Joanne Foster is Director of North Star Case Management and leads a team of specialist clinical case managers in providing a bespoke service to individuals with complex injuries and health conditions.
Joanne is an occupational therapist by background with over thirty years’ experience of assisting individuals with their rehabilitation. As a Clinical Case Manager, she has worked in the medico-legal sector for the past 20 years and specialises in working with adults who have significant and complex disability, particularly those with an acquired brain injury who require a high level of care and support.
Since 2012 Joanne has held senior operational management roles within leading case management firms with responsibility for providing a high-quality service to clients, which continues in her role at North Star. Joanne is also actively involved on a daily basis in training and guiding case managers to facilitate best practice, and to ensure clients receive a proactive service which helps them achieve their rehabilitation and personal goals.
Joanne was awarded Advanced Membership of BABICM in October 2010 and has been part of the Training & Education Group since 2016.
Having worked in this industry for many years, in 2017 I took a brave leap of faith and established Positive OT & Case Management with the desire to focus fully on holistic and practical strategies to enable my clients to reach their chosen goals. In those days, it was just me and administration support; we’ve grown so much since then!
My previous roles working for other case management companies, the council and NHS have helped me gather a wealth of clinical experience and knowledge of working with adults and children with complex needs following potential catastrophic and life-changing injuries.
As well as being the Director of the company, I continue in my role as case manager and occupational therapist to provide hands-on support. I am passionate about making sure therapy is incorporated into everyday life. I will be a strong advocator on your behalf and keep you at the heart of everything I do throughout the case management process.
Tracey is a Registered General Nurse and has extensive experience in the management of clients who have sustained neurological injuries, having worked in neurological rehabilitation and management for over 10 years in the NHS before becoming a Case Manager in 2007.
Tracey is now a Neurological Case Manager and one of the founding Partners of COOCI Associates LLP who specialise in case management services for highly complex cases, working with both adults and children, helping clients and families whose lives have been significantly changed through personal injury or clinical negligence. This is achieved this by co-ordinating timely rehabilitation opportunities that facilitate life and living for people who have experienced a change in their health and social status.
Tracey has been a member of BABICM for many years and joined the Training Events Group in 2018 to enable her to contribute to the training and development of case managers across the sector.
Tom is a qualified speech & language therapist with 16 years’ experience of working with adult clients who have an acquired brain injury. He worked in the NHS for almost 11 years in acute and community rehabilitation settings in the West Essex area.
Tom left the NHS and started working as a brain injury case manager in May 2015 whilst also setting up his own independent SLT service, providing communication and swallowing assessments and rehabilitation to clients following acquired brain injury. This included working with clients with TBI at a local neuro-rehabilitation centre in Hertfordshire.
Tom joined Ben Holden Ltd in June 2019 working with a variety of clients with brain and spinal injuries across East Anglia and the South East.
Tom has extensive experience working with this dynamic client group, establishing and coordinating highly complex rehabilitation programmes. Tom has also worked alongside statutory services and has established working relationships with primary healthcare, community mental health services and charity services such as Headway.
Tom has recently commenced the full time employed role of Clinical Services Manager within the company where the focus will be on improving and maintaining clinical quality across the company. He will also continue to work with a small clinical case management and SLT caseload within the company.
Minnieke qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2004 and worked in various settings throughout her career. Her last position as an Occupational Therapist was as Clinical lead in an Acute Neurology setting. In 2016 she became a case manager – her caseload being predominantly adults with an acquired brain injury. In 2023 Minnieke became the business director for CCMS, a case management company supporting clients and children with brain injuries and spinal injuries. She continues to carry a small caseload and provide care and OT expert witness reports to the courts.
Minnieke is passionate about her role as case manager and business director to ensure her clients gets the best service, during their rehabilitation and beyond. She is particularly interested and dedicated to supporting and training support staff, in understanding and managing clients with a brain injury.
Minnieke has joined BABICM council to develop herself further, but also contribute in a positive way to improve the lives of brain injured individuals, by ensuring that case managers supporting these clients understand the nuances and challenges they face. She is passionate about educating not only case managers and support workers, but other relevant professionals.
Minnieke has recently gained her Advanced Registered Practitioner Membership with BABICM.
Jackie Waggott is a Case Manager and Director of Operations at Social Return Case Management with a clinical background as a specialist physiotherapist. Jackie has over twenty years of experience of working with clients with neurological difficulties in the community.
Her previous roles have also included complex case co-ordination as a clinician, and leading multidisciplinary teams. Jackie’s specialist interest lies particularly in brain injury rehabilitation, however Jackie relishes a challenge and welcomes working with clients who have a diverse range of complex conditions.
Jackie has been a Registered Practitioner member of BABICM since 2018 and joined the Training events group in 2019.
Jenny Webster is a case manager and mentor for Westcountry Case Management and has extensive experience of working with clients with complex conditions including acquired brain injury and spinal injury arising from medical negligence and personal injury.
Additionally, Jenny has 18 years experience as an occupational therapist in the community, with an interest in neurological conditions, oncology, palliative care and general rehabilitation.
