10 April 2019

CNWL is pleased to announce the appointment of Emma Nicklin as the Trustwide Occupational Therapy (OT) Lead.

Emma said:

“I am passionate about the difference OTs can make to organisations if there are utilised and supported properly. I can’t wait to get to know the all the staff at CNWL and see how we can work together to improve patient care and recovery outcomes across the organisation.

“The 10 year NHS Plan and AHPs into Action means that there is a real focus on keeping people living well in the community and reducing lengths of stay, these are all things that OTs can contribute to and I firmly believe that now is a great time for the profession to stand up and prove its added value.  I hope that together in CNWL we will be able to make the most of this opportunity.”

Emma has been working for the NHS for 22 years and been a qualified OT for 19 years. The past 12 years has seen her in OT and Allied Health Professional leadership roles.

Most of Emma’s career has been in mental health across community services, inpatient ward, personality disorder services, forensic services and recently in offender care. 

She also has had experience in acute care, community rehab and elderly physical and dementia care.

She said she was looking forward to understanding the vast services that CNWL has and added:

“I have loved my operational leadership role and it has given me a real insight into the pressures and challenges faced by our operational leaders. 

“I hope that this experience, combined with my professional leadership skills as an OT will allow me to develop the OT agenda across CNWL to improve patient care, support staff on the ground and meet the operational demands of the organisation.”

Dr Ryan Kemp, Director of Therapies, said:

“We are really pleased to have Emma join CNWL at this time. CNWL has a super group of Occupational Therapists, who are a critical part of the therapies offer to service users.

“Emma will be leading this group and taking them forward into a future where services are more integrated across mental and physical health. As a professional group OTs are uniquely placed to work in this way. Emma will be starting in July and will be coming round to meet teams as part of her induction.”

Emma, currently Assistant Clinical Director – Specialist Community Services, at the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust, starts in her position on 1 July.