Committee vacancies will be advertised annually in August / September and so any members wishing to get more actively involved should look out for details of these or contact the region to register their interest.
CURRENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Contact: westmidlands@apcp.org.uk
Amy Howells
Co-Chair and Regional Representative
Following graduation from Cardiff University with a first class honours degree Amy began her physiotherapy career within the University Hospitals Of Leicester NHS Trust. She then moved to work within the University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust as a Rotational Physiotherapist before specialising in Paediatrics. She now works for Black Country Partnership Foundation NHS Trust within the Dudley Borough, West Midlands.
Amy has over 10 years’ experience as a Physiotherapist and specialised in paediatric physiotherapy 8 years ago. Amy is the AHP Workforce Development and Clinical Education lead at Black Country Healthcare Trust. Amy works clinically as a Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist with children with complex needs.
Amy was previously the Regional Rep and Chair of the West Midlands Region however is now joint Midlands Regional Rep and Co-Chair following an exciting merger with Trent committee.
Leanne Harlow
Co-Chair and Regional Representative
Naomi Payton
Naomi qualified from Coventry University in 2012 and after completing rotational posts in adults moved to specialise in paediatrics completing core rotations as a junior and senior member of staff before moving to her current role as Advanced Physiotherapist in Paediatric Burns at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
She has been a member of the West Midlands Region Committee for 4 years and now holds the role of secretary, With a special interest in Equality, Diversity and Belonging (EDB) she also sits on a working group to help develop the role of the EDB officer in supporting the organisation align and action EDB tasks related to the APCP.
Ashley Rice
Kathryn Thompson
Diana Banjo
Joanna Coates
Jennifer Harris
Jennie graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2004 and has worked in paediatrics since 2006. She started her career at Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, gaining experience across a range of treatment settings in both NHS and the private sector, before moving to Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in 2020. She has a keen interest in research and development, participating in the HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic pathway and publishing articles in the APCP journal, the Journal of Child Health Care, BMC Health Services Review and Critical Public Health. She now works as a lead specialist physiotherapist in paediatric musculoskeletal and orthopaedic care.
Jennie is delighted to have the opportunity to be part of the Trent Region Committee. She believes that APCP plays a valuable role in supporting evidence based practice and innovation and in promoting the excellent work of paediatric physiotherapists across the UK.
Rachel Keetley
Rachel is an Advanced Practitioner Children’s Physiotherapist at Nottingham Children’s Hospital where she works part time, co-leading the Paediatric Neurosciences Physiotherapy team and the BRILL Team (East Midlands Children’s Neurorehabilitation Service).
After qualifying as a physiotherapist in 1999, Rachel has specialised in neuro-rehabilitation for children and young people. Having always been passionate about supporting children and young people to achieve their potential, Rachel has strived to improve neuro-rehabilitation services in the East Midlands and is part of the team that set up the BRILL (Brain Injuries: Living Life) service – an innovative approach to paediatric neurorehabilitation with NHS England funding delivering early intensive neuro-rehabilitation, early supported discharge and outreach support.
Rachel is also currently undertaking a PhD exploring the long-term participation outcomes and needs for children and young people with acquired brain injuries and their families. In 2017 she completed a National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) funded Masters in Research Methods (Health) and in 2018 the Health Education England/NIHR Clinical Silver Scholar Award, both at The University of Nottingham. From these awards and the ongoing service development and evaluation of the BRILL Service, Rachel has published papers in several journals.
Rachel is also a member of the National Paediatric Neurorehabilitation Network, working with NHS England to improve access to neuro-rehabilitation for children across the country.
When not working or studying, Rachel enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, two very active boys and their dog.
Kathryn Newcombe
Kathryn trained at Sheffield Hallam University and qualified as a physiotherapist in 2001. She started her junior rotations at Derby before specialising in paediatric physiotherapy in 2003 working a split role between the community and acute trusts for 6 years.. at DerbyI started work as a junior physiotherapist in Derby completing a total of 8 rotational placements. Following this she worked for a further 6 years as a full time as a Band 6 acute paediatric physiotherapist with a growing specialism in the early years and neurological impairment. During this time she gained a NIHR scholarship for Masters in Research Methods and completed this in 2012. Since 2016 Kathryn has worked been part time as a Band 7 Paediatric Physiotherapist in the community team specialising in the early years setting.
Sarah Dewhurst
Leesha Naisbit
Louise Kelleher
Mckenna Mills