Management Team

Claire Appleton

Head Of Service

Claire has 23 years’ experience working in the NHS; in 2006 Claire qualified as an occupational therapist.

Claire’s passion has always been to work in a community setting and has had varied community roles including acquired brain injury, long-term neuro conditions, neurological splinting, and stroke rehab. Working in the community always provides challenges as an occupational therapist, presenting highly complex caseloads and conditions.

Other career highlights involved leading the community stroke team, assisting to set up/ develop a new service in the acute A+E department to reduce hospital admissions and setting up a pilot working in collaboration with North West Ambulance Service to prevent A+E admissions.

5 years ago, Claire moved into a management post in the NHS, leading the Eden Community Rehab Team, developing strategic specialist leadership and management skills, and gained valuable experience delivering high quality health services.

Claire has always appreciated where she lives, enjoying the outdoor lifestyle.

Claire lives in Penrith with her family. She enjoys playing and watching many sports and watching the boys play football at weekends. In her spare time between work and football commitments Claire enjoys spending family time in the Lakes, fell walking, kayaking and paddle boarding.

Emma Smith

Registered Manager

Calvert Reconnections has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Emma Smith as Manager.

Previously Operations Manager for an established provider of support to adults with learning disabilities in Cumbria, Emma has extensive experience in a Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulated environment.

As Calvert Reconnections’ Manager, Emma’s wide-ranging role includes ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, developing policy, producing care and support plans in collaboration with the clinical team and ensuring client care and support is of the highest standard.

Commenting on her decision to join Calvert Reconnections, Emma said:

“I am hugely excited to take on this role.

“Calvert Reconnections is transforming the way in which brain injury rehabilitation is delivered, delivering tangible results and real pathways back into everyday life. It is a truly ground-breaking service.”

Welcoming Emma to Calvert Reconnections, Head of Service, Clare Appleton said:

“We are delighted to welcome Emma to Calvert Reconnections. Her passion, skills and experience ideally complement our senior management team.”

Calvert Reconnections is the UK’s first intensive acquired brain injury rehabilitation centre combining traditional clinical therapies with a focus on outdoor activities.

Elaine Roberts

Senior Occupational Therapist

As the Senior Occupational Therapist at Reconnections, Elaine provides detailed assessment and therapy interventions, working closely with the centre’s Rehabilitation Coaches and Centre Support Workers to support participants in defining and integrating their goals into everyday life.

Elaine has extensive experience in the sector, having previously worked for 20 years as a Specialist Occupational Therapist with children and young people at a leading Children’s Hospital on the ABI team.

Commenting on her decision to join Reconnections, Elaine said:

“Reconnections represents all that I value as an Occupational Therapist. Participation is central to Occupational Therapy and here at Reconnections we have an array of centre based, community and of course outdoor experiences through which we can provide person centred rehabilitation. It is particularly great to hear how participants continue with their progress once back in their community.

“Joining Reconnections allows me to bring all I have learnt from my clinical experience and the families I worked with over the years to our unique team. The setting is therapeutic in itself . I have relocated from a large city, I feel every welcome and I am loving life in Cumbria!”