Sunneva qualified in 1999 as an occupational therapist and has spent her career to date working within inpatient and community rehabilitation. She now works in independent practice specialising in occupational therapy, case management and expert witness work.

She is an OT, Case Manager and Clinical Supervisor at Stokes Case Management.

Over the last 16 years, Sunneva has developed a broad range of clinical experience within complex orthopaedics and spinal injuries, palliative care, care of the elderly (with co-pathologies such as visual impairment), stroke and brain injury, burns and plastics (adult and paediatric), rheumatology, cardiology and respiratory disorders. Her most recent role in the NHS was that of team manager for surgery/amputees and community rehabilitation, where she carried a significant clinical caseload and managed a team of occupational therapy staff. Sunneva was responsible for supervision of both occupational therapists and students and regularly undertook in-service training.

Through her work in the physical field, Sunneva has developed a comprehensive knowledge of implementing the assessment and treatment processes for a large range of medical conditions. This consists of detailed assessments of activities of daily living, home visits and the provision of necessary equipment. It also includes liaison with appropriate multidisciplinary team members along with other professionals and family members to ensure an appropriate care plan is implemented prior to discharge. Her time working within the community has allowed her the opportunity to develop the skills required to design, implement and manage care packages, using agencies and private staff.

Sunneva has an in-depth understanding of the litigation sector due to the work she carries out as a care and occupational therapy expert witness. She has undergone formal training in the medicolegal process and is fully aware of her responsibilities under the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) pertaining to expert witnesses. This enables her to understand the role of the treating therapist and case manager when working with clients who have sustained catastrophic injuries through personal injury or clinical negligence.