The OT Magazine – Jul / Aug 2019

THE

MAGAZINE Issue 29 | Jul/Aug 19 | Improving Independence

Aquatic THERAPY Discovering the benefits of water-based therapy

RECOVERY COLLEGES Tackling mental health head on THERAPY KITCHENS Helping patients regain independence

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COLU MNS

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PRO DUC T S

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CPD

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EVENTS

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MENTAL HEALTH

About us

The Team

Editor: Rosalind Tulloch Staff Writers: Colette Carr and Katie Campbell Designer: Fionnlagh Ballantine Production: Donna Deakin Sales: Jacqui Smyth Contributors: Kate Sheehan, Firas Sarhan, Monique Burgess, Anastasia Barnes, Claire Squire

Get in touch

2A Publishing Ltd, Caledonia House, Evanton Dr, Thornliebank Industrial Estate, Glasgow, G46 8JT 0141 465 2960 ot-magazine.co.uk The OT Magazine

This month’s issue...

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s July kicks in with summer holidays and sweaty working environments, I am finding it hard to believe that we are over half way through 2019.

As an OT you are kept so busy that it can be hard to take the time to stop, reflect and take a minute for yourself. Make sure you find time to relax this summer, even if it is just on your day off, pour yourself a refreshing drink (perhaps a gin and tonic) sit out in the sun and enjoy some time out – you could even flick through the latest issue of The OT Magazine as this would also count towards your CPD! Two birds, one stone.

@ot_magazine

Disclaimer

The OT Magazine is published by 2A Publishing Limited. The views expressed in The OT Magazine are not necessarily the views of the editor or the publisher.

Reproduction in part or in whole is strictly prohibited without the explicit written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2019 © 2A Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved. ISSN-2056-7146

This issue is bursting with a diverse range of articles to inform, educate and interest you as an OT. We take a look at aquatic therapy, dance therapy, a sensory garden created for dementia patients and we explore the benefits that mental health recovery colleges are providing for patients and their families.

Our paediatric section offers products for younger clients and we look at a wonderful initiative that has seen football shirts turned into hospital gowns for kids who are staying in hospital. Insurance can be a major worry for many OTs, so we sought out some advice from insurance company Balens to find out what you should be looking out for when choosing a policy.

We hope you enjoy this latest issue, as always please don’t hesitate to get in touch to tell us about the work you are doing or share any projects that are happening, email ros@2apublishing.co.uk.

The OT Magazine, Editor

SUBSCRIBE TODAY Further your career and enhance your CPD by subscribing to The OT Magazine

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What’s inside Heading here

7 What’s New? Bringing you up to speed with all the latest news from the healthcare sector

30

13 Kate Sheehan Our columnist looks into accepting disability equipment

14 Let’s Dance!

Polish your shoes and delve into the world of dance therapy

19 Product Focus The latest must-have products on the market

25 Day in the Life Meet Monique Burgess who works in a high security forensic hospital

27 Learning to Live We explore recovery colleges and OTs’ role in them

30 A Garden of

Memories

We look at what the 2018 Cosyfeet Award Winner has done with her prize money

35 Product Focus More latest must-have products on the market

39 OT Show Awards Time to start nominating!

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40 The Assault on

Sexual Harassment

We examine a new report on sexual harassment among workers in the NHS

43 A Recipe for Rehab Learn about the growing popularity of therapy kitchens

46 CETEC Firas Sarhan discusses the formal qualification that health professionals can achieve in assistive technology

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Heading What’s Inside here

60 The OT Magazine

Kids Library

Some great kids books to help them understand the world of disability

62 Paediatrics

Products

Innovative products for your younger clients

65 Aquatic Therapy We speak to Emma Jerman about the benefits of aquatic therapy

48 Relocation,

Relocation

Thinking of leaving the country? Here’s a few things to be aware of

Product

Focus

51 Who Cares?

Remembering the importance of empathy as a core skill in OT

56 On Top of the World Learn about the brilliant Spanish initiative that helps kids in hospitals with the help of old football strips

59 New NHS Facility

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for Young People with Learning Disabilities

Learn about London’s first unit for young people with learning disabilities

69 Let’s Talk Insurance Insurance company Balens give some practical advice

73 DIY SOS A look into the wonderful story on a recent episode of the hit BBC show

77 Events Calendar Essential dates for your diary

78 Summer CPD

Loving

How to keep on top of your CPD over the summer holidays

81 Global Disability

Innovation

Discover the world’s first MSc course in Disability, Design and Innovation

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Falls cost the NHS over ÂŁ2bn and 4m bed days per year* Falls are the number one factor for a person losing independence and going into long term care.

The transition from sitting to standing often incurs the risk of falling. Whilst this task carries risk, a fall is not inevitable, learn how to reduce the risk of a fall at a free CPD accredited Sit-to-Stand Ethos Education workshop.

For more information or to request a brochure, email ethos@handicare.com or call 01384 405792

E D U C AT I O N P R O G R A M M E

www.handicare.co.uk For special deals and online sales visit

www.handicareshop.co.uk * Statistic from Public Health England 2019.

We explore what’s happening in the healthcare sector, from new products and services to inspirational stories

What’s new?

MENTAL HEALTH DROP-IN CENTRE

Get the Boys a Lift is a not-for-profit community interest project that is working to improve mental health in communities. The project was started with a sponsored hitch hike to raise money for mental health charities, the ethos behind the hitch hike: “You don’t have to know someone to give them a lift.”

Founder Gareth Owens told Pembrokeshire online: “We want a place for young people to come and be comfortable. They can buy clothing or have a cup of coffee, but we will also be offering a place to talk, get support and advice. We are about suicide prevention… that’s our purpose, and we plan to have counsellors and other professionals to offer support and advice.”

The project has grown and developed and they now have a premises in Pembrokeshire that offers a drop-in café, creative space and shop. The aim is to offer people a safe space to drop in and chat, to open up if they want to about anything they are going through. The volunteers involved are there to listen and signpost people to organisations that can offer help.

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What’s

new?

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PERFECT FIT

John Lewis & Partners are trialling a new shoe-fitting service, designed specifically for children with Autism. The five-shop trial follows a successful, smaller trial last year when the Cheadle shop teamed up with social enterprise AuKids, who provide information and support for parents of children who are on the autism spectrum.

Shoe fittings can be a stressful event for children, but unlike other items of clothing which can be bought without the child being present, shoes correctly fitted to the individual child is massively important.

The new service has been developed in partnership with the National Autistic Society, whose training sessions to partners across childrenswear and the experience desk, focused on autism awareness and included sessions with the teams on how to deliver the service effectively for both children and their parents.

Parents booking an appointment will speak first to a member of staff either in store or over the phone to discuss their individual child’s needs and how the shop space can be altered to suit. Partners then can suggest ways the appointment can be tailored to ensure a calming environment.

The service is now available in the following John Lewis shops: Cheadle, Cribbs Causeway, White City, Bluewater and Southampton.

. . . unlike other items of clothing which can be bought without the child being present, shoes correctly fitted to the individual child is massively important”

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7-9 – What's New.indd 8

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28/06/2019 11:29

What’s

new?

A

PERFECT FIT

John Lewis & Partners are trialling a new shoe-fitting service, designed specifically for children with Autism. The five-shop trial follows a successful, smaller trial last year when the Cheadle shop teamed up with social enterprise AuKids, who provide information and support for parents of children who are on the autism spectrum.

Shoe fittings can be a stressful event for children, but unlike other items of clothing which can be bought without the child being present, shoes correctly fitted to the individual child is massively important.

The new service has been developed in partnership with the National Autistic Society, whose training sessions to partners across childrenswear and the experience desk, focused on autism awareness and included sessions with the teams on how to deliver the service effectively for both children and their parents.

Parents booking an appointment will speak first to a member of staff either in store or over the phone to discuss their individual child’s needs and how the shop space can be altered to suit. Partners then can suggest ways the appointment can be tailored to ensure a calming environment.

The service is now available in the following John Lewis shops: Cheadle, Cribbs Causeway, White City, Bluewater and Southampton.

. . . unlike other items of clothing which can be bought without the child being present, shoes correctly fitted to the individual child is massively important”

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RCOT APPOINT NEW CHAIR Professor Diane Cox of the University of Cumbria has been appointed chair of the Royal College of Occupational Therapy and was unveiled at the Annual Conference in Birmingham last month.

overwhelmed by the positive response to the news of my appointment.

Cox, who is director of research and head of graduate school at the University of Cumbria, told the University: “I have been

“The role is a demanding one, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the interests of this valued profession.”

“Representing and responding to the views of over 33,000 members and the council, is a great responsibility and an honour.

HEALTH TECH AND YOU AWARDS

SHOW MORE INNOVATION A wearable button to monitor how light can influence sleep patterns, a home epigenetic testing kit and a smart insole aimed at increasing physical activity for the older generation are some of the winners of the annual AXA Health Tech and You Awards 2019.

Now in its fifth year, AXA Health Tech and You, a programme led

by AXA PPP healthcare, continues to promote the widespread awareness of health tech and to empower people to use this technology to live life well today and in the future.

. . . a programme led

by AXA PPP healthcare, continues to promote the widespread awareness of health tech”

THE WINNERS ARE: Sleep Tech Challenge – LYS – a wearable Button helping people understand how light in their everyday environment influences sleep.

Mental Health in Children Challenge – KIT – – a digital coach aiming to arm young people with social confidence and skills.

Mobility and Accessibility Challenge – Tomo – an app that uses the power of an online community to build habits that keep people healthy.

Looking for an OT job?

Innovation Health Tech – Chronomics – a repeatable at-home epigenetic testing kit, offering insights into a person’s health by looking at their DNA. Excellence in Health Tech – Lechal – a smart insole aimed at reducing fall risk and increasing physical activity for the older generation.

ot-magazine.co.uk/jobs

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What’s

new?

WELSH PILOT STUDY

GAINING GREAT RESULTS A North Wales hospital has been hailed for nearly halving the length of hospital stays for patients as OTs carry out a new ‘Home First’ scheme.

Running out of Bodelwyddan’s Glan Clywd Hospital, it looks to support

patients to leave the ward as soon as they finish their inpatient medical treatment. Once carried out, the OT team work with them on things like walking, cooking, washing and getting dressed to help them return to home quicker.

THERAPY PONIES?

NEIGH WAY! Specialist teams at Priory Burton Park and Priory Grafton Manor have recently welcomed two new colleagues to assist them in delivering care to adults with acquired brain injury or progressive neurological conditions – Alfie the therapy pony and Isla the therapy donkey.

Occupational therapists at the two centres have happily reported

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that, despite the relatively recent arrival of the two new four-legged recruits, their patients are already experiencing a positive change to their moods and social interactions.

Research into acquired brain injuries has shown that patients display reduced social interaction and higher levels of isolation, as well as a significant lack of motivation.

Occupational therapists at the

The project has enjoyed a success rate so far of almost 90% of inpatients being ready to return home safely and has been rolled out to all wards in an attempt to help people get back home faster after a spell in hospital.

centre are constantly exploring new ways to provide effective care, and animal-assisted therapy techniques is just one of the avenues they are currently exploring.

Senior occupational therapist Jocelyn Plante-Bekenn said: “The introduction of Alfie and Isla has really transformed care at Burton Park. They have had a particularly profound impact on patients who are at risk of social isolation or who have limited communication and interpersonal skills. To be able to offer this experience within their own environment without the added stress of an off-site visit and potentially overstimulating atmosphere is invaluable.”

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Accepting DISABILITY

EQUIPMENT Recently I visited an older member of our family, he has emphysema, arthritis and chronic back problems, he was only able to walk 20 metres without becoming extremely short of breath, to the point that he needed to sit down, take medication and was unable to speak. During our visit he missed out on lots of activities as he could not walk with us to family events or go on social outings.

One night we stayed up and I chatted about the possibility of getting a mobility scooter, he was adamant that he was not having one, on questioning why, he said he was an ex-farmer and firefighter and what would people say? He said he would also have to accept his disability and he was not ready to do this yet.

We discussed all the things he was missing out on, unable to ‘walk’ his land, although not farming anymore and renting out his land he always liked to walk the boundaries, which he could no longer do. He was unable to go to the cinema, he couldn’t meet his mates for a drink, he couldn’t go to the beach with his grandson, he found it increasingly difficult to go away with his wife or simply take her out on a date. His life was revolving around sitting in front of the television and he was finding

he was becoming increasingly depressed, yet he still did not want to consider a scooter.

Yet on the same visit, our other elderly relative was raving on about the joy of having hearing aids, she was able to go out with girlfriends to cafes and be part of the conversation, she could attend concerts or hear at the theatre, however most importantly she could hear her grandson shout “granny”.

The disability industry has a problem here and we need to address it now, why is it a hearing aid or glasses are seen as acceptable but a scooter or stairlift is not? All companies and healthcare professionals need to be challenging what is acceptable and promote equipment not as a crisis purchase but as a lifestyle product.

On reviewing the advertising recently, Topro walkers, are very much promoting an active lifestyle and the benefits of a walker, yet you look at mobility scooter images on Google and you get bland, boring rows upon rows of scooters with no reference to what environment they could be used in.

We need to take the equipment advertising out of the back of the Sunday supplements or free leaflet you get in the magazines and be

“We need to take the equipment advertising out of the back of the Sunday supplements or free leaflet you get in the magazines”

bold about the benefits of the equipment and what they can do for each and everyone of us.

As occupational therapists we need to challenge the industry and demand change to meet our client’s needs, by making products more mainstream they will become more acceptable and also the companies will sell more, making greater demand for better designed products. I would like to see in ten years time more and more people using equipment to enhance their life and seeing these as a positive purchase and not as crisis management.

