Leanne McHughBefore starting my OT training, I worked as a rehabilitation assistant in a neurorehabilitation ward and in the community, delivering both occupational therapy and physiotherapy intervention. I then went off to study Occupational Therapy at the University of the West of England; here, I undertook placements in community neurorehabilitation, and at a specialist brain injury rehabilitation centre, which I loved.
After qualifying, I worked in the community rehabilitation team in West London, where I worked with individuals with a range of conditions such as MS, MND, stroke, brain injury and orthopaedic conditions. I then moved onto Northwick Park hospital, where I worked across the acute rehab wards, A&E and the rapid response team.
However, I knew that neuro rehabilitation was where I wanted to specialise, and so I applied for a senior role. I started my senior role in the community rehabilitation team as newly qualified, and held both a general rehabilitation caseload and neuro specialist caseload. When I saw that CHD had an opening for an occupational therapist role a year and a half ago, I jumped at the chance as I wanted to use my clinical skills in a specialist inpatient rehab service.