“I’m part of a really supportive team – the best I’ve worked with”

“I’m part of a really supportive team – the best I’ve worked with”

Faye Simpson – Therapy Assistant at Ryegate Children’s Centre

For the past two years, Faye has been part of the mainstream schools therapy team at Ryegate. The team is made up of occupational therapists, physiotherapists and therapy assistants who specialise in supporting children with physical disabilities who are attending mainstream schools across Sheffield.

Faye said: “What I really like is the variety of the role; from the group sessions with the children, to the hydrotherapy pool, to being out in schools and cycling lessons. Our focus here is to give children the skills they need to participate in activities and their daily life. It’s really rewarding.”

Together, the mainstream schools team help children achieve their full physical potential, promote independence, develop life skills and support their families too.

Faye adds: “For two days every week, I’m out in schools doing one-to-one sessions with children. We work on lots of different areas from dressing to using a specific piece of equipment. The child I’m seeing might have a walker and they’ll have been given direction on using it from a physio, so I work with the child to continue their physio programme.

“I love being in my role and am looking forward to progressing as far as I can at Sheffield Children’s, especially when I’m working alongside another therapy assistant like Persefoni. We work so closely and have the same goals in mind.”

Making life better for children has always been the focus of Faye’s working life.

She said: “My background was in education, so I’ve always worked with children. I was a teaching assistant before I came to Ryegate. I chose to apply here because I thought the Trust would be a good place to work, I’m so happy I did.

“I’m part of a really supportive team – the best I’ve worked with. We share the same ethos, the same mentality, and we spur each other on to do our best for the children who visit Ryegate.”

You can find out more about the Mainstream Schools team in our Services section.