Biography
Clare Jones joined Birmingham Newman University in January 2024 as lecturer in Occupational Therapy. She qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2010 gaining her MSc at University of East Anglia. She has a breadth of experience in occupational therapy practice, from working in various settings (hospitals, community settings, housing association, and a registered charity); including the following specialisms; neurological conditions, housing and adaptations, moving and handling, driving assessment, vehicle access, specialist seating and safe vehicle travel for children and adults, Bugzi and Tryb4ufly schemes and medico-legal assessments.
Clare has studied Education, Sociology, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Management and Leadership and is expert witness trained through Bond Solon/Cardiff University. She has worked as an affiliate lecturer for 8 years on a part-time secondment role with Oxford Brookes University and in association with Driving Mobility to deliver the programme in Driving Assessment and Outdoor Mobility and took on responsibility as module leader for Cognition and Vision. She carried out this role alongside her management role at the registered charity RDAC, leading a team of occupational therapists and driving advisers undertaking driving and mobility assessments, and developed services within the organisation to offer more regional locations and paediatric programmes. Clare is keen to promote the Occupational Therapy profession, share best practice, and to develop innovative teaching and learning methods.
Profile
Research Interests
Clare has an interest in ergonomics and how environments can be adapted to enable individuals with various disabilities to engage more fully in their occupations such as vehicles and adaptations designs, and housing solutions. She has also spent time understanding the role of the Occupational Therapist and how their interpersonal skills and therapeutic use of self can greatly influence outcomes for patients/clients. Lastly, she has a special interest in cognitive and vision impairments, particularly in relation to stroke, traumatic brain injury and dementia.
Membership of Professional Organisations:
Clare maintains her registration as an occupational therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). She is also a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT). Clare will begin her Post-graduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice in September 2024 and will work towards fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.
Qualifications:
Expert Witness Certificate (Bond Solon/Cardiff University, 2018)
Management and Leadership Level 5 Diploma BTEC and NVQ (Sutton Coldfield Training Ltd, 2016)
Post-graduate Certificate in Driving Assessment and Outdoor Mobility (University of Chester, 2013)
Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (Shrewsbury College, 2012)
MSc (pre-reg.) Occupational Therapy (University of East Anglia, 2010)
Post-graduate Diploma in Psychology with BPS recognition (The Open University, 2006)
BA (Hons) Education – first class (Cardiff University, 2004)
Other Activities
Conference Presentations
Safe vehicle travel for children (OT Show, NEC, 2023)
Returning to driving after traumatic brain injury (ABIF (Acquired Brain Injury Forum) Conference – Northants, 2023)
Returning to Driving after Stroke (Stroke Forum, ACC Liverpool, 2022)
Driving after brain injury (ABIF (Acquired Brain Injury Forum) Conference – Kettering, 2019)
CMSUK (Case Management Society UK) (Arden Hotel, Birmingham, 2018)
Driving Assessment (Naidex, NEC, 2017)
Examples of Publications
Esser, P., Dent, S., Jones, C., Sheridan, B. J., Bradley, A., Wade, D. T., & Dawes, H. (2016). Utility of the MOCA as a cognitive predictor for fitness to drive. Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry, 87(5), 567–568. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2015-310921
Invited Reviews Consultation
None