Lauren Osborne OT

About Me

Posture & Wheelchair Specialist

I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2009 and have experience of working in acute hospitals in surgical & orthopaedics and acute stroke. I then specialised in NHS wheelchair services where I gained extensive experience of postural assessment, measuring and prescribing wheelchairs and specialist seating. I have a keen interest in 24 hour posture management.

BSc. (Hons) Occupational Therapy.
MSc. Rehabilitation and Posture Management.
HCPC Registered.
Member of Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
Member of RCOT Spcialist Section for Independent Practice.
Professional Indeminity insurance provided by Aon.
Enhanced DBS Clearance for adults and children.
Registered as a Data Protection Officer with the Information Commissioners Office.

Publications

Careflex Guest Blog: Role of Occupational Therapists in Postural Care and Specialist Seating

This blog article explores the role of Occupational Therapists in postural care and specialist seating : https://www.careflex.co.uk/info-centre/blogs/role-of-occupational-therapists-in-postural-care-and-specialist-seating/

Careflex Guest Blog: The importance and benefits of Specialist Seating: A comparison with wheelchair

This blog article compares the importance and benefits of specialist seating with wheelchairs: https://www.careflex.co.uk/info-centre/blogs/specialist-seating-a-comparison-with-wheelchairs/

Careflex Guest Blog: Provision of Specialist Seating to Care Home Residents

This blog article discusses some fo the challenges for specialist seating provision to care home residents: https://www.careflex.co.uk/info-centre/blogs/provision-of-specialist-seating-to-care-home-residents/

Evidence for 24 hour Posture Management: A Scoping Review

Published in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy, I am delighted to share my first academic paper, which was based on my MSc Dissertation: https://doi.org/10.1177/03080226221148414

A Day in the Life of a Wheelchair Therapist

This blog article gives an overview of a typical day working in the Wheelchair Service: https://www.theothub.com/article/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-wheelchair-therapist

Training Videos

Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Care

A guide to positioning your child in their wheelchair.

Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Care

A video about the importance of pressure care for wheelchair users:

- Causes of Pressure Ulcers

- Common Pressure Ulcer sites

- Risk Factors

- Ways to reduce the risk

- Pressure-relieving leans demonstrated with pressure-mapping

- Assisted pressure-relief

- NICE Guidelines

- When to see medical attention or reassessment from the wheelchair service

Rea Azalea: A guide to Positioning

A guide to positioning your child in their wheelchair.

Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Care

A video guide to positioning in a tilt-in-space Rea Azalea wheelchair:

- Importance of correct positioning

- Tilt vs Recline

- Features of the Rea Azalea wheelchair

- Tips on effective hoisting for good positioning

- Good positioning vs Poor positioning

- When to seek reassessment

A guide to positioning your child in their wheelchair.

A video explaining how to check the fit of your child's wheelchair and whether they have grown or need repositioning.

- Ideal sitting vs poor sitting

- How to check the fit of the wheelchair

- How to ensure the child is sitting correctly in the wheelchair

- Assisted repositioning

- Tips on effective hoisting for good positioning

- When to seek reassessment for growth

Wheelchair Links

Wheelchair Skills College

Learning wheelchair skills will enable you to tackle obstacles you never thought possible.

From pushing techniques and carrying a coffee, to crossing uneven surfaces and going downstairs - learn the skills that will take you where you want to go.

Go Kids Go!

Wheelchair Skills College

Go Kids Go is the leading provider of free wheelchair skills training for children in the UK. Our unique free Courses are practical, fun and an ideal way to meet other young wheelchair users and their families. Go Kids Go relies on donations to help us continue to provide our vital help and support.

Freedom Wheelchair Skills

Wheelchair Skills College

Freedom Wheelchair Skills

Freedom Wheelchair Skills offers peer-led training of everyday skills and techniques to help people get the most out of life when using a wheelchair. Supporting people to develop skills and overcome everyday environmental challenges that will help develop confidence and increase independence.

Backup Trust

Freedom Wheelchair Skills

Back Up’s vision is a world where people with spinal cord injury can reach their full potential. Their support includes mentoring, courses and Wheelchair Skills.

Simeli

Backup Trust

Izzy Wheels

Beautiful handmade crocheted wheel covers to personalise your wheelchair.

Izzy Wheels

Backup Trust

Izzy Wheels

If you can't stand up, stand out. Fashionable wheel covers for manual wheelchairs.

Testimonials

"Assessments were really thorough and I really felt as though you had a lot of experience and expertise; it was so easy to trust you straight away. You really listened to what I needed and were willing to adjust recommendations based on things I thought didn’t quite fit my needs right, which I appreciated. I felt much more secure in purchasing the wheelchair you recommended with your guidance at equipment trial & handover, as you were able to ensure the chair fitted correctly and met my needs - without your help I feel sure I wouldn’t have ended up with the right chair."

Wheelchair user.

"I can't thank you enough for your support, expertise and efficient service"

Parent of a client with custom-moulded seating.

"Lauren took great care of our mother, politely listened and observed our mother's posture and requirements. Lauren was impeccable on detail and found the correct wheelchair for our mother that was supportive, comfortable, safe and secure. More important, for both my wife and I, Lauren answered every query we were concerned about for my mother's needs. A true professional with a passion."

Son of a client with tilt-in-space wheelchair.