A Neonatal Occupational Therapist Singleton Hospital Swansea Amanda qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1994. Following several years working in Mental Health settings and becoming a mother herself, Amanda developed a special interest in working with children. Working as a Community Paediatric OT for 12 years enabled Amanda to develop a sound knowledge of child development. During this time the Neonatal Unit at the hospital where she worked received funding from James Dyson to extend the intensive care unit and Inga Warren (Consultant OT/Developmental Specialist) was consulted on to ensure the build met expectations for Developmental Care standards. As part of this process Inga ran a study day ‘An Introduction to NIDCAP’. Attending this study day sparked Amanda’s continued passion for working with preterm infants.

Shortly afterwards, Amanda was chosen to be part of a Neuro developmental Team whose role was to follow up the development of infants born prematurely. This experience led to Amanda joining Inga’s team at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington where she undertook her first role, as a Neonatal OT.

Amanda has since undertaken extensive training in this field, including Brazelton Newborn Behavioural Observation, Prechtl’s Assessment of General Movements and Family and Infant Neurodevelopmental Education (FINE) LEVEL 1 &2.

Since leaving St Mary’s, Amanda has established two brand new Neonatal Occupational Therapy services: Firstly, at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford and secondly in her current role at Singleton and Princess of Wales Hospitals in South Wales.

Amanda is delighted to be part of a well-established Family Integrated Care Team, who are the first Neonatal Team to be rolling out Family Integrated Care in Wales.