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Team Members

Meet the Team

Together we make up the Foundation Team, each bringing different skills and taking on different roles to help support Occupational Therapists and their teams to apply the theory and maximise the use of the model to benefit you as a practitioner, your clients and the services you work for.  We are a relatively small team of volunteers, with a big agenda, each of us working in different settings, managing commitments and trying to prioritise work that will have the biggest impact for our profession.  

It is important to acknowledge that we couldn’t do this work if it wasn’t for the support of our members, and the network of other OTs out there who love this model and are contributing to its growth through either teaching the theory, embedding the model in their services, using data to evaluate its impact, conducting research and writing papers.  In recognition of some of those OTs we have invited them to become ‘Friends of the Foundation’ and together in partnership we support each other to build this community.

If you would like to join our community then please sign up for either a free subscription or a paid membership and watch this space for any up and coming events.

Louise Jeffries

Louise Jeffries

Lead Representative

Hi, I’m Louise Jeffries. I’m a Senior OT and I have worked predominantly within forensic services throughout my career with males of a working age. I started using the model many years ago and couldn’t believe the results I saw in clinical practice. Since then my passion for the model has only grown, with my specialist skills being with how to engage patients experiencing acute psychotic symptoms. I joined the Foundation in 2013 and I am now in the position as ‘Lead Director’ however I very much see myself as a representative of the Foundation. We work as a team and all bring our own areas of expertise. I am here to support any services wanting to embed the model in clinical practise. Having worked on a ward recognised as a Centre of Excellence for use of the model I can provide invaluable information. I am also passionate in supporting teams to ‘bring the theory to life’ and can offer practical training and support. Please contact me to discuss any learning needs you or your team have.

Tori Wolfendale

Tori Wolfendale

Research Representative

Hi, I’m Tori Wolfendale and I have worked in forensic mental health since qualifying in 2013.  I am currently the Head of Allied Health Professions for the Secure Division at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, I offer support and leadership to our team in implementing the VdTMoCA as our primary model of practice across all areas of our high security services, which is something I’m very proud of. I am passionate about the model and especially interested in supporting people with research initiatives, and that’s why I’m the Foundations ‘Research Representative’.  In my role I maintain our research database so you can access all of the up to date literature which supports the VdT Model of Creative Ability, I’m keen to support people in their research journeys, and happy to work with other Lead OTs to support using the model in practice.  Follow me on Twitter @tori_doll_

Rhona Oxspring

Rhona Oxspring

Network Representative

Hi, I’m Rhona Oxspring.  I am a Lecturer at Coventry University but before that I worked in Forensic Mental Health Services for approximately 17 years, and helped to embed the VdT Model of Creative Ability theory into practice.  On reflection, I look back on my earlier career to when I worked in learning disability services and various other physical health areas of practice, and I can see how the model would have helped inform and promote the Occupational Therapy provision, if only I’d known then what I know now!  This is why I am the Foundations ‘Network Representative’, in my role I aim to connect people to spread the knowledge and passion that is growing for this model, so if you’re unsure if this model will work for you, then get in touch.  Follow me the ‘MoCA Mum’ on Twitter @RhonaOxspring

Samantha Lee

Samantha Lee

Physical Rehabilitation Representative

Hi, I’m Samantha Lee. I am an OT working in neurological rehabilitation. I was first exposed to the Model during my undergraduate studies in South Africa. During my various roles in neurological rehabilitation, I realised the importance of acknowledging a patient’s level of motivation following an acquired brain injury. Unfortunately there was no standardised outcome measure available to facilitate this. I therefore started the process of developing an outcome measure based on the Model to be used in neurological rehabilitation. I am passionate about using the Model within physical rehabilitation and in supporting others to do the same, to best help our patient population achieve success. This is why I am the Foundations “Physical Rehabilitation Representative”. In my role, I provide support and signposting for therapists working in physical rehabilitation who are interested in incorporating the Model into practice. Please get in touch if you work in physical health or if you’re interested in developing outcome measures.

Mary Dickson

Mary Dickson

CAMHS Representative

Hi, I am Mary Dickson and I'm an OT working in community child and adolescent mental health services. I started using the model in adult forensic services in 2006, leading to significant changes in the way we practiced OT. It was amazing to be able to articulate our clinical reasoning in a new way, with activity proudly and crucially at the core of what we did. I moved on and implemented the model in inpatient CAMHS and now I am working on developing the use of the model in community CAMHS services. As we all are, I am still a learner in practice and really believe in our community as critical to progress the use of Vdt MoCA. Contact me if you want to explore and share ideas, or if you are especially interested in CAMHS or how the model works in the community.