When it comes to my time for a little help to be independent I will be having a stairlift and a scooter, I want to carry on living life to the full and nothing is going to stop me.

However, a warning to the industry, I want style, I want bright colours and I want choice. I do not want bland, I want bling.

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Heading here

LET’S

Dance

Occupational therapists are creative beings by nature. While being proactive when working, they are also constantly having to prove reactive, calling on their creative flair to problem solve and keep their care and support as comfortable, personal and, dare we say, enjoyable for their client.

B

y this, occupational therapists can also look towards the creative arts to employ in their programmes of care or rehab, and often this can include dance.

Many physiotherapists look into this world of movement as part of their work, and while OTs can link up with physios to undertake interdisciplinary work and use dance, occupational therapists can recommend it on their own.

Advising and recommending some time on the tiles doesn’t just stop over-medicating clients and patients – it can also be a brand-new lease of life.

A new activity could reinvigorate your client, or if they are picking up a childhood hobby it could also serve as a brilliant way to reconnect with their past and what may have made them who they are today.

Dance is a brilliant intervention that could be invaluable to a number of client groups. It could support someone who has recently become disabled and is looking to either continue dancing or find some form of physical activity. It could help those living with dementia connect with the present moment and the past. It could be to supplement stroke or Parkinson’s care. Dance is

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as therapeutic as it is creative and enjoyable, and many studies have uncovered the impact dance can have across the board.

If you are working with people with Parkinson’s disease, dance is an increasing world of opportunity for you to implement in your care.

People Dancing, the foundation for community dance say, “dance can support people living with Parkinson’s to develop confidence, strength and provide the opportunity for creativity and self-expression, whilst also temporarily relieving some participants of symptoms in everyday life.” They point to Dr Sara Houston’s study into the English National Ballet’s (ENB) dance and Parkinson’s programme for Roehampton University, which finds that dance can: 1 “Encourage feelings of inclusion and positive social interaction.”

2 “Promote a sense of community that is particularly meaningful, motivating and energising for people living with Parkinson’s.”

3 “Aid fluency of movement.”

4 “Help people with Parkinson’s communicate and express themselves.”

Dance therapy The programme has grown since its inception three years ago and has more than tripled in size, going from 20 classes to over 70 across Britain.

The use of dance in dementia care has been well-documented over the years, and with good reason for its proven record of success as an intervention across many disciplines in healthcare. A number of health services operate their own dance projects to support those living with dementia, but many outside dedicated dance companies have offered their expertise to lend a hand.

“The programme has grown since its inception three years ago and has more than tripled in size, going from 20 classes to over 70 across Britain.”

Green Candle Dance offers free classes for people living with dementia in London called Remembering to Dance. The free sessions with live music welcome both people living with early stage dementia and their carers to enjoy a relaxed but enjoyable morning and reconnect with musical flashbacks and partake in meaningful and important physical activity. The classes welcome those who need to remain seated to ensure inclusivity and everyone can benefit. The initiative was launched off the back of a twoyear research project. The study by the Sidney De Haan Research Centre explored and evaluated the impact of dance activities for people in different stages of dementia. Its findings reports that: “The main findings argue in favour of the RtD programmes supporting QOL, functioning, motivation, creative and emotional expression, confidence, relationships, social competence, and overall wellbeing for people in different stages of dementia and those involved in their care.” The results support the continued argument that the use of dance benefits a number of factors for people living with dementia, meaning it may just be the intervention you are looking for.

Green Candle Dance also undertakes work in clinical settings, taking to hospital rehabilitation wards to work with those recovering from falls,

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Dance therapy surgery and strokes amongst other areas, and visit residential homes, sheltered housing and day centres where people may be at risk of isolation, bringing dance to them.

Many healthcare professionals working stroke care are no strangers to the power of physical activity and dance as part of their rehab plans or packages of care. It supports the rebuilding of confidence and co-ordination, and last year, North Cumbria CCG held dance clases to support stroke survivors in their rehab and beyond.

Susie Tate, arts co-ordinator for Healing Arts, the arts programme at North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, developed the scheme. She said:

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“There is a growing evidence base demonstrating the physical and social benefits of dance in stroke recovery and for stroke survivors.

The creative aspect of dance offers people a way into movement where there are no rights or wrongs and can help people re-connect with their body in a non-medical way. ”Life after stroke can be very different for survivors of stroke and their families. Social isolation can be a real challenge when previous pastimes

are out of reach and confidence has been lost.”

Another benefit to prescribing dance is the active element. If your client is requiring increased levels of physical activity but does not like traditional sport, is slightly reluctant or just has no interest, utilising dance is a lowpressure way of introducing physical activity.

Some dance classes may be welcomed by a client more if it seems like learning a new skill as opposed to going out to take part in ‘boring’ or traditional exercise. The enjoyable and creative factor could allow your client to get on board.

Have you ever used dance in your work as an occupational therapist? Let us know!

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Product FOCUS Every issue we bring you the latest products from across the market to help you improve the lives of your clients.

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MORFIT BACK SUPPORT

Using air-set technology, this osteopath-designed lumbar support moulds itself to the unique shape of a driver’s body, so it takes the guess work out of trying to make their vehicle’s seat fit them perfectly.

Being portable, it’s easy for drivers to set and reset Morfit in different vehicles.

07757 541144 | morfit.co.uk 2

SMART SEATPRO

Designed to meet the needs of frail, elderly and children, it also suits those with neurological conditions, congenital conditions, dementia, scoliosis, lordosis, kyphosis and stroke. It is a highly adjustable modular seating system for clients with complex postural and pressure management needs. The individual back rest components can be easily adjusted to support a range of postural asymmetries.

0800 016 6440 | careflex.co.uk

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Product focus

3

3

SOUTHPAW WEIGHTED HOODIE

This stylish, fleecy gilet will be perfect for the upcoming colder weather and is complete with a hood to protect from autumn showers.

The shoulders of the hoodie are weighted, providing a comforting and settling weight, and providing security to the wearer. Ideal for those with sensory issues or anxiety disorders.

0115 718 0020 | southpaw.co.uk 4

SENNHEISER SET 860 WIRELESS TV ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM

Designed for those with changing hearing needs, this set of rechargeable, enhanced clarity headphones sit comfortably under the chin, meaning there’s no pressure to the top of the head. The headphones reduce TV background noise while enhancing speech, have independent controls for each earphone’s volume, and work wirelessly in a 70m range.

01903 768910 | hifiheadphones.co.uk

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5

BODYCARE HAIR WASHER

Ergonomically designed, this hair washer is ideal for individuals with dexterity or mobility issues which causes them to struggle to reach their hair without assistance. The washer has its own massage head, allowing the user to give their hair both a thorough and deep clean and a pleasant massage at the same time.

01273 719 889 | essentialaids.com

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Fit to work

Get drivers back on the road sooner by recommending the osteopath-designed Morfit custom-fitting lumbar support.

25% of all adults suffer from lower back pain*. With over 40 million drivers in the UK**, that means 10 million people – many of them your clients – who might be distracted or even prevented from driving.

Morfit provides long-term reduction in pain. Using air-set technology, Morfit moulds itself to fit the vehicle seat to the driver, then holds that shape to provide solid, lasting support. Support that makes driver and their vehicle fit for work.

For more information visit morfit.co.uk or phone 07757 541144.

*

RHMHRA Class 1 Medical Device.

The Prevalence of Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review of the Literature from 1996 to 1998. Walker, Bruce F. ** Statistical releases Department of Transport March 2018.

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Handicare support

FALLS PREVENTION Handicare explore the importance of the right support and equipment to help prevent falls in patients.

According to Public Health England falls are the most common cause of death from injury in the over 65s and cost the NHS over £2bn and over 4 million bed days per year. Falls are the number one factor for a person losing independence and going into long term care and the risk of falling is dramatically increased by the effect of ageing – frailty, medication and multiple illnesses. As a result, falls can be complex, complex because they’re linked to a range of risk which often co-exist in older people. Whilst they can be complex a fall is not inevitable, it’s not a natural part of ageing and the risk of your client falling when they need to stand can be reduced.

The transition from sitting to standing often incurs the risk of falling.

Reducing the risk of a fall begins with analysing the capabilities of the client performing the sit-to-stand; following an initial assessment Handicare are able to provide support and equipment which will work for both the client, and the carer.

unable to stand.

Mark Ripley, Handicare’s National Patient Handling Adivsor, recommends: “The correct use of your clients core skills to perform a sit-to-stand can maximise the potential for the individual to complete the task, where you are working with or without stand assistive devices such as the ReTurn7500i. Assessing a client’s core skills is an important consideration during any assessment.”

5 Does the individual have a natural pattern of movement, do they bend forwards more than normal or do they lean back too much?

For free assessment advice or for more information regarding the Ethos Education Programme please email ethos@handicare.com or call 01384 405792.

Forming an analysis will encompass many other assessment considerations such as client and caregiver capabilities, the environment that the sit-to-stand will be occurring within and whether the patient is able to walk after standing, as this may change your approach.

Recommendations will be formulated based on some of the following: 1 What is the pattern of movement that the individual likes to use?

2 How much do we want to activate the individual?

Assessment considerations can include:

3 What is the rehabilitation potential of the patient?

Monitoring the range of movement that an individual has through their ankle joints – if they’re unable to lift the ball of their foot off the floor whilst their heel stays in contact with the floor, they will struggle with difficulty to stand.

4 How much risk are we trying to reduce?

Consider the strength of the individual by asking them to lift their foot off the ground to check the strength of their thighs – if they cannot lift their lower leg against gravity, they may be

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Specialist Insurance Packages for Occupational Therapists In Private Practice A pioneering insurance package specifically designed for you

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Balens provide specialist packages to cover Occupational Therapists and Case Managers » Professional Liability and Malpractice Cover » Public and Products Liability Cover » Limit of Liability of £6,000,000 » Multi Therapy Cover (subject to qualifications)

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Discounts available for RCOTSS - IP Members on Individual Premiums

» Legal Protection Cover » Cover for working abroad

(temporary trips excluding the USA and/or Canada)

We can cater to individual practitioners and Corporate businesses

Telephone: 01684 580771 Web: www.balens.co.uk Email: OT@balens.co.uk Balens Ltd is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

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ue stu ity in Moniq on Univers g in Gord , graduatin nors ho een Aberd a first class , she h it this 2017 w . Following y mental e unit degre comm ith adults in d e k gs w wor rrent settin h t l her cu high a g he in r u sec r at a before ril this yea spital. p A ho role in e forensic r secu

What is your current role?

My current role as an occupational therapist is within a high secure forensic hospital. I work in a ‘hub’ which consists of three wards, two of three are currently open and hold up to twelve patients each. My office is located upstairs from the wards which is helpful in ensuring a teamwork approach to collaborative working. I facilitate a variety of groups which aim to provide meaningful activity for patients and serve the dual purpose of providing opportunity for functional assessment and skills development. I also work with patients on a one-to-one basis, using a range of Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) assessments. I am due to complete my Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) course next month. Having this qualification will be highly beneficial to me as it will enable standardised and widely recognised assessment of motor and process skills to be carried out and provide a baseline measure of patient function.

Describe a typical day…

A typical day involves me attending the ward when I arrive to receive a handover from nursing staff regarding the patient’s current presentation.

. f o e f i l e th

A day in the life

Each month ..

we talk to a differen occupati onal thera t pist to see wh at a typic al day is for the ma a little mo nd explain re about their role.

e u q i n o M s s e g r u B

Following this, I prioritise what I need to do for the day ahead, this is usually tailored to fit in around various meetings which I attend.

These range from CPD meetings, OT team meetings, reflective practice meetings, clinical forum meetings and Care Programme Approach (CPA) meetings, to name but a few.

Due to the nature of the patient group, plans often change with short notice, which can mean I am required to adapt quickly and be creative with methods of intervention.

Multi-disciplinary teamworking is an essential component of my daily work, I enjoy this aspect as it strengthens team relationships and importantly, benefits the patients too. Taking time to reflect on the day is vital, it allows me to consider areas for personal and professional development. I feel privileged that reflection is widely recognised within my workplace as a valuable area of practice.

What’s the hardest part of your job?

The hardest part of my job tends to focus around the need to be extra creative in order to facilitate therapy

sessions. Due to the high level of security, what would seem like an everyday task in other clinical settings, can become challenging.

Robust risk assessment is a priority and adapting practice to accommodate these needs can be challenging. We have no access to sharps including kitchen knives and careful consideration and control measures are taken to work with tins and glass. Since working in my current role, I am yet to master the art of chopping an onion with a butter knife!

What’s the best part of your job?

Without doubt, the best part of my job is working in a setting where the value placed on occupational therapy is so high, especially by patients within the hospital. For our patient population, often motivation and volition are a significant challenge, however, so many are enthusiastic and keen to engage in occupational therapy sessions. The ability to provide a meaningful activity which enables a sense of self, empowerment and participation provides ongoing job satisfaction.

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VIP 2

The new VIP 2 is the updated version of the VIP series of folding tilt in space wheelchairs, building on many years of experience of design and development.

As well as 35 degree tilt it now has either fixed or adjustable recline.

CR

D

TES T E SH

A

A

D

CR

It also now comes with an improved headrest design and a deeper seat.

TES T E SH

a 35° Tilt-in-Space

a 30° Anti-Sliding Recline

a Foldable and Durable

Tilt-in-space system further enables attendant to tilt the chair up to 35 degrees, allowing user to change to the most comfortable position helping to reduce the potential of developing pressure ulcers.

