Zoey Coombes

Zoey is an experienced Occupational Therapist with 16 years in mental health services, including 14 years as a dementia specialist within the National Health Service (NHS). She completed her occupational therapy training at the University of Southampton in 2009 and is a proud member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

Zoey has extensive experience in assessing and treating individuals with memory problems, using a wide range of specialist assessment tools. She has worked with both younger adults and older individuals living with dementia, providing tailored care across various settings.

In her previous role with Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Zoey played a key role in developing the occupational therapy component of the Memory Service, which earned accreditation from the Royal College of Psychiatrists. She also pioneered an occupational therapy service at two continuing healthcare units, focusing on patients with challenging behaviours. This initiative led to a significant reduction in antipsychotic prescribing and resulted in the publication of a research article.

In 2016, Zoey advanced her expertise by completing postgraduate training in sensory integration at the University of Ulster, where her research uniquely focused on dementia. Her academic excellence was recognised with an award from the university.

For the past five years, Zoey has worked in a specialist dementia service, assessing and supporting individuals with complex and rare forms of dementia. In 2021, her team received an award from the Royal College of Psychiatrists for their outstanding support of people living with dementia in care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this role, Zoey also developed and delivered numerous training programmes for carers and healthcare professionals across the county.

In 2023, Zoey launched her own independent business, specialising in occupational therapy for people affected by dementia. She is passionate about improving the quality of life for both individuals living with dementia and their families.

Dedicated to her ongoing professional development, Zoey will begin an MSc in Advancing Clinical Practice in September 2025.