Meet the Team
Neurological Physiotherapy is a team of highly specialised therapists who will ensure that you receive the best possible treatment and support for your condition. Please view our team profiles below.
Claire Laverty:
Clinical Lead
Claire qualified in 1986 from Addenbrooks Hospital, Cambridge and has been specialising in Neurology since 1989.
Although she has limited treatment time, she concentrates on developing the services provided by NP.
Claire strives to create a physiotherapy service that meets the needs of all patients and to enable physiotherapists to provide their best.
Providing clinical support for her team she also completes medico legal reports for the court.
Carla Horricks
Deputy Clinical Lead
Carla joined NP in 2006. She has worked in both the NHS and private sectors. Carla works with complex neurological and musculo-skeletal conditions and leads the Paediatric service within the clinic.
She is qualified in the treatment of acupuncture and provides Pilates classes for neck and lower back pain. Carla is the Expert Practitioner for the Headaches and Migraine and is the lead in community and rehabilitation unit services in Chester and Southport.
Megan Knowles-Eade
Deputy Clinical Lead
Megan qualified from Keele University in 2007 and joined NP in 2008. She has completed Bobath, Myofascial and soft tissue courses.
Megan has a special interest in brain injury and is an Expert Practitioner for this condition. Megan is the lead for Liverpool community and rehabilitation unit services, works with case managed patients, and provides clinic and community treatment.
Anna Handley Potts
Practice Manager
Anna joined NP in October 2019 as our practice manager. She organises and manages the day to day running of our clinic, rehabilitation unit services, the CNRS and medico legal services.
Prior to joining our team, Anna worked clinically as a therapist within mental health services in London and coordinated the Stroke Association service in Stockport, having moved to the North West in 2017.
Nicola Giles
Administrative Lead
Nicola joined NP in September 2020 as our receptionist/administrator before being promoted to Administrative Lead in September 2021.
She has an extensive background in customer services.
Sally Nicholls
Administrator
Sally joined NP in August 2021 as our second administrator.
Previously Sally led a team in a retail environment and has extensive experience in customer focused roles.
Ali Courtier
Physiotherapist
Ali joined NP in September 2020, having qualified from Salford University earlier in the year. Ali chose to retrain as a physiotherapist having worked as a solicitor for a number of years.
Ali has made the decision to specialise in Neurological Physiotherapy and supports our services in clinic and at the rehabilitation unit in Southport.
She has recently completed a pilates qualification, having practiced this exercise discipline herself for some time. Ali is currently completing her Bobath qualifications.
Ross Bailey
Physiotherapist
Ross qualified from Sheffield Hallam University in 2013 and joined NP shortly after. Ross has completed Bobath and soft tissue courses.
He has an interest in the role of balance and vestibular rehabilitation in neurological treatment. Ross offers both clinic/community sessions and supports our rehabilitation unit services in Southport and Chester.
Karen Belfield
Physiotherapist
Karen qualified as a physiotherapist in 1999 and specialised within the field of neurological physiotherapy in 2001. Initially this was in a stroke rehabilitation setting before moving to work with neuro-outpatients both privately and within the NHS.
Karen has completed numerous post graduate courses including basic and advanced Bobath courses, myofascial release courses and more recently the PD warrior course.
Karen has since developed a special interest in treating people with PD but also enjoys treating people with complex neurological disorders.
Caroline Farrow
Physiotherapist
Caroline qualified from Salford University in 2010, completing an additional MSc module in Neurological Rehabilitation.
Caroline has completed Bobath courses and can deliver Pilates classes. Following working as a Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist in the NHS, Caroline joined NP in March 2020.
Caroline has extensive experience working in the community and supports our rehabilitation unit services.
Becki Faulkner
Physiotherapist
Becki graduated in 2002 from Bradford University and chose to specialise in Neurological Physiotherapy. She has supplemented her degree with training in Bobath techniques and delivering FES treatment.
Following working in community services in the NHS and a short career break, Becki joined NP in November 2020. Becki supports our services in both the clinic and rehabilitation units.