Sliding has always been one of the greatest concerns for people in a standard reclining chair. The VIP2 solves this problem by locating the reclining pivot point of the chair close to the human hip joint, which synchronizes the motion of the body and the chair.

The VIP 2 is light and folds fitting easily into a car boot.

The lateral push-bar strengthens the durability of this foldable chair and makes it easier to push the chair.

T: 0845 630 3436 E: INFO@KARMAMOBILITY.CO.UK WWW.KARMAMOBILITY.CO.UK

KARMA MOBILITY LTD UNIT 6 TARGET PARK, REDDITCH WORCESTERSHIRE B98 8YN

LEARNING TO

live

T

he increased numbers of recovery colleges which are springing up across the UK provide a holistic approach to mental health through which occupational therapists can provide absolute support.

The UK is deep within the grips of a mental health crisis. In June, it was announced that a scheme costing ÂŁ14.5m was being set up in England by the Office of Students to tackle the endemic issue of student mental health, with the number of undergraduate students

ONE IN FIVE YOUNG WOMEN SELF HARM

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27

Mental health

across the country who say they have ill mental health, and numbers of student suicides continuing a worrying upward trend. In the same month, the Guardian reported that one in five young women have selfharmed; the story feels as if it is just another in a long line of journalistic reports on the deepening abyss that constitutes the UK’s pervasive issues with tackling mental health issues.

When Theresa May became prime minister, she said that her goal was to tackle the “burning injustices” which plagued the people of the UK, which included access to mental health services. In one of her final speeches to parliament, she pledged the delivery of an additional £20.5bn in funding to mental health services provided by the NHS that would be delivered by 2023.

While the news is welcome, it doesn’t fix the immediate problems at hand: the NHS’s mental health services face more barriers to entry than ever before. That’s where recovery colleges come in.

According to data collected by RECOLLECT, a recovery college study carried out by the University of Nottingham, there are 77 recovery colleges situated across England, with even more in Scotland and Ireland, and in places overseas like Italy, Australia and Japan. In 2009, a pilot college was established in South West London by Dr Rachel Perkins, and was quickly followed by a second in Nottingham.

Perkins is a well-respected name in clinical psychology, and used her lived experience of mental illness and of the health services to advocate for a social model-like approach to mental health services in the UK. In a piece written for Scottish Recovery in 2013, she writes: “Recovery-focused mental health policy requires a shift from a primary focus on problem/symptom removal to helping people to live the lives they want to lead, do the things they want to do and participate as equal 28

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“It has been a catalyst for reducing the perceived differences between people who work in and who use services” citizens. Therefore it is necessary to consider not only ways of changing the person so they ‘fit in’ (by treating symptoms and remedying skills deficits), but changing the world so it can accommodate the person.

“In the broader disability world, disabled people came to realise that their real problems lay not within them – their loss of mobility, health, sight, etc – but in barriers in the environment: the attitudes of others and lack of support, equipment and adjustments they needed to participate in all facets of community life. Therefore, although for some treatment remained important, a ‘medical’ or ‘clinical’ model of disability was replaced by a ‘social model’ and an approach based on rights not ‘cure’.”

recovery colleges offer a host of classes and courses which people can sign up to that focus on tackling a specific aspect of their mental health journey. These could be classes on mindfulness, setting goals, or healthy living; they could focus less on the individual and more on their family, giving them vital information on how to adequately and properly support a member of their family who lives with mental illness; or they could take a more traditional approach in the teaching of CBT techniques or talk therapy.

What is most vital to the college’s programmes is the understanding that the stigma and discrimination that people who have mental health conditions face is central to them facing their mental illness head-on.

It’s this social model approach that is taken at recovery colleges: the aim for those who utilise the facilities is not to find a cure for their mental health condition as the medical model evaluates it, but to find a way to live with their mental illness. Recovery colleges emphasise a service user-led model of treatment, and the professionals – which includes psychologists and occupational therapists – usually have lived experience of both mental illness and health services available, allowing them to provide the best possible care from both the perspective of the professional and the service user.

An IMRoc study published to mark the tenth anniversary of the establishment of recovery colleges shows that, in spite of a lack of formal trials to test the effectiveness, there is a substantial body of evidence which shows that both staff and students at recovery colleges are finding significant benefits from working and learning there. 95% of students providing feedback to Sussex Recovery College during the 2014-16 session said they would recommend the course they did to others, and subsequent reports from other colleges have echoed this sentiment.

Recovery colleges are not entirely their own independent being; rather, they reside within pre-existing locations – hospitals or community centres, for examples – and value an educational approach to mental health. Like a college or university,

Veronica Kamerling, a carer, student and peer trainer at Central and North West London Wellbeing College, said that the college

“95% of students providing feedback to Sussex Recovery College during the 201416 session said they would recommend the course they did to others”

“bridges the gap between treatment and actively feeling a member of the community again,” adding that it also “gives people the belief that by involving themselves with the College courses they will be able to achieve a more positive future for themselves.”

The report also noted the connection that the colleges gave staff to their own mental health, allowing them to both support the students and engage in positive action regarding their own mental illness.

The account of one of Sussex Recovery College’s mental health practitioner trainers was included in the report.

They said: “I have found working at the Recovery College transformative.

Not only have I learned from peer trainers and students about their perspectives on mental health, recovery and self-management but I have also learned about myself. During the induction at the start of our Recovery College each peer talked about their lived experience as part of introducing themselves. As it came to my turn I also chose to speak of my own lived experience and other mental health professionals followed. This was challenging and emotional but also life affirming and was part of integrating different aspects of myself and becoming more fully me.

“The Recovery College has been one of the prompts for our Trust to start to genuinely value lived experience, not only of peers, but of all staff.

It has been a catalyst for reducing the perceived differences between people who work in and who use services or are relatives of people who use services. Indeed, we have discovered that many of us have all three experiences.”

Perkins own study on the benefit of colleges in 2017 highlighted how staff who attended courses at recovery colleges better understood mental health and recovery, noting that: “co-learning was linked to an increased sense of connectedness and parity with service users, increased empathy and understanding. Learning alongside service users as equals appeared to encourage staff and students to understand and appreciate their perspective, recognise commonalities and reduce barriers.”

Recovery colleges are proving to be an effective bridge between the UK’s mental health services, which are collapsing under the weight of their current necessity, and the service users who desperately need intervention. The recoveryled model provides a holistic and person-centred approach to mental health care, promoting both the possibility of recovery and the effectiveness of using patientdirected approaches.

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29

Heading here

A

GARDENOF A

nastasia Barnes, a senior occupational therapist at the Emerald Centre in Colchester, was the proud winner of the ÂŁ1000 Cosyfeet OT Award in 2018. Here she shares how this helped towards the creation of a sensory garden where dementia clients and their families spend quality time, gardening and relaxing together.

We recently celebrated the official opening of a very special garden at the Emerald Centre. Clients and their families, supported by staff, worked very hard to create the sensory garden, which was officially opened by the Mayor of Colchester.

The Emerald Centre is part of the Essex Partnership University Trust. The centre houses services for people with a diagnosis of dementia.

These services include initial memory assessments, consultant reviews, medication monitoring, crisis intervention assessments, home treatment, occupational therapy, psychological assessment/treatments and a 24-hour helpline. The centre

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Dementia garden

The Garden also houses group therapies and activities, including cognitive stimulation therapy and a vascular wellbeing group.

At the Emerald Centre there is an enclosed garden area that was little used and only maintained by Trust gardeners to prevent overgrowth.

An individual suffering from dementia, whether the cause be from Alzheimer’s disease, vascular problems or any other brain injury, have in common a group of symptoms associated with an ongoing decline of the brain and its abilities, including thinking, memory, language, understanding and judgement.

The project was started when a volunteer offered to decorate the four very large clay pots in the garden with mosaic tiles to add some colour. We decided to expand on this and invited our clients and carers to become involved in creating a sensory garden which would be a therapeutic space they could enjoy. The garden project for our client group was designed to encourage and promote the following:

Although the most common is Alzheimer’s disease and is generally diagnosed in people over 70, there are individuals who have a diagnosis before the age of 65. This is referred to as early-onset dementia and can have a profound effect on the individual, their family and friends.

It is important that whatever age a person is diagnosed with any form of dementia, they continue to feel worthwhile, useful and understood.

With this in mind, when the opportunity arose, we decided to create a garden where people could enjoy being together in a creative way, using and maintaining the skills and creativity they might have, giving them a sense of purpose and pride.

“. . . there are individuals who have a diagnosis before the age of 65.

This is referred to as early-onset dementia and can have a profound effect on the individual, their family and friends.”

1 A sense of achievement/building confidence/self-esteem 2 To boost energy levels and help with sleep difficulties 3 Working with others to promote social interaction/reduce isolation 4 To create a sense of purpose/ meaningful activity 5 Exercise to promote physical health and wellbeing/help to maintain mobility and flexibility 6 To help maintain skills/encourage memories 7 Enjoyment/pleasure/ reminiscence 8 A place to share experiences and create new memories with their family and friends It is well documented that gardening is beneficial for mental health and wellbeing. Studies have found that the mental health benefits of gardening are extensive, reducing problems such as anxiety and depression. It can also reduce stress,

help combat high blood pressure and help improve overall physical fitness.

According to Ulrich (1999), being involved in garden activities can help improve memory and assist with maintaining rational thinking and cognitive function. The activities in the garden help to arouse the five senses of sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. Garden activities can also promote a feeling of calmness and reduce problems associated with dementia such as boredom, depression, aggression, agitation and increased stress.

It was a huge undertaking and hard work to begin with. We were fortunate to have the help of a group of volunteers from the university and an enthusiastic group of Girl Guides to clear the space and ready the garden for our clients to begin their project.

Fliers were sent out to our clients and their families or carers informing of a start date for the group and requesting donations of old unused garden equipment or any spare plants. We applied to the Trust for funding to enable us to purchase gardening tools and entered the Cosyfeet OT Award programme.

We were overjoyed to win, and the £1000 award enabled us to purchase, paint, plants, arbours and seating.

The client group was divided into two, with the clients who wanted to work outside in the garden busy designing areas, painting benches, planting, weeding and generally creating the garden. The ‘inside’ group were busy creating artwork

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31

for the garden that included making bird boxes, painting pots and using household items to create various sculptures.

The project has grown since the opening and we now have a very well attended group who are enthusiastic, creative and motivated to continue developing ‘their’ space.

The project has proved to be an enormous success. We have observed the benefits first hand with our clients forming relationships, talking, laughing, being physically more active and best of all inviting their families and friends to enjoy the garden with them.

Making a difference One of the service users who joined the garden project was Maria Hinch, 63. Maria was diagnosed with vascular dementia six years ago. She also has a diagnosis of depression and arthritis/spondylitis, which causes Maria chronic pain.

Maria lives with her husband Norman, who is supportive, but Maria likes to remain as independent as possible and continues to cook and bake.

When the garden project started, Maria joined and it quickly became apparent that Maria’s skills in art and craft would be a huge benefit to the group, as this is an area that Maria excels in.

In the past, Maria has found it difficult to be in groups but now she reports she enjoys the interaction in the group.

“For me it’s a source of social interaction and an outlet for my creativity. I also paint and do art and crafts at home, but I love seeing my work on display in the garden.

It makes me feel proud”, says Maria.

“The garden group has enriched my life and the people I have met have made a huge difference to my life.”

Another service user, Wendy Welham, 63, also commented: “The garden group is everything to me. It helps with my mood and my memory,” says Wendy. “Working in the fresh air and mixing with others helps keep me mobile and lifts my spirits; I look forward to attending each week.”

Cosyfeet The Cosyfeet Occupational Therapy Award supports one winner each year in developing their professional knowledge and skills while benefitting others. The £1000 award is open to any OT or OT student who is planning voluntary work, a work placement or research, whether in the UK or abroad. It is designed to contribute to travel and other expenses. For more information, visit cosyfeet.com/otaward

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Product FOCUS

Product focus

Every issue we bring you the latest products from across the market to help you improve the lives of your clients.

1

1

ERGO LITE 2

This lightweight self-propel wheelchair from Karma Mobility is available in 16” and 18” seat widths and weighs just 10.5kg (6kg when broken down) which greatly reduces the risk of back injury to the carer should they have to lift the wheelchair. Superb comfort for the user is provided by Karma’s S-Ergo seating system.

0845 630 3436 karmamobility.co.uk/where-to-buy 2

ODE

The ode uses fragrances to help promote and increase appetite naturally. It can be set for certain times throughout the day with a fragrance that will stimulate appetite for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It has been designed for patients living with dementia, Alzheimer’s, memory problems or those who have reduced appetite.

0800 772 3771 designed2enable.co.uk

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Product focus

3

3

T-ROLL SOFT KNIT COVERS

The C&S Seating product range includes a soft knit cover for their Log and T-roll positioning aids.

Available in five vibrant colours and nine different sizes, designed to fit snug over all C&S waterproof Titex covered rolls to provide maximum comfort to the end user. They are also removable and machine washable.

01424 853331 | cands-seating.co.uk 4

COMPLETE SENSORY ROOM PACKAGE

With everything you need to create your own sensory room, this multi-sensory environment is fully interactive, and includes an LED infinity tunnel, a moonlight, fibre optics, and a bubble tube. It also features hidden storage where you can keep additional sensory items you may wish to add to your collection.

0800 138 1370 | tts-group.co.uk 5

LET’S GO INDOOR ROLLATOR

A slim, lightweight walking aid for around the home. It comes with a handy clip-on tray for carrying items between rooms and it rolls over carpets easily and smoothly. Its slim design allows for easy access through doorways and into tight spaces without any problems. Folds away easily for transport or storage.

