Vanessa Southgate

Vanessa has been an Occupational Therapist (OT) for over 20 years and has worked in a variety of settings.  She brings a vast range of experience and knowledge in working with a diverse range of people living with a range of diagnoses and life challenges and specialises in sensory integration.

She initially worked in adult social services as a Community Occupational Therapist after which she worked as an Independent Occupational Therapist in a large community mental health team and held locum posts ranging from forensics to orthopedics.

She subsequently took a post at a school and college for children and young people with learning disabilities, with a high proportion of Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC). Working there as an OT for 11 years, Vanessa held the post of Lead Occupational Therapist for the last 5 of these, as well as representing the wellbeing team on staff induction and progression.

She set up as an Independent Practitioner in 2017 and is passionate about her work, saying that ‘working alongside clients to enable them to achieve their maximum potential is both motivating and rewarding’.