Adrian Howard
Physiotherapist
Adrian originally qualified in Nutrition and Exercise before graduating with a Physiotherapy Masters in 2006 from the University of Queensland, Australia. Adrian chose to specialise in Muscular Skeletal Physiotherapy and is our MSK Expert Practitioner.
Following running a successful physiotherapy clinic in Wilmslow, Adrian joined NP in March 2022. He offers assessment and treatment for complex MSK conditions and additionally can provide SOMM injection therapy and is a physiotherapy independent prescriber.
Steph Ingham
Physiotherapist
Steph qualified from Sheffield Hallam University in 2014 and joined NP shortly after.
She has completed Bobath courses, has gained a qualification in taping and strapping, including Kinesiology taping and a Level 3 Sports Massage Diploma. Stephanie has a particular interest in health and fitness, using this knowledge in leading the balance exercise class and assisting with the Parkinson’s and seated exercise classes run by the clinic.
Steph supports the management of our rehabilitation unit services in Liverpool, as well as working in the clinic and community.
Joe Laverty
Physiotherapist
Joe graduated from Salford University in 2014. He went on to complete a MSc in Advanced Physiotherapy in 2016, which included research into myofascial release on headache and migraine symptoms.
Additionally, Joe has completed an introductory Bobath course and level 4 sports massage qualification. He manages our rehabilitation unit services in Southport, delivers clinic and community treatment, and retains a special interest in neck and lower back pain.
Anja Mallison
Physiotherapist
Anja qualified as a physiotherapist in 1992 and specialised in neurology in 1995. She has worked in both the NHS and the private sector.
Anja has a wealth of experience treating patients with complex neurological presentations. She joined NP in July 2018 and works within the clinic; community and our rehabilitation unit services as an Expert Practitioner for head injury.
She has completed many post graduate courses including advanced Bobath courses.
Ceri-lynne Morton
Physiotherapist
Ceri-lynne qualified from Sheffield University in 1994. She worked for 20 years in Salford Royal NHS trust specialising in neurological rehabilitation in both the acute and community setting, before joining NP in 2016.
Ceri-Lynne has completed many post graduate courses including advanced Bobath courses, motor control, vestibular rehabilitation, and soft tissue courses. She enjoys treating a wide range of neurological conditions and patients with complex presentations.
Ceri-lynne works within the clinic; community and our rehabilitation unit services, as our Expert Practitioner for MS.
Kellie Pike
Physiotherapist
Kellie qualified as a physiotherapist from the University of East London in 1997. She worked in the NHS in London and Manchester for 17 years specialising in neurology, before starting at NP in 2014.
Kellie is Bobath trained and is particularly interested in a holistic approach to patient care. Kellie is experienced in treating different neurological conditions, although her specialist interest lies in treating patients following Stroke.
Rebecca Salt
Physiotherapist
Rebecca Qualified in 1990 from Manchester Royal Infirmary School of Physiotherapy. Rebecca has completed both the Basic and Advanced Bobath course.
She has a clinical interest in Stroke but also treats all other Neurological conditions. She also has a particular interest in treatment of the upper limb post Stroke, sensory feedback and motor planning, and treating dizziness in patients with neurological conditions especially when related to visual and spatial issues resulting from neurological damage.
Rebecca joined the team at Neurological Physiotherapy in 2012 and supports the clinical development of our physiotherapy assistants and students on placement.
Shirley Steele
Physiotherapist
Shirley qualified in 1986 from Newcastle University and has specialised in neurology since 1990. Shirley qualified as a craniosacral therapist in 1997 and has a particular interest in treating the pelvis and sacrum.
She is a Bobath trained therapist and has completed many postgraduate courses relating to the Bobath approach, neurology, and myofascial release.
Shirley enjoys treating patients with complex neurological conditions, with a keen interest in treating post stroke, particularly upper limb recovery, and MS patients.
