STEPS Rehabilitation Founders and Directors, Toria Chan and Jules Shiel-Boulger, have been recognised for their management, leadership and business vision at the 2023 Northern Leadership Awards. They have won this prestigious award for the Sheffield City Region.
The sisters opened the doors to their purpose built neurorehabilitation facility in May 2017, which plugs a huge gap in the care sector. In under 6 years, STEPS Rehabilitation has established itself nationally as a “centre of excellence” won multiple industry awards for its work, which blends an extensive range of therapies and specialist medical treatment all delivered under one roof.
Jules and Toria’s business plan and vision was, from the outset, ambitious. It’s taken perseverance, tenacity, and great leadership to get this ground-breaking facility off the ground, and the positive impact that they are having is unquestionable.
In the last 2 years STEPS has continued to evolve, and introduced several ground-breaking rehabilitation initiatives. 2021 saw the opening of the ‘RehabHub’, a suite of cutting-edge technology invented by Singapore based technology company, Fourier Intelligence. This enables STEPS to offer clients access to pioneering robotic and VR technology that compliments traditional rehabilitation therapies and optimises their recovery. The RehabHub focuses on upper and lower limb robotic therapy, as well as cognitive training, providing a unique solution for neurorehabilitation.
STEPS is also home to one of only three UK facilities offering clients access to the MindPod as part of the range of pioneering digital neurotherapies from MindMaze, a global leader in brain technology, developed in Switzerland. The MindMotion GO and MindPod Dolphin are part of a neurorehabilitation therapy system that comes with a large variety of animated gamified engaging activities covering motor and task function.
In partnership with Stephen Ruffle at Thor Assistive Technologies, STEPS is an assessment centre for a range of exoskeletons, including the ReWalk™, ReStore and most recently the ExoAtlet, giving clients access to this incredible technology, designed to help people walk after a neurological injury.
The extensive suite of world-class virtual reality rehabilitation technology, and commitment to use of technology in rehab is further enhanced by the addition of the Brain Recovery Zone, an immersive virtual reality recovery platform that supports brain injury survivors. Developed by Dr Abayomi Salawu, a rehabilitation medicine consultant, and consultant clinical neuropsychologist, Dr Katherine Dawson, the Brain Recovery Zone increases the capability to manage fatigue, improve speech and mood and stabilise emotions.
STEPS embrace a collaborative approach, and in partnership with STEPS Prosthetics, they are the only place in the UK to offer design, manufacture, fit and support of amputee clients within a residential rehabilitation setting.
The positive impact STEPS is having within the rehabilitation community both nationally and overseas is already undeniable, with its services being widely applauded by clinicians, NHS commissioners, solicitors, case managers, and insurers working in the injury law sector.
STEPS is a unique environment where clients receive an interdisciplinary approach to their rehabilitation. This sophisticated rehabilitation model is all delivered under one roof and includes access to Consultants in Rehabilitation Medicine, spinal injury, neurology, and pain management; physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, neuropsychologists, prosthetic and orthotic specialists, and nurses.
Since its launch, it has become a trusted and authoritative voice on modern rehabilitation at leading medical and legal conferences and is recognised as a leader in this field.
STEPS now employs 171 people, pay the real Living Wage and provide a range of benefits including critical illness insurance, private medical insurance, life insurance and income protection. As of February 2022, STEPS has been operating at full capacity and since opening its doors in 2017 has treated over 200 clients from all over the UK, Ireland, Egypt, the UAE and beyond and is regarded as a go-to place in the UK for specialist rehabilitation.