Our Team
Meet our Occupational Therapists
Nicci Paine
Bsc (Hons) OT; Msc Autism
Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist
Director Leap Children's Therapy
Nicci qualified with an Honours degree in Occupational Therapy in 1997 and completed her Masters degree in Autism in 2003. She has worked in Paediatrics and Adult Learning Disability services since qualifying.
Nicci has a special interest in all things autism related and is particularly keen to support the understanding of sensory needs amongst adolescents and adults.
Nicci loves live music, especially festivals and loves to spend lots of time in her mini campervan Juno.
Jo Hart
Bsc (Hons) OT; MA Psych
Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist
Director Leap Children's Therapy
Jo has worked as a paediatric occupational therapist since 1993 across a range of NHS, school and community settings.
Jo has extensive post-graduate training and experience in working with children and young people with a variety of physical and neurodevelopmental needs. Jo currently manages an OT team at a specialist adoption service in addition to a treatment and assessment caseload at Leap.
Passionate about self-esteem and emotional well-being, Jo has trained as a child and adolescent psychotherapist and supports several young people each week using creative and relational approaches.
Jo loves walking her dog, Barnaby, being by the seaside and singing!
Elaine Mc Mahon (nee O'Riordan)
Bsc (Hons) OT; PgDIP Sensory Integration
Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist
Director Leap Children's Therapy
Elaine has many years of experience working in Paediatrics within private practice and the NHS. Elaine is an Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner with a PgCert, PgDIP and is currently completing her Msc in Sensory Integration and Early intervention. Elaine is an Advanced Therapeutic Listening Practitioner and lecturer in this area.
Elaine works towards supporting infants, children and families to maximise their potential to achieve their goals. Elaine’s approach includes understanding a child’s key areas of need and matches the most appropriate approach to support their needs. This may include exclusive or a combination of approaches such as sensory integration; sensory motor; relationship based; developmental; auditory focused; trauma informed, cognitive or functional interventions.
Elaine also specialises in neonatology and early intervention with additional training neurodevelopmental assessments along with Baby Massage and Neonatal Touch Massage Certification (NTMTC).
Elaine loves to be outdoors, walking in the forest, gardening and trips to the local attractions.
Lyndsay Hart
Bsc (Hons) OT
Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist
Leap Children's Therapy Staff
Lyndsay qualified with an Honours degree in Occupational Therapy in 2006, and completed herr training in Ayres Sensory Integration in 2018. She has a special interest in babies and toddlers, Down Syndrome and feeding difficulties, and sensory motor difficulties such as dyspraxia.
Lyndsay loves the outdoors, SUP boarding and travelling, her favourite trip has been to Yosemite National Park.
Lyndsay loves a bacon sandwich and a slice of carrot cake after a Saturday morning park run.
Julia Beech
Bsc (Hons) OT
Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist
Leap Children's Therapy Staff
Since qualifying as a therapist in 1985, Julia has worked with a broad range of children, assessing and treating a range of conditions. She has worked in a variety of settings, including the NHS, social services, private clinics, mainstream and special school. Voluntary work as a school governor also provided her with a valuable insight into the education system.
Julia is particularly interested in sensory processing and completed her post graduate training Certificate in Sensory Integration from University of Ulster in 2013. More recently, in her role as a placement educator has enjoyed mentoring occupational therapy students from Brunel University.
Julia loves to go on adventures, often kayaking in the sea or riding through the woods on her mountain bike. She has so much fun on her bike, she really wants to help children to learn to ride on their own.
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Charlie Hobbs
Bsc (Hons) OT
Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist
Leap Children's Therapy Associate
Charlie qualified as an Occupational Therapist with first class honours in 2003 and has specialised in paediatrics for the last 10 years.
Charlie is very interested in a holistic view of children's function and wellbeing considering all aspects of the child within their various home and school environments.
Charlie is a qualified practitioner of Ayres Sensory Integration and is qualified in the Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance approach, which is an evidence based intervention helping children succeed with everyday tasks and activities. She has also done further training on cognitive behavioural therapy, sensory attachment intervention and DIR floortime.
Charlie loves to play and have fun and when not at work she is usually exploring the natural world and playing with her own children and spending time with friends and family.