Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy assistants and Technical instructors work across the trust in community and inpatient services.
What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy aims to improve health and wellbeing through enabling participation in occupation (the activities, roles and routines of everyday life). Occupational therapists recognise that engagement in meaningful occupation can promote good mental health, assist recovery and help people achieve personalised outcomes such as being able to care for themselves, engage in work and leisure activities, and participate within the community. Occupational therapists are a core part of the multi-disciplinary team within community and in-patient mental health services. However, they can also work to promote mental health and facilitate recovery in a number of other areas, including: primary care (e.g. through GP practices), higher education institutions, secure settings and prisons.
Occupational therapy provides practical support to empower people to facilitate recovery and overcome barriers preventing them from doing the activities (or occupations) that matter to them. This support increases people’s independence and satisfaction in all aspects of life.
“Occupation” as a term refers to practical and purposeful activities that allow people to live independently and have a sense of identity. This could be essential day-to-day tasks such as self-care, work or leisure.
Think about your day-to-day life; would you be able to cope or live fully if you didn’t have access to the internet? Or couldn’t get out of bed in the morning
(Royal College of Occupational Therapy 2020)
Referrals
Occupational Therapists work differently in each service. Referrals are made through the multidisciplinary team
Royal College of Occupational Therapy
http://www.rcot.co.uk/about-occupational-therapy/what-is-occupational-therapy
