THE
MAGAZINE Issue 35 | Jul/Aug 20 | Improving Independence
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About us
The Team
Editor: Rosalind Tulloch Staff Writer: Katie Campbell Designer: Fionnlagh Ballantine Production: Donna Deakin Sales: Jacqui Smyth Contributors: Kate Sheehan, Somia Elise Jan, Musharrat AhmedLanderyou, Elizabeth Kwarteng, Meroe Dalphinis,Clare Woodall, Phillip Mumford, David Martin, Lucy Mitchell, Steve Wilson, Suzy Rowland, Sally Callow Christina Emes
This month’s issue...
O
ur biggest focus this issue is on the lack of diversity in the occupational therapy profession. Since the tragic death of George Floyd on 25 May this year, the #BlackLivesMatter movement has gathered momentum and made individuals, companies, education facilities and professional bodies across the globe sit up and take stock of the uncomfortable truth of systemic racism.
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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 2020 © 2A Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved. ISSN-2056-7146
Sadly, the occupational therapy profession is no different. It is time for change, it is time for transformative action. An open letter was written by a group of OTs from the BAME community in response to RCOTs diversity statement, it highlights some serious questions that need answered from the professional body and calls for transparency and immediate action. As we ease out of lockdown and try to get back to some semblance of normality, with shops opening and travel restrictions lifted, we hope that you can all feel a certain weight being lifted from your shoulders. OTs have been crucial throughout this pandemic and will continue to be throughout patient’s recovery journeys. Fatigue is something that has been discussed a lot and it is the topic of Kate Sheehan’s column this issue. Not just the patient’s fatigue, but the fatigue that OTs are inevitably feeling due to a demanding and new way of working. It is important that this is recognised and that occupational balance is restored and time is taken for self-care.
The OT Magazine, Editor
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What’s inside 18
07 What’s New
Keeping you up-to-date with all the latest news from the healthcare sector
13 Fatigue in COVID-19 Kate Sheehan discusses the fatigue that is being felt by patients and healthcare professionals in the current climate
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14 Changing the face
of OT
Tackling the systemic racism that exists in the occupational therapy profession
18 Occupational
Therapy and Me
Somia Elise Jan reflects on her experiences as an OT and a person of dual heritage
22 Product Focus The latest products on the market to aid independent living 4
-magazine.co.uk
27 A Day in the Life
of…
Clare Woodall shares the ins and outs of her role at Birmingham Children’s Hospital
29 The Care Home
Crisis
In light of recent events, many people are ruling care homes out as an option for loved ones, how will this effect OTs?
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48 SENDing kids back
to school
Suzy Rowland explores the challenges that SEND kids could experience when transitioning back to school
51 Saving QEF The 85-year-old charity has launched an appeal to help it survive and thrive
52 Classroom
Inclusion
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32 The One Handed
Bra
Discover the life-changing underwear that can be put on and taken off with just one hand
35 Product Focus The latest products on the market to aid independent living
Product
Focus
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39 OTs and Tech Skills Lucy Mitchell advocates for the benefits of tech skills as an OT
43 Choosing a Stairlift Tips for advising your client on the best stairlift for them
44 Creative
Interventions
Christina Emes tells us about the success of a creative group she set up for poststroke patients
Five-year-old Noah Hyndman discovers freedom with a new powerchair
54 A Bear Named
Buttony
The charity that provides teddy bears with stomas to young stoma patients
56 Paediatric Products Innovative products for your younger clients
58 Winning the Race Young Elliot Baker has taken up race running to keep up with his peers
60 The COVID-19
Aftermath
Sally Callow discusses how OTs can help post-COVID-19 patients
62 A Hoisting
Challenge
Remap creates another creative, life-changing product
65 Event Calendar Dates for your diary -magazine.co.uk
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The Uccello Kettle combines modern design and ergonomic functionality to offer a safe and easy-to-use method of handling boiling water
For more information or to discuss sample kettles, please connect with us at enquiries@uccellodesigns.com
We explore what’s happening in the healthcare sector, from new products and services to inspirational stories
What’s new? SENDING LOVE The OT department at the Mayo University Hospital in Ireland have been inviting friends and family of patients to communicate with a letter, photo or video to their loved ones during these times.
local community during their time at Mayo University Hospital.” Catherine Donohoe, general manager, added: “We know how difficult it is for patients to be in hospital without visitors. We hope
that by ‘Sending Love’, family members and friends of patients will be able to brighten up someone’s day. “Even though most of our patients have mobile phones to keep in contact, a letter or email printed out and delivered to the ward will always be a wonderful surprise.”
