Patricia Flynn MSc BSc MAOTI

Patricia is an occupational therapist and researcher, currently working as a family sleep specialist and as a consultant to community antenatal and family services in both Belgium and Ireland.

After initially specialising in 24-hour postural management, Patricia then spent two years in Namibia as a Community-Based Rehabilitation Manager, before returning to work in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. There, she developed expertise in sensorimotor development, sensory integration, and family-centred care. Prior to transitioning into private practice, Patricia served as a Clinical Manager in a youth mental health service and has delivered lectures at University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, and the National Maternity Hospital Dublin. While living in Brussels with her family, she served as a representative for the Council of Occupational Therapists for European Countries (COTEC) from 2018- 2020. A career-long commitment to meaningful participation of families in service planning, delivery, and evaluation has guided her work and research. In 2024, she completed her MSc in research, focusing on parents’ experiences of parent-infant sleep, and frequently delivers training, conference presentations, and webinars on family-centred sleep interventions to occupational therapists, allied health professionals, and parents.

Patricia is now lead for Ei SMART Volunteer team. Her international experience and her work in mental health as well as her research into parental experiences is a great addition to our team.