About us

Directors

Lucy White Director & Occupational Therapist

Hi, I’m Lucy. Mum to two gorgeous boys; Corey and Logan and a wonderful husband Ben. I qualified in 2010 with a Bachelors degree in Occupational Therapy from Oxford Brookes University. I’ve worked in both the NHS and private sector in a range of areas including mental health, physical and learning disabilities. I have a special interest in sensory interventions and strategies, utilising and transferring these skills in to various different fields to support our clients independence. I enjoy developing my clinical experience and learning new skills in various different fields. My biggest motivation for working in the field of Occupational Therapy is ensuring people are able to live the life that matters to them.

Lucinda Williams Director & Occupational Therapist

Hi, I’m Lucinda. I qualified in 2023 with a Bachelors degree in Occupational Therapy from Oxford Brookes University. I have a keen interest and passion for Animal Assisted Therapy and the world of Sensory. I have placement experience in Community teams specialising in Neuro-Rehabilitation, Falls Teams and Learning Disabilities. I have worked as a Senior Occupational Therapy Assistant in the mental health sector, working specifically on Psychiatric Intensive Care Units and Male & Female Low Secure wards. I also have over 4 years of school experience working with children, adolescents and adults with Special Educational Needs (SEN), focusing on increasing independence and achieving goals that matter to them..

Team

Ellen Breech

Administrator

We are pleased to announce that Ellen will be joining us in November 2024.

Nikki Kear-Hill Therapy Assistant

.Hi, im Nikki. Mum to three lovely children. I qualified as a Primary School Teacher in 2009 and taught in mainstream schools. I also have experience working in the Early Years Sector and working with SEND in holiday schemes. I completed my SEND diploma in July 2024. After experiencing a rollercoster life of a SEND family, i set out to find a new career pathway tohelp others experiencing the same as us! So i have come on board to be the Therapy Assistant and look forward to helping as many people as we possibly can!

Its a surprise!

Occupational Therapist

We are pleased to announce that we have a new Occupational Therapist joining us October 2024! Watch this space!

Louise Powell Therapy Assistant

Hello my name is Louise. I am mum to 3 children. I am a Qualified Registered Nurse since 2001within the NHS. Currently working part time in Primary Care, previously I worked within the School Immunisation team, have experience with SEND children within mainstream and specialist school settings. I have also worked within local hospitals for over 20 years as well, as Nursing Homes, Health Visiting team and Urgent Care Centre. I have lots of lived experience of SEN with my own children and understand the joys and challenges that brings.I am now joining the team part time as a Therapy Assistant, to fulfil my passion of trying to help individuals and families like mine. I have a keen interest in improving mental and physical wellbeing, to promote independence, so that everyone can fulfil their own potential.

Bethan Whimpenny

Speech and Language Therapist

Hi! My name is Bethan and I joined the team in September 2024. I'm a qualified Speech and Language Therapist, graduating with an MSc in Speech and Language sciences from University College London in 2022.

My background is in Psychology, graduating with a Bsc in Psychology from the University of Sussex in 2014. I have 4 years previous experience tutoring children and young people with Autism following a multidisciplinary approach; incorporating sensory integration strategies, behavioural support and speech and language therapy into teaching of functional and meaningful skills, that have been tailored to each individuals education plan.

Ellie Therapy Dog

Ellie loves long walks on the beach, balls and making people happy. She is a 2-year-old Golden Retriever that has completed her therapy dog training and is a valued member of the Function Ability team.

Sharon Mobbs Operations and Strategic Consultant

Sharon is the owner of SEND Allies. She provides case co-ordination and business operations services to FunctionAbility and our sister company Berkshire Autism Services. Sharon also provides SEND advocacy and support to parents/carers who are seeking better educational provision for their children/young people with SEND. After 13 years working as senior manager for an international investment company, Sharon turned her skills and expertise to supporting those navigating the SEND system. For more information about SEND Allies go to www.sendallies.org.uk. Sharon loves a plan, being organised, The Archers and having adventures with her family.

Ben White IT man and all round tea maker!

I first found my calling to FunctionAbility when my lovely wife Lucy lovingly volunteered my services! But no seriously, i currently work in IT as a Project Manager but can often be found flitting around helping the two Lucy/i's with project management, IT support, moves, conferences and my favourite role of all as therapy dog handler.

Our qualifications

Our team includes qualified Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists with extensive experience in the field as well as highly experienced Occupational Therapy Assistants. Our team members are all registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC), Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), enhanced DBS checked, insured and vetted.

Our team has extensive experience in physical health, mental health and cognition with a special interest in sensory integration. Our Therapists have attended a wide range of training including (but not limited to):

Sensory Integration - Levels 1, 2,3 and 4

EHCP and tribunal assessments

Level 4 Advanced People Handling and Risk Assessment Key Trainer's Certificate

Mandatory training including Safeguarding (adults and children), PREVENT, Equality and Diversity, Information Governance, basic life support, first aid at work

ADOS-2

ADIR

Webinars for new standardised assessments

Major adaptations

DIR Floortime

Sensory Intelligence

Peadiatric first aid

Practice placement education for students

Supervision for professionals

Sensory Attachment Intervention