0800 772 3771 | designed2enable.co.uk

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5

Product focus 6

6

AQUAPAINT

Containing five different images, this watercolour set is ideal for keeping minds active and hands busy.

Helping to improve dexterity and restore a sense of personal identity, the Aquapaint kit starts white with a simple black outline, but as water is brushed over it, a beautiful, colourful image is revealed.

0203 488 2001 | active-minds.org 7

IROBOT ROOMBA 980

Keeping the house clean is a must, but for some it’s more of a chore than others. The iRobot Roomba is a clever little piece of technology that aids in housekeeping by effectively and efficiently hoovering without supervision. Just activate the Roomba via the app and the compact little robot will set to work.

7

johnlewis.com 8

TACTILE WEIGHTED LAP PAD

Soft and fleecy, this lap blanket is a great travelling companion for children or adults with autism or other sensory processing issues.

Machine washable, it will help to calm, and improve concentration and focus, making it ideal for use in the classroom, car, dentist, or other high-stress scenarios. amazon.co.uk

8 -magazine.co.uk

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e t a m i t l u e Th e t a m i t n i in s s e n i l n a cle

“The Closomat is the most wonderful thing of all the living aids we have added to our home, it’s beautiful!

I now don’t have to get my wife to help me.”

Karl van Gool, Halesowen

Quality • Service • Heritage www.clos-o-mat.com Tel: 0800 374 076 Email: info@clos-o-mat.com

OT awards

THE

OT SHOW AWARDS

ARE BACK

The Occupational Therapy Show, taking place on the 27-28 November 2019 at Birmingham NEC, is delighted to announce that the Occupational Therapy Awards Program is back for 2019.

Registrations for this year’s awards are now open!

Nominations for the awards are open to all OT professionals, so start submitting!

The awards are aimed at grass roots OTs, whether in the statutory or private sector, to celebrate and acknowledge outstanding contributions made to the profession by outstanding individuals and teams.

We are thrilled to recognise all sectors of occupational therapy through these awards which are open to any OT professional, irrespective of career level.

The Occupational Therapy Show Awards provide a platform in which OTs can get recognition for the hard work they do in day-to-day working life. The awards create a special moment for the winners, whether that’s an individual or a team.

For 2019, there will be three delegate award categories: Outstanding OTTI/OTA/Service User Contribution Award – an outstanding support worker who makes a significant contribution within the occupational therapy domain.

Outstanding Occupational Therapist Award - an OT who makes a significant contribution to occupational therapy in the UK. This award could be in recognition of a long contribution or a specific contribution in recent times.

Outstanding Occupational Therapy Leadership and Innovation Award, supported

by The OT Magazine – an OT professional making a significant contribution to OT leadership or innovation in the UK -someone who is breaking new ground in their work. This may refer to developing a new area of practice, an emerging area of OT, the international arena, patient/service-user involvement, or perhaps innovation in education.

Launched in 2018, this year is the 2nd Exhibitor Occupational Therapy Show Awards. These awards celebrate and acknowledge successful exhibiting companies and the products/ services they supply to the OT audience.

This year, on the 27-28 November at NEC Birmingham, there will be experts and innovators ready to help you improve the lives of those in your care.

We understand how busy you are, but you do not want to miss out on the biggest FREE learning opportunity in the OT calendar.

This year’s show already has some amazing lectures lined up with topics covering mental health, moving and handling and more.

There is also the opportunity to explore new equipment that will benefit your patients and to ask those questions that will solve those problems keeping you up at night For more information on the awards, please visit theotshow.com or if you have any questions please contact Heather at h.stanley@ closerstillmedia.com.

Best Personal Independence Product. Specific items of equipment that enable people to participate in meaningful occupations, supported by independent feedback from a service user.

Best Therapeutic Product or Service. For products or services aimed at improving or maintaining occupational performance or function.

Excellence in Caring Award.

We are particularly interested in equipment that supports the move towards “single –handed care” or that enable clients to take an active role in their care.

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NHS staff

ASSAULT ON HARASSMENT

THE

One in 12 members of NHS staff have experienced sexual harassment in their workplace. What some tactlessly consider an “occupational hazard” of working in the health service has a devastating effect on its army of workers.

L

ast month, the UK’s largest union, UNISON, revealed that one in 12 members of NHS staff have been sexually harassed in their workplace. The UNISON survey It’s Never OK saw 8,487 healthcare staff who work in some capacity for or with the NHS, including occupational therapists, ambulance workers and pharmacy staff. A total of 695 (8%) respondents said that they had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace over the last two years. Of those 695 people, 31% said the harassment was “frequent,” and 12% said that they experienced harassment daily or weekly.

It will sadly come as no surprise that 81% of the people who had experienced sexual harassment identify as female, while the remaining 19% identify as male. 61% said their harasser was an older person; 37% said their harasser was in a position more powerful than theirs; 32% said that the person harassing them was a colleague with the same level of responsibility as them.

The majority of respondents – 54% - said it was a member of their team who had harassed them in some way. 42% reported that it had been a patient who committed the act.

For those who had experienced sexual harassment, the most common was to be the recipient of

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remarks, “banter,” or “jokes” (64%).

Many also experienced the invasion of their personal space (53%), unwanted comments regarding their appearance (49%), leering or lascivious gestures (48%), and sexual assault – which includes unwanted kissing or touching (22%). UNISON also said three recipients reported having been raped, and one reported an incident of a patient performing a sex act.

Those who had experienced sexual assault overwhelmingly reported that it had a damaging effect on their mental health, with some respondents saying it had made them feel suicidal, begin self-harming or developing PTSD. While almost half confided in a colleague about their sexual assault, the vast majority of people who didn’t report it said they felt that nothing would be done if they spoke out, with many others saying they feared they would be “dismissed as oversensitive.”

According to UNISON, they believe that even more people are affected by sexual harassment than the survey shows, citing lack of effective procedure for dealing with instances of sexual harassment and a working climate where it is

frequently ignored and “at worst, tolerated.” The union recommended the reinstatement of section 40 of the Equality Act, which safeguards staff against harassment by third parties – patients and their families, for example – and the creation of a “gold standard” procedure for making complaints when instances do occur. But will it be enough?

Respondents to the survey said…

“One of my team ‘upskirted’ a colleague, then sent the video recording to another member in the team by ‘accident.’”

“A colleague touched my groin during handovers to ‘show’ where a patient had pain. The same person also touched around my side to ‘search’ for keys that I had in my pocket.”

“While I was on placement a patient attempted to take my tunic off, but none of the staff on the ward did anything.”

“I left the organisation. The nurse who made me feel uncomfortable made things awkward and I hated working on the same days as her.”

“I suffered with severe anxiety, and couldn’t be left alone at work.

This went on for 12 months even though I reported it to a manager.”

“It was an incident that spooked me. I now purposely wear a larger uniform and feel myself tense up if we’re called to the area where the patient lives.”

NHS staff

DID YOU

KNOW? ONE IN

12

members of NHS staff have been sexually harassed in their workplace

What should you do if you’re sexually harassed at work?

Sexual harassment is a legitimate issue and you are well within your right to have the situation dealt with without being noted as “reactionary” or a “troublemaker.”

Your feelings regarding harassment are valid. If you feel like you are experiencing sexual harassment: 1 Make a written document, complete with dates and times, of when any harassment took place, what you both said, and what was done 2 Speak to a manager, supervisor or any other trusted senior member of staff – if your work has an HR department, arrange a meeting with them as soon as possible 3 Only if you feel confident and able, firmly inform your harasser that you will not tolerate their behaviour – remember that you do not

have to have told the person to stop if their behaviour was unwanted for your complaint to be valid 4 Make a formal complaint through your company’s grievance procedures 5 Escalate the issue as much as you see fit, be this to more senior staff or to your union representative, who can help you take the case to tribunal if you do not feel your organisation are taking your complaint seriously 6 Ensure you get written evidence of each interaction with management regarding your sexual harassment complaint, in case you need to escalate your case.

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We offer environmental control solutions throughout a client’s home, which can assist with everyday tasks from opening doors and closing the blinds, to answering the phone. Our services are tailored around individual user requirements, to ensure they feel safe and secure within their home environment.

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Therapy kitchens

REHAB Therapy kitchens are becoming more popular in addressing the needs of patients who require rehabilitation. Ropox is a leading supplier of accessible kitchens and here, managing director Peter Davies shares the benefits that these kitchens are providing people.

Rehabilitation is a vital part of the recovery programme for anyone who has suffered a stroke, brain or spinal injury.

Depending on the level of injury and mobility, some people can regain their independence relatively quickly, while for others, it can be a case of learning how to do things from scratch and no where is this more challenging than in the kitchen.

Ropox is helping to address this with its range of adjustable kitchen worktops and cupboards which have been designed to make the kitchen as accessible as possible to people with reduced mobility.

Many care settings and rehabilitation centres are now using this type of equipment in training kitchens to help their patients regain some independence and increase their confidence. A training kitchen may be used for teaching specific skills, testing and assessing of abilities, and monitoring how a patient is progressing.

There are a huge number of acitivies performed in a kitchen, all of which need to be taken into consideration.

These include: Moving between work stations Worktop food preparation Cleaning vegetables at the sink Washing up Cooking at the hob Using the oven Accessing the fridge and freezer Cleaning Listing and prioritising the importance of each of these tasks and possibly even more activities can help when developing the design brief to ensure the final design and layout meets the needs of everyone involved.

Individual users will often need to carry out these activities at different heights. For example, cooking at the hob may be easier at lower heights than when washing up at the sink and using a mixing bowl at a lower worktop height than when slicing vegetables.

The whole point of the therapy kitchen is that it will provide people with the best chance of rehabilitation.

They can learn or re-learn individual skills at the three main working areas

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Therapy kitchens

“. . . being able to make their own meals is hugely important as it can help with their independence and confidence”

– the hob, preparation area and sink, while also having access to the oven and fridge.

The electric height adjustment makes it possible for people to work at the most ergonomic height and with good leg access below, seated patients can get the best possible position in relation to the work surface while people who stand can work at the best height for their balance or reach.

The linear design of a worktop split in two, allows two people to work in the same area and therapists/trainers can help from the left or the righthand sides of each individual with the end result being a faster recovery of important skills.

In Action

One such example of a care setting which is using a therapy kitchen can be found at Homerton Transitional Neurological Rehabilitation Unit in east London. Two years ago, the unit installed a therapy kitchen consisting of an oven with a fold away door, hob, sink, two adjacent Ropox electric height adjustable worktops and an adjustable wall unit system.

The worktops have a 300mm height adjustment which provides a 44

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worktop height range of 690mm to 990mm making it suitable for most wheelchair users and both staff and residents are reaping the rewards as Joanna Lyndon-Cohen, a highly specialist occupational therapist, at the unit explains: “We have patients here with a range of neurological conditions ranging from strokes and traumatic brain injuries to spinal cord issues, Parkinson’s and MS; and over the past two years many patients have benefited from the equipment.

“When people have suffered a stroke, brain or spinal cord injury, they will have often gone from being more independent to needing help to do daily activities. It is our role here to help manage this and often reeducate them so they can once again complete day-to-day tasks which we all take for granted.

“For many of our patients, being able to make their own meals is hugely important as it can help with their independence and confidence and the training kitchen provides them with the opportunity to practice their meal preparation skills.

“By having a split-level work top, one patient can be working from their wheelchair while another can be

working from a standing position.”

Among the patients currently using the training kitchen is Mustafa who has benefited greatly from being able to use all the equipment. He says: “The kitchen is very easy to use and has really helped with my confidence. I can now make a cup of tea, my own breakfast and prepare my homemade soup”.

Joanna explains: “When Mustafa arrived he was using a wheelchair.

He has now progressed to just using a walking frame, and thanks to the height adjustable worktops he has been able to use the kitchen from day one. From our perspective, seeing the difference a training kitchen can make is just fantastic.”

The total cost of the installation was in the region of £10,000 including all units, cooker and two mobile drawer units and took four days in total to install. Ropox can also supply one person kitchens with adjustable work areas which start at under £6,000 plus installation.

For more information on the full range of accessible kitchen and bathroom solutions available from Ropox visit ropox.com call 07831 401118 or email pd@ropox.com.

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Assistive technology

ASSISTED LIVING AWARENESS

Firas Sarhan, Director of CETEC, Barnet and Southgate College tells us about the formal qualification that health professionals can achieve in assistive technology.

C

entre of Excellence for Technology Enhanced Care (CETEC) established as an institute within Barnet Southgate College to act as an advisor, facilitator and promoter of the use of assistive technology (telehealth and telecare) to support individuals with long term physical, learning and mental health issues within the home environment.

CETEC works with local and regional stakeholders and national professional bodies (health, social care and industry) engaging in operational developments for care service redesign integrating technology into care pathways, working in partnership programmes such as assistive living evaluation projects with local and national stakeholders. The CETEC team will be utilising lessons learned and promoting knowledge transfer through specific educational research programmes to support technology enabled and integrated approach to the delivery of high-quality health and social care services.

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A New Era

The role of digitally enhanced technology in supporting the delivery of strategic initiatives, such as Whole System Demonstrator, has been increasingly recognised by the Department of Health, health boards, local health authorities and housing and social care partnerships over the last three years. New models of service, which can be supported and facilitated by technology, are anticipated to become progressively more important to assist in addressing the needs and aspirations of the people who use health and social care services, the anticipated demographic shift and challenging financial context.

It is therefore important that the

education and training requirements associated with the implementation of tele-healthcare are embedded into the workforce development activities supporting these strategic policy initiatives.

