Meet the Team

Pennie Lamkin

Occupational Therapist

Pennie Lamkin joined Psychology Associates in 2021 and is a HCPC Registered Occupational Therapist who specialises in working with children and young people with complex mental health and social care needs. Pennie offers comprehensive occupation related support, including assessment and intervention. This focusses on a person’s mental health needs, anxiety management, building routines, and improving or rehabilitating skills relating to activities of daily living, leisure activities and emotional management. Pennie can also carry out assessments of daily skills for living, sensory and motor skills and can contribute to dyspraxia diagnoses.  In 2018, Pennie was recognised as Plymouth University and Livewell Southwest’s Occupational Therapy Practice Educator of the Year.

As you may be aware, on the 14th April 2025 the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) announced changes to the Fair Access limit with a reduction of funding to £3000 and the discontinuation of the separate Fair Access Limit for specialist assessments.

We are currently working really hard to amend quotes for ongoing therapy work to fit within the new Fair Access Limit and working closely with Adopt South West and other local RAAs. We are also working closely with other specialist adoption support providers and therapeutic organisations including DDP connects and Theraplay UK to explore how we can continue to deliver specialist therapies within this limit.

If you are waiting for a new package of therapy please look out for correspondence from ASW or your regional adoption support agency, as they will need to regain your consent for the amended therapy contract.

If you are concerned about the impact of the delay on your family or have questions about the therapy or assessment you are waiting for please get in touch with Ellen or Jen and we will do our best to support you.

We will be contributing to a wider response to this and the following is a link to a petition requesting government action – Petition · Action Against ASGSF Changes (Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund) – United Kingdom · Change.org