PrioritEyes Rehabilitation Team
Michelle, Vision Rehabilitation Specialists
Hi, I’m Michelle and I have worked in the sight-loss sector since 1986, starting out as a Technical Officer in Brent. I gained the Certificate in Rehabilitation Studies in 1991, and worked as a Senior in Wandsworth and a Team Manager in Croydon for many years. In 2014 I joined PrioritEyes as a locum rehab worker, and worked on a special project in Newham, providing intensive rehab input for a dual-sensory impaired individual with complex additional support needs.
I am now back in Brent, providing locum services across the full sensory impairment spectrum. I have always been passionate about working with sight loss and dual sensory impairment, and feel that I am the happiest I have ever been in my working life, having the freedom to work with PrioritEyes and use my skills and experience where they are most needed.
John, Support Worker
Hi I’m John and I am Michelle’s support worker.
My duties include note taking, data entry, route-planning for home visits, researching information and general office duties such as photocopying and filing.
It is a role which is varied and carries a lot of responsibility, and I find this very rewarding. I was thrilled to be one of the team representing PrioritEyes at the Vision Pioneer Awards in London, when the company was a finalist in the “Best Team 2016” category.
Maureen, Vision Rehabilitation Specialists
Hi I’m Maureen and I qualified as a Rehabilitation Worker in 2011 at Birmingham City University. After qualifying I worked for 3 and a half years as an Outreach Support Worker for a charity, supporting disabled people and social workers through the process of applying for and managing Direct Payments and negotiating the eligibility criteria for the NHS budget.
I joined the PrioritEyes team in July 2015 and spent a year providing locum rehab services in the Islington Sensory Team, which involved working with the low vision clinic team at RNIB Judd Street. In the summer of 2016 I transferred to Bracknell, where I liaised with ECLOs and worked closely with OT in the community, carrying out sensory assessments and supporting vision-impaired people to maintain their independence. In addition to my work in Bracknell I supported international students with sight loss at UCL university, including O&M around the different campus locations and advising tutors about how best to promote independence for students living with sight loss.
I’m really enjoying working for PrioritEyes, as they take supporting vision impaired people seriously. It was important to me as a vision-impaired person that I was able to bring my support worker with me when I joined PrioritEyes. In July 2017 I transferred to Slough and am currently the Locum Rehab in their sensory team.
Vicky, Support Worker
I’m Vicky and I qualified as a Vision Rehabilitation Worker in 2001 and have gained a wealth of experience working with children and adults with Sensory Loss. I am a member of the Rehabilitation Worker Professional Network (RWPN) and have worked in statutory and third sector organisations in urban and rural settings. In addition to undertaking assessments and delivering a full range of VRW services, part of my role has been Awareness Training, to engage other professionals and develop their understanding of sight loss issues. I joined PrioritEyes in 2019
I have a BA in Psychology and previously worked as a lecturer in Health and Social Care, specialising in Visual Impairment, Social Care Systems, Psychology and complementary therapy. I lectured on the physical, emotional and social impacts of Sensory Loss on children and adults and how complementary therapy can be used to aid stress management. Recently I gained a qualification in Deaf-Blind communication and awareness.
Simon, Vision Rehabilitation Specialists
Hello, I’m Simon. I have worked in the sight loss sector since 2006, starting out as a part-time assistant Rehabilitation Worker. I then progressed to becoming a full time Rehabilitation Worker after qualifying at Birmingham City University in 2009 and working in the Wolverhampton sensory team. I have worked closely with other professionals such as ECLO’s, OT’s, Social Workers, Welfare Rights Officers and Safeguarding team members. I completed a top-up degree in Habilitation practice in 2017 and in 2019 I qualified as a Deafblind assessor. My passions are Orientation and Mobility training and Braille although I do enjoy all aspects of being a Rehab Worker and the fulfilment of successful outcomes. I have welcomed the opportunity to work for Prioriteyes as I can maximise my experience and skills knowing that there is support from Norma and the team who understand sight loss and the Rehab role. I am now working as a Locum Rehab in the sensory team at Bexley, London, and thoroughly enjoying my time there.
When not at work my priority is spending time with my family. My hobbies are keeping fit by cycling and swimming and I enjoy travelling with my wife.
Carol, Rehabilitation Worker
Hello there, my name is Carol and I have worked in the Sensory Impairment field since the 1990’s. I began working with profoundly Deaf young mothers and then with vision impaired people. I studied for my HND in Rehabilitation Studies at Birmingham City University and qualified in 2002.
Since then I have worked in several London Boroughs including as a Senior Rehabilitation Officer and I joined PrioritEyes as a Locum in October 2018.
Vic, Vision Rehabilitation Specialists
I’m Vic, I qualified in 2004 and after a locum rehab post in Coventry I worked at Focus Birmingham where I ran a hospital-based rehabilitation service for ten years. In 2014 I joined Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) as a Rehabilitation & Development Manager in a supported housing complex for vision impaired people. I worked closely with the Operations Director in setting up a new charity, Birmingham Vision. In 2015 I became the Operations Manager at Birmingham Vision (part of TPT) where I managed two Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs) as well as managing Rehabilitation and Community Services. In 2017 I started working with PrioritEyes to get back to the grass roots of rehab. I initially worked in Richmond which then combined with Wandsworth Council so I worked in both areas. In 2018 I moved to a PrioritEyes locum contract with Brent council. I have retained my passion for front-line service delivery and I am looking to continue supporting people living with sight loss to live independently with dignity, choice and control.