Education and training of the workforce is a key component for the successful uptake and use of assistive technology (telehealth and telecare). There is a need to equip the current and future workforce to manage and exploit new and increasingly sophisticated technology, and to support changes around working practices and role redesign. Furthermore, the training on how to evaluate the current care pathways and care packages is essential to establish how care pathways could be redesigned integrating technology to advance care and enhance issues of quality and safety.

There is a need for training to provide a more focused and formally assessed use of technologies with additional qualifications or accreditation in place.

The Programme

This programme will enable participants to develop their understanding of technology applications in care. Telehealth and telecare awareness for health and social care providers will provide participants with an understanding of the benefits of technology in health and social care, as well as advance their knowledge on implementing and evaluating service redesigns, and incorporating assisted living into care pathways.

Level 3 Award in Assisted Living Awareness This qualification is obtained via e-learning and is available through Barnet and Southgate College to provide professionals with a formal qualification in relation to utilising assistive technology.

Professionals who undertake this course will be able to support local authorities in enhancing the skills of the workforce using assistive technology. In some cases, basic IT skills need to be learned. More specifically, the following skill set will be needed:

The module aims are: 1 To provide students with the knowledge, understanding, skills and abilities to safely and effectively integrate technology as a practice intervention

This course is designed for continuous professional development for a range of different professionals such as nurses, social workers, care managers, social care workers and occupational therapists. It is accredited by the OCN awarding body and consists of a range of different modules which include: • Why assistive technology should be a key part of Health and Social Care Services • The benefits of technologyenabled care • Making digital delivery happen in health and social care • Patient and public perspectives on assistive technology

2 To enhance knowledge in the range of the commercially available technologies for health and social care

• Technology-enabled care values and principles

3 To increase understanding of the healthcare scenarios within which technology may support individuals or services

• Ethical issues in the use of assistive technology

4 To explore current examples of good practice using assistive technology

• The ability to triage and assess patients for suitability of telehealth/ telecare and at what level of intervention

5 To demonstrate a range of technologies and applications to healthcare and social care, for example, the internet and mobile technologies

• Sound clinical decision-making skills to be able to monitor patients remotely and determine when an intervention is required and what form that will take

6 To give students an opportunity to research service models which take an integrated approach to technology use.

• An increased ability to provide non-face-to-face contact that enables sound decision making and inspires trust from the patients

Assistive technology

• Managing risks of technologyenabled care services

• Application of assistive technology There will be various activities for you to complete and by the end of the course you will have gained an enhanced knowledge of assistive technology that will allow you to confidently recommend assistive technology in the right setting.

For further information you can contact Firas Sarhan via email firas.sarhan@ barnetsouthgate.ac.uk, on 07803 496 063 or you can visit barnetsouthgate.co.uk to find out more about the course.

• Improved coaching, motivational and reassurance skills using remote mediums • Good teleconferencing skills to ensure the patient is confident that they have the clinician’s full attention • Ability to redesign work flows to enable responses to be timely and appropriate.

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OT abroad

RELOCATION RELOCATION For those seriously considering leaving this great little island behind, we’ve got some tips on what to get sorted before you go.

At some point in our lives, we all get a little sick of the UK giving us four seasons in one day. Bad weather, unseasoned food, no actual possibility of a real summertime thanks in part to our terrible position in relation to the hemisphere and global warming…we could all go on. If you’ve decided already that a lifetime of Spam, Smash and period dramas aren’t for you, it might be worth considering taking your extensive occupational therapist training abroad.

“. . . see if the grass really is greener on the other side”

You don’t even have to decide to permanently relocate: opportunities regularly arise for occupational therapists to work on short-term contracts or volunteer positions which will allow you to get some experience and see if the grass really is greener on the other side. Here’s our guide on looking to take your skills overseas.

FINDING A JOB First thing’s first: you need a job.

This isn’t 1932 and you can’t just arrive fresh off the boat and get a job – if only it were that easy. The easiest place to find job listings for occupational therapists abroad is of course, the internet. Both the WFOT and WHO frequently advertise worldwide positions online, each of which list important information like 48

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remuneration, holiday pay, sick pay and relocation allowances, if any of these are applicable to the job.

Remember that when you look for a job abroad, there will be different employment laws to the UK, and these could be better or worse. For example, the country you’re looking at may not give employees sick pay, and there may be a significant difference in holiday allowances or maternity allowance. These are all

important things to consider when you’re moving. If there are no jobs listed there, some governments have a list of approved recruitment agencies which advertise positions, so it’s worth looking into to see if there’s anything there for you. A warning, though: some websites may make you pay a fee in order to find employment using their services; the WFOT does not support this practice.

OT abroad SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE

GETTING A VISA It was going to be difficult to talk about working abroad without talking about Brexit, and here we are. At the time of printing, as an EU citizen, you are entitled to work in any country within the European Economic Area, which includes all of the countries in the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Under this scenario, you’re entitled to the same working conditions, pay and social security benefits that any national of the country you’re working in would receive. Of course, this may all be set to change (at some point), so the UK government’s overview on working abroad is the best place to turn if you’re unsure of how to get started.

For countries like the United States, Canada, Australia and hundreds of others, you’ll need to apply for a working visa. For places like Australia, which uses a kind of points-based immigration system, you’re at a huge advantage as an occupational therapist who works in the UK, having both an excellent grasp of the English language and what is considered a “skilled” profession, which automatically nets you some good points. Investigate this aspect thoroughly and be aware that there may be limitations to the number of family members allowed to emigrate with you on your visa.

“you have to be a competent speaker, reader and writer of the language”

GETTING INSURED For some countries, insurance may be an optional requirement, but for others, not having it might completely prevent you from practicing. Be sure to research if you need insurance at all, and what kind you need. Be sure to get the necessary medical and health insurance for your personal and familial wellbeing wherever you move to: this could also be a legal necessity, and in some places (particularly the United States), this could be an incredibly pricey aspect of emigrating. If you’re moving all of your belongings, remember to get them insured too. The last thing you need is to arrive at your new home and have the contents not arrive with you.

?

?

Perhaps one of the biggest barriers to movement will be the language requirements. For those who are aiming to move to areas of the world like South Africa, Australia, Canada or the United States, you’ll be pleased to know that your knowledge of the English language will carry you just fine there. For those wanting to move to areas where English may be a second or third language for most of the natives, you might run into a few problems. It’s not enough to just understand the language of your chosen country for emigration, you have to be a competent speaker, reader and writer of the language.

Some countries might even ask you to sit a competency exam to ensure you’re not lying about being fluent in Flemish. If you’re hoping to move and learn the language as you go, this is likely to be a very bad idea, one that likely won’t even get you off the ground. Not living in the country but having a fluency in the language is great, but your understanding of the language may not align with the professional terminology used there. Luckily, the WFOT produce resources which explain the differences across languages and cultures, which can be found on their website. Additionally, you’ll be able to find a list on their website of which country requires fluency in which language. For places like Belgium or Switzerland, where multiple languages are spoken, this may depend on where in the county you’re looking to move to.

For more information, check the WFOT website, wfot.org, and the UK government’s website, gov.uk.

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Why

have a

stairlift have a real lift?

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Empathy in OT

WHO Cares?

Empathy is a cornerstone of the patient-based approach to treatment. Reclaiming your sense of empathy could allow you to better your connection with your patients.

The capacity to understand, relate to and sympathise with the problems of others is a core concept of any medical profession: occupational

therapy is no different. While working with people always requires the repression of emotional responses – limiting one’s emotions so as to remain professional, displaying emotion appropriately and so on – engaging with the natural sense of empathy which everyone feels to a differing extent is vital when helping patients.

While we use empathy and

AFFECTIVE

sympathy interchangeably, they’re very different emotions. Sympathy is the acknowledgement of an individual’s issues, where empathy is the understanding of the same issue, having put yourself into the person who has experienced said issue’s shoes. Empathy comes from a place of personal understanding where sympathy places a barrier between the issue and the person emoting.

& COGNITIVE

Empathetic reactions are generally divided into two categories: affective (or emotional) empathy, and cognitive empathy.

AFFECTIVE

COGNITIVE

Affective empathy is the ability to be affected by the emotional state of another person, which may involve the feeling of empathetic concern or personal distress regarding their issue.

Cognitive empathy is the ability to understand the mental state of another, which involves perspective taking to place yourself in the shoes of another and comprehend their emotions.

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Empathy in OT In her 1995 article for the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Suzanne Peloquin writes on the importance of empathy in healthcare, but especially in occupational therapy.

She writes: “In health care, empathy can be seen as an enactment of the conviction that, empowered by someone’s willingness to understand, the patient will gather a requisite measure of courage.

Empathy is characterised by an expression of being there, a soul turning, a recognition of likeness and difference, a participation in the experience of another, a connection with feeling, a power to recover from that connection and a personal enrichment. The disposition, the presence, and the actions of empathy reflect a thinking and a feeling that happen at once.”

For occupational therapists, she says that empathy can show “how one can be there while holding occupation at the centre of practice,” and that “an empathetic attitude shows deep respect for the dignity of others.”

Peloquin shares the story of The Healing Heart by John Carlova, which details the life of Ora Ruggles, a pioneering occupational therapist from the United States. In Carlova’s biography, he writes that Ruggles hired helpers but valued their “warmth and enthusiasm as human beings” as much as she valued their technical ability. The Healing Heart chronicles Ruggles’ work with soldiers who had received lifechanging injuries at war; Ruggles treatment of everyone in her ward came from a place of empathy, where she would connect with them on a personal level to improve their lives as well as reconnect them with their occupation.

On the other hand, Yvonne Thomas and Diane Menage’s 2016 article on Reclaiming Compassion as a Core Value in Occupational Therapy, the pair writes that developing empathy “does not necessarily result in better health care,” stating that “an awareness of a patient’s distress 52

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or fear could be used negatively to assert power over that person.”

the comprehension of powerful emotions.

Instead, Thomas and Menage say that compassion plays a more vital role in the provision of care in occupational therapy. They define compassion as “an emotional response which is acknowledged in action.”

In the Stanford Medicine blog Scope, Lloyd Minor writes that precision healthcare, which brings together high tech and high touch treatment for patients, is more effective when medical professionals employ both the system and an empathetic and less reactive approach to their patient. He notes that all of the medical training in the world can’t help medical professionals if they can’t use the information alongside the understanding that their patients are multifaceted and complex individuals with complex issues – hence the importance of empathy.

Peloquin disagrees, however. She cites work by Lee Thomas, explaining that “empathy does not exact a fusion, but a connection.” In this, she explains that the empathy which occupational therapists feel towards their patients is positive because it “implies an experience not only of the pain of another, by the integrity and courage that dwell alongside the pain. Empathy in health care practice is the enactment of the conviction that, empowered by someone’s willingness to understand, the patient will gather the requisite measure of courage.” Her argument is not that the connection between patient and practitioner can result in a negative interaction, but a positive one, where a better connection and understanding is achieved through

As healthcare changes and becomes more focused on technology, introducing robots and AI, it’s important to remember that nothing will ever be an effective substitute for engaging with patients on an empathetic level, allowing yourself to understand and engage with how they feel, and using this to influence your care for the better, to give patients the best care they can receive.

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This means people can read by listening to books, when this pleasure would otherwise be lost.

Audiobooks and wellbeing 1 Reading has many recognised health benefits; from reducing stress and helping to combat memory loss, to boosting mental health. Books provide companionship, adventure and pleasure, and audiobooks extend these benefits to include those who cannot read printed books.

2 Negative thoughts about a condition can effect a person’s overall wellbeing, with physical

problems leading to depression and anxiety. However, research has shown audiobooks can help counteract this and have a positive impact on mental health in the elderly (ref. ncbi.nlm.nih. gov).

3 It can be overwhelming learning to adjust to a disability and life’s simple pleasures, such as enjoying a good book, can seem out of reach. Calibre Audio Library bridges the gap to independence, allowing people with disabilities the opportunity to live a life filled with enjoyment, not just managing their condition.

“It is hard to express how grateful I am to Calibre for the contribution the audiobooks made to my mother’s quality of life; as she became increasingly immobile physically, she was able to travel mentally and intellectually as much as ever.

And as her memory began to suffer she simply listened to them over again.”

Calibre Audio Library 1 Calibre has around 11,000 audiobooks; all are unabridged, recorded by professionals and available for unlimited borrowing by our members. Books can be borrowed via our free postal service on MP3 CD and memory stick, streamed online or downloaded using Calibre’s free app. We also sell accessible memory stick players that are easy to use with simple controls.

2 A lifetime membership is just £35 (including VAT) for adults and £20 for under 16s, with no monthly subscription fee or hidden costs.

Visit www.calibre.org.uk or call our membership services team on 01296 432 339 to join or for more information.

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All the latest from the world of paediatrics

Paediatrics

SECTION ospital can be a terrifying place, no matter how old you are. For children, it’s difficult not to understand why they’re undergoing medical treatment, and it can be difficult to feel brace. A Spanish football magazine are trying to alleviate these fears by turning old football strips into hospital gowns, making children feel like their sporting heroes are right there with them in the toughest of times. Read more on page 56.

H

Representation is extremely important in all forms of media, but growing up, it’s vital to see yourself

reflected in the books you read.

That’s why it’s so important to see children living with a whole host of disabilities in the books we read to children, which will help them to normalise and understand their own disabilities. We’ve listed our favourite inclusive books on page 60.

60

As ever, we have a fantastic selection of products which will be useful for your younger clientele on page 62, but we’re always on the look out for more. If you’ve got a product that’s perfect for little ones, please feel free to get in touch by emailing ros@2apublishing.co.uk.

