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.

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_

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

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.

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.

Hi, my name is Corinne White and I have been an occupational therapist since 2004. My clinical practice has been divided between low secure forensic inpatient services with adult males as well as adult secondary community mental health and primary care mental health teams. I began to learn and implement the Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability in 2016 whilst working in forensic inpatient care. I immediately became passionate about the use of the model and its associated outcome measures, finishing an MSc in advanced occupational therapy in 2021 through a primary research project on the APOM in this area of practice. In January 2023, I transitioned to a community based specialist perinatal mental health service and have been implementing VdTMoCA with some remarkable results. I am passionate about the mental health of women and their families in the perinatal period and it is an honour to be the ‘perinatal representative’. I am excited to support, advise and be part of other OT’s journeys in this emerging area of specialised practice.

This is a temporary email address whilst I get a personal one arranged. So in the meantime please contact Louise Jeffries who will forward any enquiries on to me. 

Dr Roshni Khatri is the Associate Dean for Student Experience and Quality at the University of Northampton. Her research interests include the use of technology to enhance curricula using active blended learning. Her clinical research interests include the evaluation of neurological rehabilitation techniques for adults and children to improve functional independence and quality of life and the use of the Vona Du Toit Model of Creative Ability in various practice settings. Roshni is a reviewer for the British Journal of Occupational Therapy and the Journal of Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education. Before working in Higher Education, Roshni worked in a range of acute hospitals delivering neurological rehabilitation in a range of settings.

Hi, I am Elizabeth Jackson. I am a zealous advocate for meaningful occupation as the cornerstone of what OT brings to the clinical world. I have used the VdTMoCA since my undergraduate training at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa and have experienced the depth and insight it provides to the OT in the intervention process. The VdTMoCA has enabled me to approach individual and group intervention in a way that maximises my time and their engagement to achieve the outcome of meaningful occupation and maximising autonomy. I have worked in psychiatric, neuropsychiatric, and neurological rehabilitation settings and have found the model to be effective across all these fields of practice. I am passionate about developing clinicians and systems of practice and believe that the VdTMoCA has a place in both of those spheres.