Jenny achieved Advanced Membership of BABICM in June 2016 and joined the Training Events Group in 2019.
Louise qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1996, before gaining hospital-based experience in various clinical fields and going on to specialise in Acquired Brain Injury in 1998. She has clinical expertise and significant experience in Cognitive Rehabilitation and, for eight years Louise was the Clinical Coordinator of an Interdisciplinary Specialist Rehabilitation Team within the NHS whilst also carrying a caseload of patients whose needs were highly complex and challenging. Using a Case Management Approach to pull together and co-ordinate all appropriate services, she ensured the best possible outcome for her patients. Since 2010 Louise has worked in the private sector as a Clinical Case Manager, holding a caseload of clients whose needs cover the whole spectrum of impairment including highly complex medical and psychosocial presentations. In 2004 she qualified as a Registered Intermediary and is accredited by the Ministry of Justice to work with vulnerable witnesses in this role as part of the Witness Intermediary Scheme. Her expertise and skills are also sought within the criminal justice system to facilitate communication with vulnerable defendants. In January 2016 she became the first Intermediary to facilitate communication with a vulnerable claimant during a civil trial. Louise has trained new Intermediaries and also assists to train the Police on working with vulnerable witnesses. Furthermore, she has spoken at numerous conferences on the topic of Intermediaries and other special measures for vulnerable people within the Courts. Louise is very proud to be a Trustee and Professional Advisor to Headway Preston and Chorley. Furthermore, she holds professional registration with the Health Professions Council and the British Association of Occupational Therapists, and is a member of The British Association of Brain Injury Case Managers
Louise achieved Advanced Membership of BABICM in March 2023 and joined the Training Events Group in 2024
Alison is a registered mental health nurse and developed a love for brain injury rehabilitation when she began working as a staff nurse at the Kemsley Unit, St Andrews Hospital, in 1995. She became a case manager in early 2000 and has thoroughly enjoyed having a full and varied caseload ever since.
Over the years, Alison has worked with clients with wide ranging needs, but has a particular passion for supporting people who have dual TBI/mental health diagnoses. Never averse to a challenge, managing risk and risky behaviours is something she has never shied away from, firmly believing that we should open up as many opportunities for people as possible. In recent years, she has begun undertaking expert witness work, adding another, slightly different challenge to her working week.
Alison is a former member of TEG and is delighted to have the opportunity to join the group again. She is the Director of Alison Wright Associates Ltd and has always been keen to support others to develop their understanding and skills in case management.
Alison re joined the Training Events Group in 2024.
Nicole is a paediatric and adult Case Manager, Paediatric Clinical Lead and Assisting Director for Faye Hammond Consultancy. Nicole qualified as a paediatric nurse in 2014 and has since gained experience in various private and NHS settings. By background, Nicole is a specialist complex care nurse with over 14-years’ experience working with children and adults.
Nicole has been a case manager since 2018 and holds strong values. Nicole has greatly developed her skills to support young people and adults to mange their complex needs. Nicole classes herself as having particular interest in managing the care of those that require rehabilitation from traumatic and acquired brain injuries. This aspect of nursing has always been a passion of hers with having both personal and professional experience of looking after children, adults and family members who have been through their own rehabilitation process. This therefore allows Nicole to use her knowledge and experience to manage such caseloads of children and adults with neurological injuries, whilst also understanding the implications on the individual and their family members due to personal experience.
In previous and current roles, Nicole has been responsible for clinical governance, developing assessment protocols and participating in strategic development plans and implementation. Nicole demonstrates key skills in clinical assessments of complex and case management packages, working with clinical specialists ensuring robust, optimum and safe practices. She has assisted with training and developing of new case managers, ensuring training is specific to the individual’s needs.
| Matt joined Irwin Mitchell as a trainee solicitor in 1997 and became a Partner in 2009. Matt’s main areas of practice are high-value, complex or sensitive personal injury cases. He is a particularly experienced trial lawyer and routinely deals with substantial and complex cases in court and at settlement meetings. His current caseload includes the liability and quantum aspects of brain injuries, paraplegic and other serious spinal injury cases, amputations, psychiatric injuries and fatal claims. Matt has a proven track record in succeeding with difficult and hard fought liability cases. Matt is an accredited APIL Senior Litigator. He is an active supporter of Headway and is currently on the committee at Headway Salford, having previously been secretary to the Huddersfield and Wakefield branches. |
Joy is a partner in the Compensation Protection Unit and has specialised in Property and Affairs Court of Protection Matters since qualification in September 2016. Prior to qualification, Joy gained significant experience in both personal injury and clinical negligence claims. Joy is a volunteer in Horatio’s Garden Wales and a part of their Fundraising Committee and a Director of Moss Rose Cottage. Joy also plays an active role in the chartable work undertaken for Headway Cardiff and South East Wales, Rookwood Spur and Ronald McDonald House. Joy has recently ran the London Marathon to raise vital funds for Cerebral Palsy Cymru. Joy is an active committee member for the Court of Protection Practitioners Association Cymru. Joy is also an associate member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers, a senior member for the Professional Deputies Forum and an associate member of the Association of Contested Trusts and Probate Specialists