Meet the Team

We are proud of the breadth and range of experience across our team.


Most of our experts are registered occupational therapists with extensive community experience in case management and/or care management, housing adaptation and aids and equipment assessment. We also have experts with a nursing background and a social work background who have experience of managing complex care packages in the community.


All team members undertake regular training and development activities. Team members are peer mentored and their reports go through a rigorous quality control process prior to issue.

Expert Witnesses


ANNE COSSAR

DipCOT, DipRSA
Managing Director

Based in North Berwick

Anne is an experienced care professional with significant clinical and managerial experience of providing care, support and rehabilitation services for those affected by serious or catastrophic injury.


Anne has been preparing medico legal reports since 1997 and has a wide range of experience in the field. She has a particular interest and experience in catastrophic cases including paediatric cases including cerebral palsy, high level spinal injury and serious head injury.


Anne leads the clinical team at Anne Cossar and Associates. She is a registered member of the Health Professions Council and the British Association of Occupational Therapy.


NORMA FINDLAY

BSc (Hons) OT

CLINICAL DIRECTOR, MANUAL HANDLING CONSULTANT, CARE EXPERT, CASE MANAGER.

Based in Edinburgh


A highly skilled health care professional, Norma has over 20 years working as a Specialist Occupational Therapist, Manual Handling Consultant, Risk Assessor and Expert Witness. She has expertise in complex care needs working with infants, children through to adulthood and old age; She has worked as an expert witness since 2012 preparing reports for the courts in many high value personal injury claims and clinical negligence cases for both defence and claimant instructing solicitors. She has also prepared many causation reports in manual handling injuries and accidents at work.



Norma works with children and adults who have an acquired brain injury, spinal injury, complex orthopaedic injury and other complex neurological conditions including Functional Neurological Disorders. She has many years’ experience working as a case manager arranging care packages, major adaptations, equipment and coordinating multidisciplinary team working.  She has a specialist interest in key transitions including children to adult services and facilitating return to structure activity and work. She is the founder and director of Vocational Assessment and Rehabilitation Services Scotland (VARSS Ltd) managing a team of vocational specialists. Norma has a passion for improving outcomes and promoting independence.


ELEANOR CATLEUGH

DipCOT

Occupational Therapist, Manual Handling Consultant and Care Consultant

Based in North Berwick

Eleanor qualified as an Occupational Therapist from the Glasgow School of Occupational Therapy in 1973. She is a registered member of the Health Professions Council and the British Association of Occupational Therapy.


Eleanor joined Anne Cossar and Associates in 2014 and has completed Medico Legal Personal Injury Needs Reports, Immediate Needs Reports, Accommodation Reports and Moving and Handling Risk Assessments. She has also undertaken a Case Management role.


Eleanor has a wide range of clinical experience in the assessment and rehabilitation of adults with medical, neurological and orthopaedic conditions in both hospital and, for most of her career, community settings.


Eleanor has particular experience in providing a home based occupational therapy and care needs assessment and the recommendation of a wide range of services including adaptations and specialist equipment and care for adults with complex needs, living in the community.


Eleanor had a recognised Moving and Handling Facilitators certificate and has used this experience in providing moving and handling risk assessments both in her role as a community OT and in her current role as a care consultant.


KYM TAYLOR

Care Consultant, Case Manager and Manual Handling Expert Witness

Based in Scotland

Kym is an experienced healthcare professional who graduated in 1995 as a Registered Learning Disabilities Nurse (RNMH). Her initial post was supporting adults with severe learning disabilities and complex mental health needs in a hospital setting. She then went on to work at Edinburgh's Sick Children Hospital with children with complex healthcare needs and life limiting conditions. In 1998, Kym qualified as an Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN). Subsequently she secured a senior role working for NCH Action for Children supporting children and their families with severe learning disabilities and mental health needs. Kym then worked the fulltime for NHS supporting adults with severe learning disabilities and complex healthcare needs the community, then older adults awaiting nursing home placement. 


In 2000 Kym joined Children's Hospices accross Scotland and worked in Rachel House Children's Hospice as a bank nurse for almost 20 years alongside her substantive posts. In 2002 she was promoted to Manual Handling Coordinator at the Royal infirmary of Edinburgh with a further promotion 6 months later to Paediatric Manual Handling Lead for NHS Lothian. Kym was appointed the Study Day Coordinator for the Scottish Manual Handling Forum in 2007 until 2013. In 2010 Kym took on the development of a Moving and Handling Service for City of Edinburgh Council Communities and Families to enable staff to support children with physical disabilities to be fully included in education and their community. She qualified as a MOVE trainer in 2011 and in 2013 undertook specialist training in Accessibility and the Equality Act 2010. She then consulted with CEC and associated architects in relation to new build accessible environments and reasonable adjustments and adaptations to existing buildings for service users, staff and public. In 2014 Kym joined Training for Care as a Moving and Handling Trainer.