Bram Tynan
Physiotherapist
Bram started working at NP 2010 as a physiotherapy assistant whilst completing his physiotherapy degree, qualifying from Salford University in 2012.
He has a keen interest in treating patients following brain injury. Bram has completed his introductory Bobath modules and several professional development courses focusing on myofascial release and functional rehabilitation in neurology.
He currently oversees the management of our rehabilitation unit services across the North West and delivers clinic and community-based treatment for case managed patients.
Wendy Walker
Physiotherapist
Wendy qualified as a physiotherapist in Manchester in 1982. She treats a variety of complex presentations, specialising in facial palsy, women’s health, vestibular rehabilitation, post stroke and brain injury including difficulties with cognition.
Wendy delivers lectures and workshops around the UK on various aspects of neurological physiotherapy, including treatment of facial palsy, vestibular rehabilitation, trophic electrical stimulation, and EMG biofeedback.
Lauren Turner
Experienced Physiotherapy Assistant
Lauren started with NP in 2019, having previously worked as a specialist neurological rehabilitation support worker.
She supports our rehabilitation unit services in Southport and Liverpool. In January 2022 Lauren was promoted to Experienced Physiotherapy Assistant, and now supports the induction and training of newly recruited physiotherapy assistants.
Jordan Barnett
Physiotherapy Assistant
Jordan started working for NP in 2018, initially as a receptionist before taking on the role as our administrator. In this time, Jordan has enjoyed building relationships with our patients and has developed an interest in physiotherapy.
Since November 2019, Jordan has started working as a physiotherapy assistant and currently supports our rehabilitation services in Chester and Liverpool. He also provides clinic and community sessions to patients in the Stockport area.
Ryan Davies
Physiotherapy Assistant
Ryan joined NP in 2018, before making the decision to qualify as a physiotherapist. He is currently studying at Salford University and is set to qualify in 2022.
Ryan has experience in working with a variety of clients with complex neurological conditions and supports our rehabilitation unit services.
Katie Hudson-Davies
Physiotherapy Assistant
Katie joined NP in 2021, taking a year out of studying to gain some physiotherapy experience as she is hoping to be accepted on to a physiotherapy degree in September 2022.
Katie is a keen tennis player and has taken on the role of supporting our various exercise classes that we provide at the Drill Hall in Cheadle.
Lesley Jones
Physiotherapy Assistant
Lesley joined NP in 2014. She worked in Glan Clwyd from 1983 as a physiotherapy assistant within the arthroplasty team and has a wealth of experience as a therapy assistant.
Lesley has basic and advanced qualifications in Swedish massage and especially enjoys treating complex pain presentations and myofascial dysfunction. Lesley offers clinic and community treatment sessions.
Tina Machacova
Physiotherapy Assistant
Tina started with NP in 2019, having previously worked as a specialist neurological rehabilitation support worker. She supports our rehabilitation unit services in Chester and Liverpool.
Tina has recently made the decision to train as a physiotherapist and completed a college access course in September 2020, before being accepted on to a physiotherapy degree course at Lancashire University, starting in September 2021.
Lisa Schears
Physiotherapy Assistant
Lisa originally trained as a hairdresser before choosing to become a support worker in a rehabilitation unit. Having worked up to a senior role, Lisa was looking for a new challenge and joined NP in September 2021, supporting our rehabilitation unit team in Southport.
Vanessa Shone
Physiotherapy Assistant
Vanessa joined us as a physiotherapy assistant in July 2021. Vanessa has previously completed training with the North West Ambulance Service, before taking time out with her family.
She now supports at our rehabilitation unit in Liverpool, plus offers clinic and community treatment sessions.
Kim Toulson
Physiotherapy Assistant
Kim joined NP in 2017 initially working on reception before taking over as Practice Manager. She made the decision in 2019 to train to become a physiotherapist and has been accepted onto a degree course at Salford University starting in 2020.
Kim has been taking the opportunity over the past year to gain clinical experience, providing clinic and community sessions, as well as supporting our rehabilitation unit services in Liverpool and Southport.