Read on to find out more...

62

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55

Hospital initiative

ON TOP OF THE

WORLD Hospitals can be a scary place for children, but football magazine Panenka is helping kids by turning their heroes’ football strips into hospital gowns.

N

ot even all the child psychology in the world could begin to comprehend what really, fully goes through the mind of a child spending far too long in hospital.

The fear, confusion, misplaced anger and frustration – it’s a lot for a little one to take in. Kids are resilient, but it doesn’t mean they automatically should have to be.

Football for many of all ages is an escapism that is hard to replicate elsewhere. For 90 minutes, a spectacle, good or bad, is unfolding in front of you, with a defined beginning, middle and end. Whether you have a vested interest in either side, or are just a fan of the sport, a match is a storyline to follow closely as it unfolds, taking your mind off anything else.

Those who follow the game through their whole lives hold a love for it close to their chest, but for children, the players on the pitch become more than professional footballers.

They become superheroes that are not just on their game unstoppable, but in life. Just as a grown adult places these figures on a pedestal, the level of adoration children pay them can be powerful.

That’s why Spanish football magazine Panenka have linked up with a creative agency to harness that power to support children facing 56

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“something great happens when we wear our team shirt. We become braver, stronger and more prepared to beat our opponent” Pictures: Panenko magazine

to give even an inch of comfort and normality, the magazine have collaborated with We Are Xuxa to launch Las Batas Mas Fuertes, which translates into The Strongest Hospital Gowns - an initiative that upcycles old La Liga tops into hospital gowns children want to, and feel empowered by wearing.

The hope is that wearing the football strips as gowns will strengthen their spirits and fight, ultimately reducing the length of their hospital stays.

a battle bigger than anything that could be settled in 90 minutes.

On top of the unnerving atmosphere children can find themselves in for months on end, is the mundane, cold and clinical environment that becomes their norm. In a bid

We are Xuxa co-founders Diego Lauton, Irene Labat and Fede Botella imagined the concept, with magazine Panenka admitting a sense of obligation “to contribute to make an initiative like this a reality.”

Altered in a workshop in Madrid, the gowns were then donated to Hospital San Rafael in the city, where

children then donned Atletico, Real and Barca strips. The reception was immense.

The project was then inundated with offers of support from national associations, clubs, hospitals and others, with donations being made and a Gofundme rising in support.

“Every day, in many hospitals, children face their hardest match,” informs a promotional video created for the campaign.

“Illness is a scary rival. But it can be beaten.

“We’ve turned football shirts into hospital gowns.

“Because something great happens when we wear our team shirt. We become braver, stronger and more prepared to beat our opponent.”

BBC Newsround reported Alex Lopez Vendrell of Panenka magazine said: “Hospitalised children play a very difficult game every day, but if they put on their team’s shirt instead of the boring green dressing gown, their mood can improve, making them feel stronger.”

The response to the project has overwhelmed those behind it just as much as it has lifted the young children, who now stand that bit taller as they battle illness. After all, the likes of Lionel Messi have their backs. panenka.org

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57

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NHS facility LONDON CELEBRATES

FIRST UNIT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

C

entral and North West London NHS Foundation Trust celebrated the opening of London’s first unit for young people with learning disabilities, which will allow service users to receive care and treatment much closer to home.

Specifically for 13-18 year-olds in London, Crystal House, which was named by parents and carers, will operate out of Kingswood Centre in Brent, where an “outstanding” CQCrated adult inpatient facility runs out of.

Offering five specialist beds, the unit will have a team of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nurses,

support workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, a speech and language therapist, and a teacher and teaching assistant, with an additional 40 members of staff brought on board to support.

The centre opened in June to much praise and enthusiasm, with CNWL’s Kingswood staff having years of experience working with people with learning disabilities and mental health needs. They will offer care and treatment to CAMHS patients presenting with mild to profound learning disabilities and additionally mental health and challenging

behavioural problems. This includes young people with autistic spectrum conditions, as well as certain physical disabilities.

The Nursing Times reported that Jo Carroll, the Trust’s head of learning disabilities, said: “We’re excited to be given this opportunity by NHS England, to be the first Londonbased children’s inpatient service.

“This will make a real difference to young people locally who may need more intensive support. Sometimes a short hospital admission with specialised care and treatment is what they really need and the closer they are to home to have family nearby, the better. This means more children can receive care and treatment in London.”

Trust chief executive Claire Murdoch then told the publication: “I am so proud of this new unit – and I want to thank the families involved in its design; very helpful but also as they can see that this unit is going to be of the highest standards for the care of their loved ones.”

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59

Kids books

THE OT Magazine

Kids Library We all know the importance of literacy and ensuring children are exposed to the wonderful world of storytelling from a young age to ensure they enjoy the early learning experiences and unleash their imagination.

Children’s books are also so much more than introducing children to the written word though. They are a doorway to play, friendship and understanding the world. And that world involves disability, so why shouldn’t the bookshelves children are immersed in involve it? If your young client is disabled or has recently become disabled, books may be a great tool to help them understand the world and themselves in it, or for their young siblings to learn about disability. Here are The OT Magazine’s top picks.

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Kids books

El Deafo

A loose biography about author Cece Bell’s deafness, in the graphic novel El Deafo, all the characters in the book are bunnies, explaining the irony in an interview saying, “what are bunnies known for? Big ears; excellent hearing.”

The plot is described as: “While the hearing aid enables her to hear the world around her, it also distances her from some children her own age because she is seen as ‘different’. This causes both frustration and depression in Cece, as she is desperate to find a true friend but frequently feels that she has to accept poor treatment from others being afraid of losing what few friends she has.

She deals with these feelings by treating her hearing aid as a superpower, as it gives her the ability to hear everything. She adopts the secret nickname El Deafo.”

MEET CLARABELLE

Blue

ClaraBelle Blue is a “sweet 3-year-old with MUCHO moxie” who also happens to use a wheelchair. The fun and easy to follow story follows the titular character ClaraBelle Blue and how “She’s determined to show her new friends that just because she’s in a wheelchair, doesn’t mean she can’t have fun too!” She tells her friends and classmates, “I’m ClaraBelle Blue, and I’m just like you”.

WE’RE AMAZING

1,2,3!

A Story about Friendship and Autism (Sesame Street) American TV sensation Sesame Street hit the headlines when they introduced a new character with autism into the cast, and has been working tirelessly to raise awareness and understanding ever since.

Starring Elmo, We’re Amazing 1,2,3! explores autism. “Elmo introduces his longtime friend Julia to Abby, who’s a little confused at first because Julia isn’t saying hello. Elmo explains that Julia has autism, so she does things a little differently.”

The book helps Julia and readers to understand that people may act differently but everyone is amazing.

WE’LL PAINT THE

Octopus Red When six-year-old Emma is awaiting the birth of a new brother or sister, she begins to imagine all the fun adventures they will undertake together.

As Emma and her dad begin to process what her new little brother Isaac having Down’s syndrome might mean, Google Books writes: “Finally she asks, “If Isaac has this Down thing, then what can’t he do?” Her dad thinks about it, then tells her that as long as they are patient with him, and help him when he needs it, there probably isn’t anything Isaac can’t do.”

At the end of the book, there is a list of common questions for young siblings welcoming siblings with Down’s syndrome into the family to help understanding.

Questions

AND FEELINGS ABOUT: HAVING A DISABILITY A brilliant picture book, the approachable and comforting illustrations and words has seen the book being described as: “A perfect aid to help children open up and explore how they feel and steps they can take to help them cope.” The inclusive and accessible book allows children with and without disabilities understand, open up and explore how they feel and ways to help them cope.

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Product FOCUS Every issue we bring you the latest products from across the market to help you improve the lives of your younger clients.

1

1

Kids

WORRY PET MINI

These adorable little fluff balls are perfect for children with sensory needs. The worry pets are small enough to fit in a pocket or a bag, meaning they can be taken to school or carried around in a pocket. Made to order, they can be customised in many colours, with loads of choices for eyes and fur. etsy.com/uk 2

GONGE CAROUSEL

Ideal for children with issues pertaining to their balance or bodily strength, the Gonge Carousel’s seat is at an angle, and all it takes for a child to start spinning around is a slight shift in body weight. The angled seat also promotes good posture, meaning multiple muscles are targeted and strengthened through play.

0845 1223232 | sport-thieme.co.uk

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3

GLOW ART DRAWING BOARD

With its built-in lighting effects, this fun and colourful art board is ideal for children with visual impairments, and it’s bright enough to be seen with ease. It can also perform as a sensory toy, and as an interesting way to practice writing and alphanumerical skills with a cool neon twist. amazon.co.uk

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3

4 4

TOUCH AND MATCH BOARD

The aim of this fun and educational sensory game is to match the textures on the hardy, well designed blocks to the respective one on the strong wooden board. There are 12 different tactile hardwood counters, easily distinguishable through both touch and sight, to help children develop hand-eye coordination and matching skills.

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01375 651 609 | caresupplystore.co.uk 5

SQUIGZ STARTER SET

Made of BPA-free, latex-free silicone, these cute little toys stick to just about any flat surface, but they don’t leave any marks when you pull them off. The Squigz can even be joined together to form a larger chain. Ideal for helping children develop their motor skills and work on dexterity and grip. kidly.co.uk 6

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ARK THERAPEUTIC Z-VIBE ORAL STIMULATOR

The texture probe tip on the Ark Z-Vibe provides tactile input, and helps to decrease food aversions and normalise sensitivities, while the gentle vibration helps to increase oral awareness in children. It’s sleek, lightweight and textured to provide tactile cues, and ideal for those with speech, feeding or sensory integration issues. amazon.co.uk

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13.05.19 15:21

Heading here

AQUATIC THERAPY “Water provides 30 times more pressure than air to the body so it gives a unique full contact to the body and therefore it has an automatic calming effect”

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mma Jerman is an occupational therapist trained in aquatic sensory integration. Here she tells The OT Magazine about the unique benefits that the water environment can offer children with disabilities and children with attachment issues.

I worked for the NHS for 10 years and I did different roles within the NHS, community and acute settings. In the last seven years I did paediatrics and then trained in sensory integration (SI) while I was in the NHS. However, as the NHS don’t provide SI, I had to make the choice of whether to continue in the NHS and not be able to practice SI or leave – so I did a bit of both. I did private and NHS work just to see if it was going to work.

Prior to that, when I was 17 I trained to become a swimming teacher so throughout my degree and my NHS OT work I continued to work up to five nights a week teaching swimming. I always had an interest in aquatic work. From that, when I did my SI training, I found out about aquatic SI which is done a lot in America but not in the UK. I started to look into it more and because I was using pools privately anyway to work with children swimming, I did some training in aquatic SI and then started to offer aquatic SI, which went well.

I met my colleague Annie Doubleday who is an OT trained in SI and we decided together to launch our company senSI in 2013.

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Aqua therapy

Can you please tell us more about aquatic SI? It’s using the principles of sensory integration but in the environment of water. The water gives extra sensory properties that you might not get on land. Water provides 30 times more pressure than air to the body so it gives a unique full contact to the body and therefore it has an automatic calming effect – like when you go into a bath or swimming pool, that all over pressure automatically calms you.

What do you do in a session?

We focus on different ways of moving through the water so you are getting vestibular stimulation as you are moving through different planes in the water. You might be lying on your back, on your tummy, you might be going under the water, so doing different movements that stimulate the vestibular part of you.

Because water provides so much more pressure, it provides better body awareness, so we do lots of developmental motor learning. We might get a child to do an obstacle course in the water and they have to plan it using the floats or different sinkers, we have loads of equipment that would encourage the child to do different activities.

Does a child need to know how to swim?

No. It’s a benefit if they can but no. Part of the pool is shallow so we would be working on water confidence as well but they don’t need to swim. That is a benefit of the sessions, they obviously do learn to improve water confidence and leg kicking but in a fun and supported environment.

Who do you work with?

We work with children with a range of disabilities, we can work with children with really severe disabilities because in the water they are then held as the water supports them.

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child to build up trust with the parent because they are helping them with the activity with the benefit of it being a fun sensory rich activity.

You can work more of the major muscle groups in the water because on land they find it really difficult, that weightless environment can help the child explore and practice movements and skills that they haven’t yet performed on land.

Also if they have really stiff muscles and high tone – we work in hydro pools which are 34 degrees – so the warmth of the water allows the muscles to relax as well, so you can get more movement.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

It’s fun and you are working with a child that has the motivation to learn straight away, the kids love it so you are straight away on a win. You can get them doing activities that they maybe wouldn’t try on land, it’s calming for them as well and it’s better body awareness so you find that they can develop their motor skills quicker. It’s really nice doing sensory attachment work in the water and very rewarding to watch the bond develop. I also really enjoy working with children with really severe mobility problems it is lovely to get them to do some activity that they can’t do on land. It’s very rewarding.

We work with a lot of children who have poor oral motor skills, so children with autism and children who are non verbal. We do lots of blowing bubbles through a straw or in the water, blowing a ping pong ball across the pool works on incorporating oral muscle movement, but also the pressure of the water on the lungs makes the lungs work harder so it gives a therapeutic and fun way to enhance breathing control which can help oral motor skills. Some of our speech therapists also work in the water with us as well.

What are the difficult aspects to your role?

We also do sensory attachment therapy and have started using the technique in the water. We have a big caseload of adopted or LAC caseload and we work with the new mum, dad or carer in the water.

We do something called sensory attachment therapy where we use principles of sensory integration and attachment but encourage the parent to be the lead therapist to strengthen the “ bond and co-regulation, through the therapist guiding and supporting the sessions.