Kym has a wide range of clinical experience working with children and adults with medical, neurological, orthopaedic, learning disability, psychiatric and complex healthcare conditions in a variety of settings including hospital, community and third sector.  She has undertaken various types of care planning and delivery as well as providing specialist assessments and recommendations for children and adults with complex healthcare needs. Kym is registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and is a member of the Royal College of Nursing.


She is committed to inclusion and equity for everyone.


JILL TREVENA

BSc (hons) OT

Occupational Therapist, Case Manager and Care Consultant

Based in Carluke

Jill qualified in 1999 with an Honours degree in Occupational Therapy from the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. She is a registered member of the Health Professions Council and the British Association of Occupational Therapy.


Jill has a wide range of clinical experience in assessing and reporting on the abilities and needs of people with physical, cognitive and mental health impairments including those with complex and profound disabilities.


Jill joined Anne Cossar and Associates in 2016 and has completed Medico Legal Personal Injury Needs Reports, Past and Future Care Reports on adults and children with a range of disabilities including traumatic brain injury, cauda equina, lower and upper limb injury, back injuries and visual impairment. She has experience in working with clients with mental health problems, learning disabilities, brain injury and a wider scope of physical disability and care needs.

Marian Barry Anne Cossar

MARIAN BARRY

BSc (hons) Occupational Therapy

Based in Edinburgh

An experienced Allied Health Professional since 1999, Marian has over two decades of working in the community field as an Occupational Therapist (OT) in a range of roles.


Marian has been a senior manager of a busy integrated community care team since 2004 and has worked to consistently improve the OT provision for her clients and staff in the current Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership (EHSCP).


She has gained an excellent knowledge base in assessing the needs of adults with complex care needs and has expert skills in equipment provision, major housing adaptations, manual handling and care at home provision.


JILL WALLIS

Occupational Therapist, Case Manager and  Care Consultant

Based in Edinburgh

Jill qualified as an Occupational Therapist at Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh in 1985. She is a registered member of the Health Professions Council and the British Association of Occupational Therapy.


She has clinical experience working in the assessment and rehabilitation of adults with medical, orthopaedic, neurological and mental health conditions both in hospital and community settings.


Jill has worked within Health & Social Care teams  since 1995 providing occupational therapy assessment, provision of specialist equipment and adaptations to property for clients in their home setting. She has experience arranging and managing complex packages of care.


Jill is an accredited people handling facilitator.


BARNES YOUNG

BSc(Hons) Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapist and Care Consultant

Based in Scotland

Barnes is a professional, expert occupational therapist. He is qualified in all aspects of occupational therapy as well as having applicable qualifications in social care, and assessing care needs. Barnes career extends to over 30 years working in various relevant roles within the NHS and Social Care as well as the private sector.

 

He is a competent assessor drawing on excellent communication skills, observational assessment, and activity analysis. He has a wealth of experience working with individuals experiencing functional deficit due to illness, life changing events or progressive conditions. He has worked in a case management capacity supporting individuals who have experienced spinal cord injury, brain injury and complex multiple disabilities.

 

Barnes has over 10 years’ experience in assessing for housing adaptation, provision of compensatory specialist aids/equipment and rehabilitation after injury, illness or life changing events. He has worked in various roles with hands-on therapy, rehabilitation and providing continuing care/ support before qualifying as an occupational therapist and becoming an assessor, prescriber and educator.



VICKI MACAULAY

BA (Hons) Pg Dip Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapist and Care Consultant

Based in Edinburgh

An experienced care professional since 2009, Victoria (Vicki) has many years’ experience working with local authorities as a Community Occupational Therapist in the adult settings.

 

She also has several years’ experience working with children, and families of children, with complex additional support needs both in her role as an Occupational Therapist and prior to this working within a residential care setting for children with complex health needs.

 

She has expertise in equipment provision, housing adaptation and as a care manager. She also has experience as a sleep counsellor and as a manual handling advisor/ trainer within paediatrics.



Lyndsey Mweene

BSc Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapist/Care Consultant

Based in Scotland

Lyndsey qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 2003 the majority of her career has been in health and social care as a community based Occupational Therapist with Adults who have physical and psychological conditions. Lyndsey has worked in community Rapid response teams, an Intermediate care service and long-term care management teams. She has experience of working with clients with traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, amputation and neurological conditions. She has been preparing care needs reports in complex injury cases since 2019.



Lyndsey’s work in assessment and care management teams involved assessing people with physical disabilities ranging from limb fractures, injury through accidents to more complex disabilities and neurological conditions. This work involved assessing and advising on minor/major adaptation work, provision of complex care packages and complex equipment.




Kenny JohnsTonE 

Rehabilitation Assistant 

Based in Scotland

Kenny is a highly experienced community care practitioner with over 20 years of working with adults with complex disabilities including brain injury, spinal injury, amputees and complex mental health conditions. 