The occupational therapists at the hospital have named this the ‘Sending Love’ initiative and have been reading letters and showing photos and videos to patients via a tablet. Niamh Kelly, senior occupational therapist at the hospital, was involved in rolling out this initiative. She said: “In occupational therapy, we understand how a sense of connection can help people with their recovery. We hope the ‘Sending Love’ initiative will be a good way for people to keep in touch with their
FACE MASK EXEMPTION BADGES Charity Euan’s Guide, have launched a new initiative to help disabled people and individuals with hidden impairments navigate the complexities of social distancing by providing free ‘face mask exempt’ badges to help people who cannot wear a face covering to get out and travel without harassment.
Figures from Disability Rights UK showed that nearly 60% of people who cannot wear a face covering fear being challenged for not wearing one. The research showed that the same amount of people felt they lacked the confidence to stand up for themselves if they were challenged for not wearing a face covering. Face masks now must be worn on public transport in England and Scotland. While both governments have released a list of individuals who are exempt from this requirement, it is not stopping people from commenting and judging individuals who are not wearing a mask. The badge has been designed to stand out and quickly alert others that there is a reason why the individual is not wearing a mask. Paul Ralph, access and inclusion
director at Euan’s Guide said: “People are often quick to judge, which can make it intimidating to travel when you are going against the majority and seemingly ‘violating’ the rules. Individual reasons for not wearing face masks are not always obvious, which is why we’ve created these badges so that the wearer feels more confident to travel and to ensure that everyone knows that some people are exempt from the face covering rule in England and Scotland.” The charity has a limited number of badges to give out initially free of charge. They hope to be able to produce and distribute more badges with the support of donations. Anyone looking to request a badge or find out more about how they can support this project should visit euansguide.com/badge. www.
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VIRTUAL PLACEMENTS Occupational therapy students at Leeds Beckett University have been able to take part in role emerging placements during lockdown despite the obvious restrictions. Senior occupational therapy lecturer and practice placement lead, Miranda Thew, has been working closely with local charities and organisations to transform the typical practice placement into a virtual reality that students can participate in from home. 27 students have been working together in groups of three to take part in their role emerging placements from the safety of their own homes. The charities and organisations involved are all settings that do not currently benefit from
any occupational therapy input. The students have been studying these environments and generating projects that would meet the needs of the service users or setting providers. Working in a variety of settings, from homeless shelters to a domestic violence service, the students have developed their projects with the support of university staff, setting staff and a qualified local OT. One MSc OT student said of their placement experience: “Role emerging placement has enabled me to develop my skills and knowledge in innovative service development outside of a traditional placement setting, enabling me to become a competent occupational
Just smile and wave Staff from a housing service in New Milton dedicated to supporting people with learning disabilities have launched a unique project to explain social distancing.
The team from Sanctuary Supported Living’s services in the town have been inspired by the film Madagascar to help residents understand the COVID-19 crisis and demonstrate how to stay safe. Using the catchphrase of the penguins in the film – “Just smile and wave” – staff have developed a learning resource based on a ‘Smiley the penguin’ model as guidance for social distancing. Everyone at the service has truly taken the story to heart, with the concept of Smiley teaching residents how to distance themselves from others while staying friendly, as well as providing opportunities to get involved in art initiatives and video making. Alison Notman, local service
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manager and inventor of Smiley the penguin, said: “Staff and residents alike have come to love Smiley and he is now a big part of the service, with a whole penguin family, a jigsaw and videos just some of the things we’ve created. He also helps us to distance safely on social occasions.