It works really well because the child is more vulnerable in the water so then they need that parent to help them. Many children in the care system are fearful of adults due to past traumatic experiences. The environment of the water allows the

Getting the child to leave the pool is the hardest thing. They do not want to get out at all! It’s also physically demanding, but it keeps you fit.

For more information visit sensitreatment.com.

The environment of the water allows the child to build up trust with the parent because they are helping them with the activity”

ALL NEW OT CREATIVE COMING SOON!

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At the OT Show, 27th-28th November 2019, NEC Birmingham, you will…

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Photo:us Name, Company Join onJob,the 27th and 28th November 2019 at the NEC Birmingham.

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LET’S TALK

Balens insurance

INSURANCE Insurance considerations for independently practicing occupational therapists, case managers and other healthcare professionals.

By Claire Squire, Balens Specialist Insurance Brokers It’s easy to get swept up with the things we enjoy and to avoid those we don’t, but whether you are standing on the threshold of a new career or are a seasoned professional, some time spent on the disciplines of risk management and insurance could save you many hours at a later date should the worst occur.

The complexities of insurance can often be daunting. It is therefore advisable to seek professional guidance at every stage of your business development to ensure that you are getting the right cover for your own particular circumstances.

The following is a brief guide to some of the insurance policies to consider.

Professional Liability Insurance As an individual practitioner or business owner, you can be held legally liable for loss or damage to other people’s property, injury, harm or financial loss alleged to have been caused to your clients, patients or other parties. As such you may require a professional liability insurance policy.

Good quality cover will include professional liability and public liability as standard, but what else should you look out for?

1 Professional indemnity policies provide cover for advice given in your capacity as a professional.

2 You may also require cover for any treatments you provide that could result in a third party suffering physical harm, does it also include for mental anguish?

3 Does the policy include cover for the use of manual and electrical equipment used as part of your profession?

4 Will the policy extend to cover you for other therapies or activities that you are qualified in?

5 Does the policy cover you for breach of confidentiality, financial loss and Good Samaritan acts?

6 What is the limit of indemnity provided by the policy and is this sufficient for your requirements?

Is this limit for any one claim, or a limit for all claims that may be made against you during the year?

that causes injury or harm to a third party.

8 Will the policy include cover where you are trading under a separate business name, sole proprietorship or limited company status?

9 What will happen after you stop practicing? Will the policy still be in place or will you need to purchase additional run-off cover to protect yourself from any late discovered claims?

There are many considerations when it comes to choosing the right insurance. It is important to check the policy wording to see what you will actually be covered for, as some policies, whilst the premium may be lower, may not offer adequate protection in the event of a claim.

Your insurance is there to protect you, it’s a safety net, however its benefits will only really be tested at the time of need. Time spent considering different eventualities and ensuring that your policy will cover these, will hopefully ensure full peace of mind should the worst occur.

7 Is products liability cover included? This is important as you could be held legally liable for the sale of a defective product

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Balens insurance

OTHER INSURANCE OPTIONS TO CONSIDER There are a multitude of different insurances that you may require, but unfortunately we can’t explore all of those here. However, we would suggest the following be considered: All Risks Cover – for items you take with you such as mobile equipment and laptops. This insurance may be of particular interest to occupational therapists who travel to various locations as part of their job.

Employers Liability Insurance – this is a legal requirement if you have anyone working for you, including in a voluntary capacity.

Clinic or Contingent Insurance – This insurance will cover the business name and any claims that are directed towards this. This cover can also include professional liability insurance for named employees.

Stock and Contents Insurance – Take care not to under insure (i.e. not cover the full value of your contents or stock) as claims may be proportionately reduced if you do.

Buildings Insurance – to be considered if you are the owner or responsible for this as part of any rental agreement. This may also

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be a requirement of any mortgage agreement that you have on the property.

Tenants’ Improvements – if you are renting and have made any alterations to the premises. In the event that the building is damaged, i.e. as a result of fire or flood, the landlord will only be responsible for putting it back to the level it was at when you rented it from them. Any improvements you have made are likely to be your responsibility to insure.

Business Interruption – cover the financial losses and/or increased costs your business may sustain as a result being unable to operate due to property damage arising from an insured peril such as a fire or flood.

Personal Accident and Sickness – There are various options that offer either a lump sum or weekly benefit in the event of an accident or illness.

This cover may be of particular importance for those that are selfemployed and have no alternative income.

Legal Expenses – Covers criminal defence and legal advice. May also include legal and taxation advice lines.

For larger businesses including corporate entities, businesses selling health products or other commercial ventures, there are various other special insurance packages available.

What if a claim is made against you?

Should you find yourself in a claims situation, firstly don’t panic. Contact your broker, they should be able to give guidance and support on how

best to deal with the situation. Never admit liability or promise to pay, this prejudices your insurer’s position, and may mean that your insurance becomes nullified. There are a list of common claims ‘do’s and don’ts’ on the Balens website, however if in doubt, ask.

You will likely need to provide details to your Broker or the insurers in order to allow them to assess and defend any claim as required. This is where good record keeping is required noting the date and names of those seen, together with relevant details and observations.

However, we all make mistakes, it is part of being human so there may be times when you will be relying on your insurance. With good quality cover you can rest assured that you will not be paying the price of any insured mistake yourself: you can then reflect, learn and move on.

Further information on the different forms of insurance including a glossary of terms is available on Balens website balens.co.uk.

ABOUT BALENS Established in 1950, Balens are a fourth generation, ethical, family run Insurance Brokerage focusing on guidance, support and service.

Balens have been providing insurance policies for occupational therapists and related professions since the mid-1990s. We offer a wide range of insurance services for both individual and business requirements. For further details please visit balens.co.uk.

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30/04/2019 12:34

PRIORY ST JOHN'S HOUSE

Priory Group is now the leading independent provider for behavioural care in the UK.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Priory St John's House is recruiting for an Occupational Therapist with proven experience working within a forensic/LD setting. Based in Palgrave on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, the strength of St John's House lies in the quality of the comprehensive assessment, treatment and care it provides.

What we can offer you: • Competitive salary • Free meals and refreshments whilst on site • Free car parking on site • Great opportunities to develop and for CPD • Flexible benefits (including preferential rates and access to schemes such as gym membership, IT, shopping discounts) • Ongoing training and development through our Career Pathways programme

If you love to make a difference, we'd love to hear from you.

For more information, text PRIORY DISS to 66777, call 01379 649 900, or to apply, visit jobs.priorygroup.com/vacancies and search ‘St John's House' (Texts are charged at your standard network rate)

FREE

9th October & 13th November 2019 Neurological Upper Limb for Occupational Therapists Lecturer: Erica Malcolm CPD: 11.25 hrs / Fee: £210 Venue: London Road Community Hospital, Derby

23rd – 24th October 2019 Graded Motor Imagery Training delivered by the NOI Group lecturer: Tim Beames CPD: 12 hours / Fee: £295 Venue: London Road Community Hospital, Derby

6th November 2019 Atypical Parkinson’s Study Day Sessions led by Derby Parkinson’s Team CPD: 5.25 hours / Fee: £130 Venue: Royal Derby Hospital, Derby

18th November 2019 Sensory Integration Seminar 1 Is It Sensory-Based or Is It Sensory Integration? Clarification of the Concepts in Clinical Practice & Seminar 2 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) and Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) – Differential Diagnosis and Comorbidity Lecturer: Dr Sidney Chu CPD: 3.5 hours each / Fee: £75 each Venue: London Road Community Hospital, Derby

19th November 2019 Outcome Framework and Goal Alignment Scaling (GAS) Lecturer: Dr Sidney Chu CPD: 5.5 hours / Fee: £130 Venue: London Road Community Hospital, Derby

25th – 27th November 2019 20th November 2019 Seminar: An Introduction to a Family- Occupational Therapy for Children with Handwriting Difficulties Centred, Outcome-Focused and 3Lecturer: Dr Sidney Chu Tiered School-Based OT Model of CPD: 19 hours / Fee: £330 Integrated Service Delivery Venue: Royal Derby Hospital, Derby Lecturer: Dr Sidney Chu CPD: 3.5 hours / £75 01332 254679 | dhft.ncore@nhs.net Venue: London Road Community Hospital, Derby www.ncore.org.uk

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THE ORIGINAL ANTI-TILT FEATURE WHICH MAXIMISES STABILITY AND SUPPORT FOR THE USER ENABLING EASY ACCESS TO AND FROM BED ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT RANGE FROM 20CM TO 60CM (EXCLUDING MATTRESS) OVERHEAD LIFTING POLE AND GRAB HANDLE (SUPPLIED AS STANDARD) TWO-WEIGHT CAPACITY OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE (41 STONES & 51 STONES)

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DIY SOS

DIY SOS TO THE RESCUE Popular home renovation programme DIY SOS took on a challenge recently to transform the lives of three generations.

M

any of you will have seen the recent episode of DIY SOS The Big Build which featured Stuart Philp from Torquay, his mother Lin and daughter Lauren.

Stuart was initially diagnosed with MS shortly after his daughter Lauren was born in 2002 and this has now developed into secondary progressive MS. As a result of this, Stuart is unable to stand or walk and spends the majority of his time in a chair.

During the planning stage of the DIY SOS programme, finding a suitable chair for Stuart was vital and Stuart’s occupational therapist contacted Repose to discuss seating options for him, including: 1 What chair would accommodate his height, width and depth requirements 2 Pressure relief requirements for now and into the future 3 Tilting mechanisms

4 Suitable hand controls Following on from an in-depth assessment, in January last year, managing director Lisa Wardley and national sales manager Helena Elcocks travelled to Torquay to personally deliver Stuart’s Multi C-air riser recliner chair as Lisa explains: “At 6ft 7in, Stuart is taller than most of our clients but here at Repose we pride ourselves on offering bespoke seating solutions, following several conversations with the DIY SOS team and Stuart’s occupational therapist, we decided that the best chair to meet all Stuart’s requirements would be our Multi C-air.

“To ensure Stuart’s chair complemented the designers’ concept of the room in which Stuart would be sitting, it was finished in Panvelle stretch Indigo inner on the seat back and legs while the inner arm, wings and tops of the arms were finished in a highland silver out – all of which are high quality healthcare fabrics. Seeing the difference -magazine.co.uk

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DIY SOS

incredibly comfortable is amazing and the fact it has been designed to my OT’s specifications, as I needed a special seat and back height to accommodate my height, is fantastic. In my old chair, my ankles would often swell due to my feet hanging off the end of the chair and this could be extremely painful, but thanks to the Multi C-air chair from Repose this has been eliminated.

“. . . the fact it has been designed to my OT’s specifications, as I needed a special seat and back height to accommodate my height, is fantastic.”

our chair and the wider housing modifications have made to Stuart’s level of comfort, his quality of life and the positive impact on his mother and daughter over the last year is fantastic”.

The Multi C-air is a highly versatile riser recliner available in a range of sizes with an option of six different back styles. From a deeply comfortable waterfall back, where the cushions can be positioned for individual comfort to lateral cushions that can support midline spinal position the Multi C-air has been designed to offer superb levels of comfort.

Interchangeable seat cushions are also available to address specific pressure care needs and removable covers for ease of cleaning and maintenance come as standard. All the materials used are manufactured from a range of specialist pressure care materials ensuring different posture, positioning and pressure management requirements can be catered for, making it ideal from a patient and carer’s perspective.

It was Diane Hargreaves, who helps care for Stuart that first contacted DIY SOS as Stuart explains: “I can’t thank Diane enough for getting in touch with the DIY SOS team and everyone who was involved during the work for what they have done 74

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for me and my family. The house is just amazing, with my Repose chair being the icing on the cake and contrary to what some people might have read in the press I am absolutely delighted with everything.

It was unfortunate the team were unable to obtain planning permission to extend my kitchen but despite that I could not be happier”.

Over the nine days, the team practically rebuilt Stuart’s home and this included repositioning his through floor lift, installing an H-track hoist system, a state-of-the-art voice-controlled bedroom and wet floor shower room for Stuart. It didn’t end there, Stuart’s mother, Lin has provided on going care and support for him for many years but due to her visual impairment, she found it difficult to travel to him from her own home across town. The DIY SOS team designed her own space within the build and she now lives happily with Stuart and Lauren which has reduced her stress levels and enables her to continue to support her son and granddaughter on a daily basis.

“It may be a relatively small item compared to everything else, but for me, the chair is a massive part of the house. Due to my condition, I spend up to 10 hours a day in it, so to have a chair which is so

“Another great feature of the Multi C-air is the controls, due to my MS I have reduced hand dexterity and strength but the simple design of the controls means I can operate the chair and change my position independently and with ease,” concluded Stuart.

Lauren, Stuart’s daughter is equally impressed with the chair. “For years dad has had to have equipment in the home which looks very medical.

Something like the Repose chair is great as it has a stylish design, matches the colours in the wallpaper and would fit in to any home. I have always felt strongly that just because someone has a disability it doesn’t mean that everything has to look like it belongs in a hospital and Repose prove this is possible. I just want my dad to be happy and comfortable and thanks to DIY SOS and Repose he is.”

For more information on the full range of bespoke adjustable furniture available from Repose call 0844 7766001, email info@reposefurniture.co.uk or visit reposefurniture.co.uk

IT’S NOT JUST WHAT YOU DO THAT MATTERS.

IT’S WHAT YOU MAKE POSSIBLE. Senior Occupational Therapist Newbury Nr Mells, Frome £28,050 - £35,000 (DoE) pro rata plus benefits package

At Newbury Manor School we have a fantastic opportunity for a Senior Occupational Therapist to join a friendly, multidisciplinary therapy team on a permanent basis working 24 hours a week, term time only.

