Welcome to the website for Facial Therapy Specialists International. Please find below, information about the members of our team as well as additional information regarding our team:
Our Team
The Facial Therapy Specialists International Team
- 11th International Facial Nerve Symposium in Rome, April 2009.
- Special event led by inspirational world leaders in facial rehabilitation.
- The event created an atmosphere of openness, learning and sharing of best practice.
- Despite the conference being multidisciplinary and including surgeons, physicians, researchers and therapists there were no professional boundaries.
- Integration between the professional groups led to a unique opportunity for sharing knowledge, enthusiasm and ideas with the common goal being a strive for excellence in the management of facial nerve disorders.
- A group of enthusiastic and innovative therapists specialising in facial rehabilitation from UK NHS centres in Birmingham, East Grinstead and Southampton.
- Included speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and psychotherapists.
- Despite knowing of each others specialist centres this was the first opportunity we had to get together in what was an inspiring location to discuss facial matters.
- Founding members:
- Catriona Neville (ESP Physiotherapist at Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)
- Lorraine Clapham (Superintendant Physiotherapist, Southampton General Hospital)
- Vanessa Venables (Advanced Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, QVH NHSFT)
- Sally Glover (Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, University Hospitals Birmingham NHSFT)
- Dr Theresa Rose (Consultant Psychological Therapist, QVH NHSFT).
- Through discussion we recognised the similarities and differences in our practice, the range of outcome measures we were using and the difficulties associated in undertaking quality research in this area.
- We also had the opportunity to share patient experiences and innovative ideas for patient care.
- We were all enthusiastic and recognised the need to progress the field of facial nerve rehabilitation in the UK.
- Knowledge and expertise of facial nerve function and recovery
- Ability to educate the patient
- Ability to educate other professions
- Functional rehabilitation of the face
- Psychological support
- Chemodenervation
- SEMG assessment and biofeedback
- Acupuncture
- Social interaction skills training
- Strategies to enhance facial appearance
- Establishing best practice.
- Setting standards for assessment, outcome measures and management.
- Collaboration for research including peer support and opportunities for multi-centre trials.
- Providing support network and training for all therapists involved in facial rehabilitation.
- Improving access for patients to quality regional care following facial palsy.
We were awarded charitable status by the Charity Commission in October 2023. Our charity number is 1205406
JOIN THE FACIAL THERAPY SPECIALISTS INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
Thank you so much for your interest in joining our charity committee. We appreciate everyone who is willing to volunteer their time to support our charitable aims. We are an international organisation and invite members from anywhere in the world to apply – we try to accommodate all time zones when arranging meetings. Although we are an international charity it is important that our committee members are proficient in English as this is the language we communicate in, so please bear this in mind when applying.