Name: Rachel Miles
Role: Occupational Therapist
County where you’re based: Stoke-on-Trent
Client Group Include – Adults and/or children.

• Main conditions
  Neurological Rehabilitation
  Upper Limb Neuro Splinting & Soft Casting
  Specialist Seating & Spasticity Management
  Cognitive Assessment & Rehabilitation
  Clinical Pathway Development

Brief Description of qualifications and experience:
Rachel qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2008 with a BSc from Coventry University. She is registered with the HCPC and a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, including the Specialist Sections for Neurological Practice and Independent Practice. With 18 years of OT experience, Rachel has developed services across both private and NHS sectors, specialising in neurological rehabilitation with a strong focus on brain injury, poly-trauma, specialist seating, and spasticity management.

She has held leadership roles, including Lead OT in a Hyper-Acute Level 1A Specialised Rehabilitation Service at a Major Trauma Centre, collaborating within interdisciplinary teams to deliver comprehensive rehabilitation funded by NHS England. Rachel’s clinical expertise includes neurological upper limb splinting, soft casting, and assessments for prolonged disorders of consciousness and post-traumatic amnesia. She has also co-designed care pathways for traumatic brain injury and prolonged disorders of consciousness.

Rachel is committed to ongoing professional development, completing extensive postgraduate training in leadership, sensory integration, cognitive rehabilitation, spasticity management, and thermoplastic splinting. Her recent achievements include receiving a Silver Leadership Award and presenting at the UHNM Major Trauma Conference. Rachel is based at Royal Stoke University Hospital and is supervised by Andrea Matthews, Consultant Occupational Therapist and Advanced Practitioner of Sensory Integration.

What made you want to be an OT and/or what do you love about your job?
I chose a career in OT because it allows me to support clients to focus on what is important to them, what will make a difference in their lives, whether that’s working towards independence with tasks at home, accessing education to fulfil their potential, pursuing career opportunities or getting back to their interests and hobbies. It’s an honour to be able to do this as a job.