We are a specialist school for 30 young people aged 7 to 19 who have autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). Our tailored approach means we are able to support young people in a safe and secure environment with a wide range of needs, from those who are broadly average in their ability to others, who have more severe learning difficulties.

This will include addressing sensory processing, anxiety and emotional regulation difficulties, motor skills and functional life skills. This will allow our young people to fulfil their potential socially, academically, physically and spiritually enabling them to build their self-esteem and self-belief.

The ideal candidate will have:

What we can offer you:

• An OT degree/qualification

• Fully funded training & career development

• Health Care Professionals Council Licence to practice

• Free on-site parking

• RCOT Membership

• High street retail discounts

• 2-3 years proven experience working as an OT (ideally with children or within education)

• Computing scheme

• Min. qualifications in Sensory Integration of Module 1 & 2.

The school will support a level module 3

• Dental Insurance

• Knowledge of special educational needs and ASD

• Healthcare cash plan

• Cycle to work scheme

• Reduced price Gym membership • Gourmet Society Card

• Priory Group Pension

For an informal chat about the position, please call the school on 01373 814980 or to apply visit jobs.priorygroup.com and search ‘Frome'

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This year, we have two fantastic seminars by Michael Mandelstam Michael Mandelstam has provided independent legal training on health and social care law for 23 years.

He worked previously at the Department of Health and, before that, at the Disabled Living Foundation.

He has written many legal books over the last 30 years, including on the Care Act (2017), Safeguarding adults law (2018), Manual Handling (2002), Home adaptations and the Care Act (for the College of Occupational Therapists, 2016).

10:00 – 10:30 Manual handling and singlehanded care The seminar outlines current issues in manual handling and places them within the relevant legal framework, including

Delegates receive FREE lunch and Refreshments at OTAC

the Care Act, NHS Act, Manual Handling Regulations, Human Rights Act, Mental Capacity Act. In particular it focuses on single-handed care (reduced carer handling) – benefits, pitfalls and legal implications.

15:00 – 15:45 Care Act and home adaptations This seminar considers the legal basis for the provision of home adaptations.

It outlines the main rules relating to the Care Act, Housing Grants Act (disabled facilities grants), Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) Order, Children Act/Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, NHS Act – and how LIMITED to determine which SEATS legislation to use, how AVAILABLE best to meet people’s ON THE needs and how to defend DAY both positive and negative decisions.

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Come and visit our stand B10 at

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Occupational therapists

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Paul gets everything he needs in one order from AKW

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Both Stan and Alison would like their bathrooms adapted

Elderly man

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Paul, Stan’s builder, uses one supplier, AKW

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AKW Trade Counter

Paul chooses from over 4000 products which are in stock at AKW

non-AKW Builder

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Occupational therapists

Mike, Alison’s builder uses multiple suppliers

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Yourevents

IN THIS ISSUE we bring you this year’s round-up of events taking place in the OT calendar.

If you have, or know of, an event please email it into enquiries@2apublishing.co.uk

7-8 AUGUST

25 SEPTEMBER

Moving & Handling People 2019

RISE 4 Disability

De Vere Beaumont Estate, Old Windsor The DLF celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2019 and their 25th Moving & Handling People conference. All delegates attend all the keynote talks, four theatre-style seminars and four practical hands-on workshops across two full days of CPDaccredited content.

10 JULY/11 SEPTEMBER

training.dlf.org.uk

rise4disability.com 14 NOVEMBER

EventCity, Manchester Free exhibition dedicated to children and young adults with disabilities and additional needs, their families, carers and all the professionals who support them, with over 100 exhibitors and free CPD seminars.

Hilton Hotel/Hilton Hotel Ageas Bowl The UK’s only free occupational therapy adaptations conference and exhibition. At each event you will find expert seminars and exhibitors specialising in home adaptations and equipment and invaluable CPD opportunities.

kidzexhibitions.co.uk 27-28 NOVEMBER

otac.org.uk

The OT Show NEC, Birmingham

15-17 JULY

The International Centre, Telford

RISE events combine more than 100 exhibitors showcasing a wide range of innovative disability products, services, activities and advice with the RISE Ability Theatre delivering key topics from leading speakers.

Kidz to Adultz North

OTAC Reading/ Southampton

PMG Annual Conference

Kent Event Centre

24 SEPTEMBER

Tech Severn 2019

PMG’s annual conference provides an educational programme, industry exhibition and networking events for professionals working in the field of posture and wheeled mobility. The event focuses on the posture and mobility needs of wheelchair users and is beneficial for all professionals working in this field.

Stay ahead of the emerging technology trends changing the landscape of today’s health, education, care and housing agendas. The event will focus on Shropshire Council’s four centres of excellence and will explore what opportunities technology can offer.

pmguk.co.uk/conference

eventbrite.co.uk

Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

Dedicated solely to occupational therapists, The OT Show promises to bring you an incredible line up of speakers, seminars and workshops alongside a huge exhibition of products and services and over 80 hours of free CPD on offer. theotshow.com

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CPD tips

SUMMER CPD

Loving For students, the lengthy summer break is not only a welcome pause to proceedings, but a hugely needed one.

You’ve done the hard work and now it’s about waiting for the results, enjoying some nice weather and time with family and friends, and relaxing. Aside from learning the wonderful profession, it’s one of the best parts of being a student. It offers the crucial period to restore occupational balance and practice all-important selfcare, but it also becomes a time of reflection. It’s natural to measure progress and success over a period of time as significant as a year. You may find yourself looking at how far you have come in your studies, or in your personal circumstances that will help you in your journey

towards becoming a well-rounded occupational therapist. The end of the academic year brought just that - an end. And with ends come new beginnings, so it makes sense to start off this new period, refreshed and ready, but also restored and up-todate.

We understand that this is your precious and rare break away from the books and heavy duty thinking, but there’s nothing to say you can’t use a little bit of a long summer off wisely to enhance your CPD. There are a few ways you can sneak in some professional development while away from the classroom over the summer, and we promise you you’ll thank us for it down the line.

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R E F L EC T I V E

writing

As stated, reflecting is human nature, particularly at the end of a busy year.

Much like how people become contemplative at New Year, the close of play for an academic year is an emotional and thought-provoking time. CPD asks occupational therapists to reflect and learn from their experiences, mistakes, lessons and personal victories. Why not take a break from the beer garden and dust off the laptop and pen a reflective

blog post or essay on a particular point in the year or the whole thing over the course? You might be feeling itchy feet to do something productive if you are missing structure and routine to your days, so a bit of professional development might be the perfect tonic to that holidaymode you slip into.

Twitter

Twitter is one thing 95% of you will stay acquainted with over the summer. We look at our phones everyday and scroll through a screed of memes, selfies and news stories interspersed with holiday snaps at this time of year. Twitter is a constant and just because you have closed up shop for the summer, your lecturers, colleagues and fellow occupational therapists won’t have. Twitter is easy to engage with and everyone knows the benefits of using it to comply with the requirements of CPD and gain valid and varied information.

Setting aside a little time even twice a month over summer to keep your OT brain from getting a little rusty by joining in on the conversation on Twitter will allow you to enjoy a guilt and stress-free summer.

LOCAL E V E N T S A N D

exhibitions Like Twitter, exhibitions, training events and seminars will keep turning.

If you’re prone to worrying about what’s over the hill when you go back to uni, you may want to pick a few events and get them in the diary for the summer just to ease your nerves knowing you have kept yourself ticking over. Plenty of events and seminars are free and offer all the same learning, networking and professional development opportunities and benefits that they do during term time. Again, it may provide a little bit of structure to your time if you need that to remain sane, or could just scratch an OT itch you have developed in your time away.

Goal

SETT I N G It might not necessarily count in terms of your CPD portfolio as development, but taking a quick time out to be honest with yourself about what you want to achieve next year and having a think about how you can get there can be really beneficial in keeping your eye on the ball and not losing sight of the bigger picture beyond long hot nights. While you can’t determine where university will take you in terms of placements and other eventualities, having an idea of what you want from next year while remaining flexible and realistic can be huge in keeping you excited and enthusiastic and not fall into a summer mind trap of being passive towards the future.

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NO MORE PUSHING HEAVY WHEELCHAIRS

At last, a truly lightweight attendant powered wheelchair for carers Attendant can manoeuvre the chair effortlessly, alleviating any potential strains or injuries to themselves

Up to

23 stone

Independence can be given back to the user by simply moving the control unit to the armrest.

The two powerful motors allow the Combi to navigate slopes and uneven surfaces with ease.

Combi           

Lightweight and easily transportable Lightweight lithium battery can be charged separately Adjustable slung backrest and 3 back angle settings Comfortable supportive seat Unique footplate and also swing away footrests supplied Adjustable armrest height 18” or 20” seat width options Up to 10 miles range Large wheel sport version for more challenging terrain Free-wheel mode for use as a standard wheelchair Flip-up armrests for side transfer

Larger sport wheels option available

Dismantles with ease and can be folded for transportation or storage

id e N a t io n w ge Covera The heaviest component which can be easily removed is the Drive Unit weighing 15kg

The Combi is a new and highly versatile lightweight powered wheelchair, featuring an easily switchable joystick which gives the user independence but also allows a carer to take control when required.

The comfort level and range of adjustments exceed that of most electric wheelchairs; even experienced users are impressed with its performance and all-round capabilities. It provides a real alternative to conventional powered wheelchairs and power packs.

For further information, please call us on:

0333 414 1881 Visit: www.cavendishhealthcare.co.uk

GLOBAL DISABILITY INNOVATION The Global Disability Innovation Hub has launched the world’s first MSc course in Disability, Design and Innovation.

Assistive technology (AT) is accelerating at an incredible rate globally and the independence that AT offers disabled people is more in demand than ever. This course may appeal to creative occupational therapists who want to turn their talents to product design in the independent living arena or it may be something you want to recommend to a client or patient who has a passion and talent in this area. The course is welcoming of all students and applications are currently being accepted until 12 July 2019.

The course is awarded by UCL, the top-rated university in the UK for research strength, and will bring together design engineering with global policy and the societal context of disability. Taught by renowned experts in disability, design and technology, students will experience a fast-paced, dynamic learning environment, where theory is immediately taken into practice.

The multidisciplinary course will harness academic excellence, innovative practice and co-creation to tackle global challenges from a new perspective. Delivered across three top institutions (UCL, Loughborough University London and the London College of Fashion) the MSc offers a uniquely collaborative learning approach.

The COURSE PROGRAMME Students joining the MSc programme will work alongside flagship disability innovation projects including AT2030 - Life Changing Assistive Technology for All - a £19.8m global

Design course

programme lead by the GDI Hub. AT2030 tackles the issues of identity and stigma, markets and products and ultimately works across domains to deliver a new approach to the design, delivery and development of the assistive technology space to ensure disabled people are fully included in society.

Topics covered in the course will include: 1 Accessibility & Assistive Technology 2 Research Methods and Making Skills 3 Marketing and Business 4 Future Global Technologies for Disability and Development 5 Design Thinking 6 Inclusive Design and Environments 7 Applied Business and Marketing 8 Strategy for Disability Developments GDI Hub works alongside global partners, NGOs and DPOs, innovative businesses, governmental departments and leading academics, innovators and influencers.

Career options for students graduating from the MSc include inclusive design and innovation, global policy and research, disability rights, international

“. . . the top-rated university in the UK for research strength”

development, accessibility and assistive technologies, start-up and entrepreneurship.

Funding for disabled students Three Snowdon Trust scholarships are available for UK-based disabled students. One scholarship will fund tuition and a bursary, two will fund tuition only. The GDI Hub and Snowdon Trust are encouraging high-achieving disabled students to apply. A further scholarship is available to US-based students via The UCL Friends & Alumni Association, a non-profit organisation connecting talented American students with the opportunities offered at UCL. Dr Catherine Holloway, Academic Director of the GDI Hub, commented: “The global potential for disability innovation is huge. New technologies provide opportunities for scalability and access, but to accelerate this movement we need a new generation of pioneers. The Disability, Design and Innovation Masters is the world’s first course in this rapidly growing area of expertise.

Students will be taught in a uniquely multidisciplinary environment, learning from global experts, live research projects and high profile global collaborations. We’re looking for exceptional students with the drive and determination to push the boundaries of this new area of study.”

Visit disabilityinnovation.com/ education to find out more.

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Not All People Handling Training Providers Are The Same

Successful completion of the EDGE People or Children Handling and Risk Assessment Key Trainer’s Certificate courses will provide delegates with the up to date skills, knowledge and tools to teach others in safer people or children handling skills and to conduct moving and handling risk assessments.

• Healthcare Professionals All EDGE Services Trainers are nurses, occupational therapists or physiotherapists with at least ten years clinical experience and at least ten years training experience in this field.

• Fully Accredited All our People and Children Handling Key Trainer’s certificate courses are accredited to Level 4 or above, are clinically endorsed and are officially recognised for providing continuing professional development.

• On-line Resources and E-Learning Module Our training is supported by an extensive and informative on-line resources library and a user-friendly e-learning module designed for front-line staff.

All EDGE Key Trainer events comply with the following professional training standards; • The National Back Exchange Training Standards (2010) • The All Wales NHS Manual Handling Training Passport and Information Scheme (2010) • The Scottish Manual Handling Passport Scheme (2014).

Please contact our friendly office team to discuss your training requirements in more detail.

Courses Availab le Across the UK

EDGE services 01904 677853 enquiries@edgeservices.co.uk

Level 4 Award

edgeservices.co.uk