Kenny plays a key role in working with clients and facilitating case managers to achieve goals set by the individual. He has extensive knowledge of care models and practical problem solving.


Virginia (Ginny) Kelly 

Specialist Neurological PhysioTherapist

Based in Scotland

Ginny is a specialised neurological physiotherapist with over 25 years of experience and wide-ranging post-graduate training. She continues to work as a highly experimental physiotherapist with Neurophysio Scotland.


Ginny has past experience of preparing reports for the court and joins ACA preparing expert physiotherapy reports on personal injury and medical negligence cases.


Katey McPherson

Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist

Based in Scotland

Katey has over 13 years’ experience specifically in neurological physiotherapy. She joined NeuroPhysio Scotland in 2017 and has a particular interest in working with younger adults and those clients diagnosed with FND.


Katey continues to work as a specialist neurological physiotherapist with past experience of preparing reports for the court. She joins ACA preparing expert physiotherapy reports in personal injury and medical negligence cases.


Hazel Lee

BSc (Hons) MCSP

Highly Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist

Based in Scotland

Hazel is a highly skilled health care professional, Hazel has more than 25 years of physiotherapy experience, with the majority of this time working exclusively with children. She works within the NHS and independent sectors. Hazel works collaboratively with the multidisciplinary medical and therapy teams, education, social work and third sector organisations. 


Hazel works with children with a variety of neurodevelopmental conditions and has extensive expertise with children and young people who have cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, neuromuscular conditions, complex orthopaedic injury and other neurological conditions including Functional Neurological Disorder. She has developed an expertise in ME and chronic fatigue syndrome in children and young people.



Heather MACAulay

BN Child Health Nursing

PGD SCPHN Health Visiting

Based in Scotland


A dedicated and compassionate Health Visitor with 19years of experience providing essential healthcare services to individuals and families. Heather is passionate about promoting health and well-being and has a strong focus on maternal and child health. Skilled in conducting comprehensive assessments, delivering targeted health education, and developing individualised care plans to address the unique needs of each client.


Heather has extensive experience in assessing and addressing the needs of children with complex care needs including cerebral palsy, visual impairment and reduced mobility. She has worked in both school and hospital settings as part of the multidisciplinary team to establish children’s care needs both within school and at home.


Dr. MICHELLE SHARP  

MSc, DClinPsy

Clinical Psychologist 

Based in Scotland


Michelle is a HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist. As a Senior Clinical Psychologist, she offers thorough psychological assessment, formulation and evidence based psychological therapy to older adolescents and adults who are experiencing a range of mental health conditions including but not limited to complex trauma, OCD, phobias, depression and anxiety. She also offers clinical supervision to qualified psychologists and psychologists in training. Furthermore, Michelle offers consultancy in relation to a variety of mental health conditions and bespoke training packages.




ELSPETH ROSE FREEDEN  

MSc OT; MA (hons) Psychology

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, CARE EXPERT

Based in Scotland



Elspeth has many years’ experience working as an Occupational Therapist, Case Manager and Risk Assessor. She has expertise completing thorough assessments of adults of all ages who have experienced life altering conditions and injuries that affect their ability to live their life in a way that is meaningful to them. She is passionate about helping people achieve their goals.



Elspeth works with adults who have complex care needs as a result of mental health and physical illness or disability, stroke and other neurological conditions. She has experience of working in the community as a case manager arranging care packages, major adaptations, specialist equipment and coordinating multidisciplinary teams. She has particular interest in the psychological impact of injury or illness on a person’s ability to live their life to the full, and facilitating return to structured activity and work.

OFFICE TEAM


ELSPETH LAMB

MA (Hons), MBA

Company Director & Office Manager

Based in Edinburgh

Elspeth is responsible for day to day office functions including quotations, accounts report formatting, workflow and business development.


Kim Eunson

Administrator

Based in Edinburgh

Kim assists with formatting and editing reports, providing quotations and manages cashflow.

Kim has over 20 years of experience working as paralegal in personal injury cases.


CLAIRE GARDNER

BSc(Hons)

Based in Edinburgh

A writer and editor with more than 20 years’ experience, Claire has worked for national newspapers across the UK, including The Telegraph, The Sunday Times and The Daily Mail. Her last newspaper job was deputy news editor of The Scotsman, where she headed up the digital output. 


Claire has worked for Anne Cossar & Associates for the last seven years as producer and editor of our “A Day In The Life' videos.



AIDAN BLACK

Aidan Black is a talented ‘SHOOTEDIT’ within the TV industry. He has worked with a diverse range of people and across a multitude of platforms. Aidan’s experience and knowledge on storytelling is key to a successful production. Aidan is at the forefront of new technology within the TV industry and applies these techniques when the situation arises. 

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