Debbie Racki

Occupational Therapist

I am a passionate occupational therapist (OT) who gets great satisfaction from assisting people to achieve the things that are important to them. It is my mission to collaborate with people to explore ways to overcome the difficulties that prevent them from maximising their independence.

I remain sensitive to peoples’ needs throughout treatment and intervention, and take a collaborative approach to help them achieve an optimum recovery.

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Expertise

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Recovering from, and adjusting to, illness, disease or disorder

I work with clients in their own homes, in the community or in their place of work, to help them to re-establish a meaningful and fulfilling daily routine, when day-to-day activities are hindered by psychological or physical difficulties.

Musculoskeletal injuries, fractures or post-surgery and amputations

I will assist with comprehensive assessments, particularly in areas that are causing you difficulty and identify or provide treatment to improve function. Such as improving range of movement, strength, grip and dexterity and sensation.

Work and vocation

I will assess and formulate graded return to work plans. Helping people to reduce or avoid absence caused due to psychological or muscular skeletal conditions.

Falls prevention and management

Frequency of falls can be reduced, or even eliminated, through identification of risks, causes and other contributory factors. I provide advice on improving mobility, and I make recommendations of alterations and adaptions to home and work environments.

Mobility

I work closely with people to identify the right mobility aids for them, including wheelchairs. I advise upon, and arrange trials of, all relevant equipment. I can suggest modifications in the form of ramps and rails.

How can I help?

Whilst remaining sensitive to a person’s needs I will complete holistic and thorough OT assessments and interventions to improve a person’s quality of life.

I qualified as an occupational therapist in 2006, and I have worked in challenging and highly rewarding roles within the NHS, with the armed forces and with an occupational health service that supports emergency frontline staff.

I have extensive experience in working with a wide range of physical and mental health conditions.

Anxiety, depression, stress and post-traumatic stress disorder.

I can complete mental health disorder screening, identifying possible solutions, planning interventions and guiding people through self-management strategies including techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy and behavioural activation.

Peripheral nerve injuries

I can provide assessment of sensory and motor function impairments. I can identify treatment to address any deficits, including scar management, desensitisation and exercise prescription. I can suggest equipment and aids if required.

Upper limb and hand injuries, including rheumatological conditions

I can assess and prescribe appropriate rehabilitative exercises post-injury or post-operation, or due to ongoing rheumatological conditions. I can also advise on splints and supports, as well as making recommendations regarding other aids and equipment.

Assessments

I am able to competently complete occupational therapy assessments (OT) within a person’s home or workplace to identify and find solutions to problems to promote function and independence.

Seating and posture

Through comprehensive assessment, I can identify practical strategies that optimise ergonomic solutions, that reduce, or eliminate pain, and that enable better function.

Assessments

I am able to complete comprehensive and occupational therapy assessments.

I am able to assess and make recommendations in the areas of:

Equipment or minor home adaptations
Postural, seating and standard wheelchair assessments
Falls prevention and telecare suggestions
Nerve re-education and scar management
Mental health disorder screening
Facilitating self-management strategies
Formulating return to work plans

I am able to produce high quality written reports that detail current needs and provide holistic recommendations for future interventions. I am able to provide costing projections for all of my recommendations.

I offer one-off OT assessments or ongoing interventions and treatment.

About Debbie

Debbie's CV

I work with people who may be struggling with tasks due to illness or injury, ongoing medical conditions or ageing. I can offer flexible appointments, and can visit people in their own homes or at their places of work, at a time that is convenient for them.

I am highly client-centred, and I am able to provide one-off assessments or ongoing intervention, depending upon need and the wishes of those I work with.

I am a gentle and empathetic person, and I believe that good manners and humane conduct should be central to all roles in healthcare. I have a genuine desire and commitment to acknowledge, respect and support equality, diversity and inclusion, and to oppose all forms of discrimination.

I work with case managers, Court of Protection deputies, solicitors, local authorities and housing associations.

I regularly access clinical supervision. I am professionally registered with the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and the Health and Care Professions Council. I am registered with Information Commissioners Office and am appropriately insured and indemnified.