Meet the team
At North Star Rehab we are immensely proud of our team of highly skilled, experienced specialist occupational therapy and specialist rehabilitation assistants.
Jill Kings MSc PGC (HEP) DipCOT SROT
Specialist Occupational Therapist
Hello, please meet Jill our Clinical Director and Specialist Occupational Therapist
Jill is the founder of North Star Rehab and has worked within neurological rehabilitation for over 30 years.
After qualifying as an Occupational Therapist in 1990 Jill headed to London and quickly specialised in the field of neurological rehabilitation.
She has worked in several regional rehabilitation centres including the world-renowned National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queen Square London.
Jill has an unrivalled depth and breadth of neurological rehabilitation skills having worked across several sectors over her career.
Jill worked in the NHS for over 18 years, has been a senior lecturer and recently led an award-winning community neurological rehabilitation team. She has a Masters of Science Degree in Neurological Rehabilitation, a teaching qualification and has undertaken primary research, contributing to numerous publications, clinical guidelines, and book chapters to promote evidence-based practice within Occupational Therapy and neurological rehabilitation.
Key areas of expertise
- Brain injury rehabilitation
- Cognitive rehabilitation
- Physical skills and intensive task training
- Upper limb rehabilitation
- Movement disorders
- Catastrophic and complex disability management
- Vocational rehabilitation
John Pope MSc, BSc (hons) SROT
Specialist Occupational Therapist
Hello, please meet John our Specialist Occupational Therapist
John is an award-winning specialist occupational therapist with over 14 years experience in the field of complex, community-based rehabilitation.
John began his career in the field of neuro-rehabilitation, supporting people who have experienced life changing injury or illness in their own homes and in the community.
His passion is enabling people with complex disabilities to achieve their full potential across their lifespan, by promoting independence and quality of life.
John brings unique and highly specialist rehabilitation skills and has worked with people with brain injuries and learning difficulties throughout his career, across both the public and private sectors. John has a deep understanding of occupational therapy for people who lack capacity, including advanced skill in evidence-based techniques to support people with behaviours that challenge.
John has current knowledge of care and support provision, has been a Care Quality Commission (CQC) Registered Manager and continues to act as a specialist advisor to the CQC. He has completed his Masters of Science Degree in Advanced Practice for Intellectual Disabilities and won the 2020 Great British Care Award (North East).
Key areas of expertise
- Brain injury rehabilitation
- Adults with intellectual disabilities
- Cognitive rehabilitation
- Life skills training including self-management and self-awareness
- Complex behavioural rehabilitation
- Evidenced-based strategies to support any behaviours of concern
- Behavioural support and de-escalation training for care or support teams
- Educational support
Kay Stokes Dip COT
Specialist Rehabilitation Assistant
Hello, please meet Kay our Specialist Rehabilitation Assistant
Kay is an occupational therapist by trade and has over 25 years’ experience of working with people with disabilities in their own home.
After qualifying in 1990, Kay undertook various roles within a local authority Occupational Therapy department, developing expertise and skills in equipment provision, adaptations, and housing solutions.
Kay retired as a HCPC registered occupational therapist in 2015 to pursue her life passion of athletics, including triathlon training and physical skills coaching.
Kay is a humble but massively inspirational woman, with a huge range of skills and experience working in the community with children and adults with disabilities. She is a lifelong lover of all things related to exercise and retired from occupational therapy to pursue her passion, supporting others to improve their well-being by becoming physically active.
Having achieved level 2 Coach in running cycling and triathlon, Kay is an advanced open water swimmer, worked for British Triathlon and achieved a gold medal at the European Duathlon in 2015 and silver at the word Aquathlon in 2018.
Kay has current safeguarding training and has been employed by local councils to undertake health activation and wellbeing projects, working alongside schools, and youth groups as well as adults. She has won multiple community volunteering awards and continues to plan and manage triathlon events throughout the country.
Key areas of expertise
- Physical skills activation
- Advanced coaching and physical training
- Life and community living skills training
- Health and wellbeing coaching
- Motivational interviewing and mental health first aider trained
- Disability design advisor to the North Star Team
Rob Wilson CIPHE
Managing Director, Wilson Heat Ltd
Contact Rob via our team or email direct
Hello, please meet Rob, a Plumbing and Heating Engineer and Managing Director of Wilson Heat Ltd
North Star Rehab are proud to be working in an exclusive partnership with Wilson Heat Ltd to add bespoke household support to our portfolio of services.
Rob has been a plumbing and heating engineer for over 25 years’ and runs Wilson Heat Ltd with his two sons Kieran and Callum. Rob has lived experience of supporting individuals with complex personality disorders and learning difficulties.
He has worked with Case Managers and Professional Deputies in the past to troubleshoot challenging and complex household situations. He is also married to Jill and hence, has a far greater understanding of the world of brain injury and medicolegal due process than the average plumber!
Please note: North Star Rehab do not have any responsibility or vicarious liability for Wilson Heat Ltd which is a separate legal entity. Company Registered in England and Wales 05861327. Gas Safe Registered Number 204823. Member of the Chartered Institute of and Heating Engineers.
Key areas of expertise
Team Wilson Heat Ltd can:
- Plan and undertaken major kitchen and bathroom adaptations
- Work with other trades and architects for major adaptations and bespoke new builds
- Work under therapy direction to provide modifications to premises such as ramped access, hand rails, stairs rails etc
- Plan and undertake bespoke Planned Preventive Maintenance (PPM) scheduled to ensure upkeep of privately owned premises
- Offer in hours call-out support, subject to a pre-agreed schedule
Hello, please meet Libby the Rehab Dog
Libby is a cute and occasionally mischievous cockapoo who lives with Jill and Rob.
Available for walks and runs in the park, Libby is known to appreciate lots of stroking and hot dog sausage treats.
Key areas of expertise
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Being cute
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Seeing Harry the cat off when he jumps on the dining table
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Ball chasing and barking at the Tesco delivery man
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Pulling on the lead to test your balance!
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Running alongside you when you’re on your bike or out running
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Occasional rabbit chasing
Our professional regulator and affiliations
With age, comes experience and we have over a century of skills and expertise across the team at North Star Rehab… this means you are being guided by safe, skilled hands.
All our qualified therapists are regulated and registered with the Health and Care Professional Council. We are also affiliated with relevant professional bodies. and our team undergo regular safeguarding, mandatory and profession specific training.
Copies of our public liability and professional indemnity insurance are available on request. Please ask if you require any more information about how we govern our services.
Wilson Heat Ltd
Want to join our team?
We are always looking for shining stars to join our team. So if you have a passion for client centred, high-quality rehabilitation please get in touch.