilitated and reintegrated thousands of children who have escaped or been rescued from the Lords Resistance Army; where food, medical care, shelter, education and above all, psychological counselling are provided. In 2008 I spent 3.5 weeks volunteering at the Almond School and at the Kampala Kids Day with Right to Play. I continue to volunteer with fundraising efforts, sponsorship and programme planning.
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