Meet the Team
Simone
Simone Smalberger is the Co-Director of CHAMP, as well as a driven and dynamic paediatric Occupational Therapist dedicated to delivering the highest quality of service to all children and families in her care. Simone strives towards making CHAMP a welcoming and supportive environment that provides leading specialist services in the field of paediatrics.
Simone’s passion for Occupational Therapy (OT) has always been within the field of paediatrics. Her dedication to the profession is evident in the bond she has with the children in her care.
Simone graduated from Stellenbosch University (South Africa) with an Honours degree in Occupational Therapy. Upon graduating, Simone’s research group received the award for the Best Undergraduate Research Thesis for Allied Health Sciences that year and was invited to present the research findings at the World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress in 2018.
Simone specialised in Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI®) through the South African Institute of Sensory Integration (SAISI) and is a qualified ASI® practitioner. She has extensive experience in assessing and treating children with sensory processing difficulties and diagnosing sensory disorders, such as Dyspraxia.
Simone is also a qualified ADOS-2 practitioner, and can therefore offer diagnostic assessments for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Other noteworthy postgraduate training includes the assessment and treatment of children with feeding difficulties and fussy eating behaviours, emotional regulation difficulties, physical developmental delays, retained reflexes, and handwriting difficulties.
Simone has worked in various clinical settings including public and private hospitals and clinics, as well as government and independent schools. She’s also worked closely with local councils, offering EHCP and tribunal assessments. Working in a variety of settings has afforded Simone valuable experience that has enriched her skills and knowledge in working with children with general developmental delays, rare genetic conditions, atypical neurological presentation, sensory processing difficulties, learning difficulties such as Dyslexia, handwriting difficulties, sensory-motor based disorders, and social communication difficulties/Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Simone loves experiencing new places, food, and cultures, and enjoys travelling and exploring new corners of London in her free time. Quality time with family and friends, reading, and spending time in the outdoors is what recharges her after a busy week.
Saskia
Saskia Bouwer, CHAMP Co-Director, is a paediatric occupational therapist specialising in Ayres Sensory Integration®(ASI®) through the South African Institute of Sensory Integration (SAISI).
Saskia qualified at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, after studying for a 4-year bachelor’s degree (with honours) in Occupational Therapy. Her postgraduate thesis focused on early childhood development, and this was the start of Saskia’s growing interest in paediatrics.
Saskia has since completed postgraduate training in wheelchair seating, sensory-related eating and feeding difficulties, ADHD, Therapeutic Listening, and is currently specialising in Ayres Sensory Integration®.
Saskia is also qualified in the ADOS-2 assessment and is thus able to provide a diagnostic service for children suspected to have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Along with offering an ASD diagnostic service, Saskia has experience in EHCP and Tribunal assessments and has formed professional relationships with local authority EHCP coordinators in London.
Saskia has worked in primary healthcare and secondary school settings where she facilitated multiple treatment clinics for toddlers and young children with learning difficulties and developmental delays, many of whom had a diagnosis of ASD. Saskia has further experience with children who have Cerebral Palsy, ADHD, Chromosome Deletion Syndrome, PDA, epilepsy, and other rare genetic conditions such as Prader-Willi Syndrome. She has also worked in a specialised neurology hospital with clients who have sustained brain and spinal cord injuries and spent the past couple of years working solely with children in private practice. Currently, Saskia provides professional support in mainstream schools, ASD bases, SEN bases, and specialist schools.
Saskia has always felt strongly about the power of play and that hands-on therapeutic input is essential in facilitating a child with additional needs to reach their full potential. OT sessions with Saskia are tailored to the child’s needs and interests to ensure the process of growth and development is enjoyable and comfortable for each child. Saskia also prioritises handover with parents and the school to ensure that therapeutic strategies are implemented holistically. In conjunction with hands-on therapeutic input, Saskia uses a whole-school approach whereby staff are trained to implement recommended strategies and OT programmes.
When not at work, Saskia will be relaxing at home, out somewhere enjoying a meal, exercising, doing something fun outdoors, or spending quality time with loved ones.
Services
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