“Some of our residents are naturally outgoing and will greet people by hugging and touching them, so Smiley has really helped us to
therapist in future practice in a variety of settings including role emerging fields”. Dr Rob Brooks, course director of occupational therapy at Leeds Beckett University wrote on the university website: “Occupational therapy has traditionally delivered interventions face-to-face but, with COVID-19, Miranda has rapidly developed and integrated the use of collaborative platforms for meetings, supervision and paperwork. This has facilitated the success of this placement and we’re extremely proud of how our students have adapted so quickly to design and deliver these new virtual interventions. We hope to build upon this work for future placements.”
explain something that could have been very difficult for them. The project is really giving our residents choice and control in shaping their service.” And Smiley isn’t the only project the residents are undertaking during lockdown. They’ve also been joining in with a pop up café called ‘Stoppins’ in the service’s garden, and dancing the evenings away through a socially distanced conga. Alison added: “Our aim is to involve all the residents in deciding on activities and events – after all, this is their home, not just ‘a home’.”
CHANGING PLACES AWARENESS DAY
Taking place on 19 July to raise awareness of the life-changing difference Changing Places facilities can make to the lives of those who need them. The day also celebrates the vital work that the Changing Places campaign has achieved and recognised all the incredible supporters that have worked tirelessly in their efforts. Did you know that only 18 pubs and restaurants across the UK have a registered Changing Places toilet and only 1% of visitor attractions. The figures are staggering and something that this campaign is working hard to change. You can get involved on 19 July by downloading the Changing Places pledge card to share why Changing Places toilets matter to you or you can take a selfie using one of the Changing Places selfie kit items, and don’t forget to share it online on the day using the hashtag #CPAD2020. You can find all the resources to help raise awareness of Changing Places toilets at changing-places.org.
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WFOT LAUNCH ONLINE RESOURCE The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) have created a dedicated free online resource to support occupational therapists through these difficult COVID-19 circumstances. Recognising the enormous impact that COVID-19 is having on the lives of patients, families, communities and OTs, they have established a forum dedicated solely to sharing and developing resources regarding
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the impact of COVID-19 in relation to the occupational therapy profession. The forum is available on the Occupational Therapy International Online Network (OTION) which can be accessed via this link wfot.link/ covid19. The WFOT state on their website: “As a profession we recognise the consequences and changes that are occurring in how people access and undertake their occupations as
a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These include, but not limited to; accessing resources, activities of daily living, communication, mobility, social isolation, displacement, mental health and wellbeing. Occupational therapists understand the vital need to access and use infection control measures combined with the need to sustain good psychological, mental health and stamina in order to stay safe and healthy.”
A BIG THANK YOU! from
Coronavirus Pandemic To all the front-line staff working in healthcare, social care and special educational needs, including nursing homes, residential homes, hospitals, the community, hospices, SEN schools and colleges, supported living, day services, clinics and so many more... THANK YOU! EDGE Services will re-start our fully accredited people, children and inanimate load handling training courses as soon as we can in line with government guidelines. In the meantime, we have released guidance on moving and handling and risk assessment during the covid-19 pandemic; please see our website for details. Our office is currently being staffed by colleagues working from home. Please feel free to enquire about training courses and please continue to use our Post-Training Support Service.
Public Courses Availab le Acro ss the UK from Septem ber 2020
Keep well and stay safe!
Level 4 Award EDGE Services will, upon request, issue extension certificates for all EDGE people/children/inanimate object handling or managing challenging behaviour ‘Key Trainer’ certificates due to expire between 9 March and 30 June 2020.
EDGE services 01904 677853 enquiries@edgeservices.co.uk
edgeservices.co.uk
Kate Sheehan Director, The OT Service
The OT Service provides high quality advice, consultancy and training to manufacturers, retailers and service providers. It also provides occupational therapy clinical services in housing and equipment to case managers, solicitors and private individuals via its handpicked network of occupational therapists. For more info email kate@theotservice.co.uk
FATIGUE
IN COVID-19 I
t has been interesting times for us all over the last three and a half months, affecting both our work and personal lives.
The work challenges have been enormous, accommodating redeployment, changing assessment practices, supporting clients from afar, prioritising patients, maintaining CPD and learning to communicate through PPE. Our home lives have been significantly impacted by not being able to physically see and hug loved ones, trying to effectively communicate via virtual tools and seeking to maintain our occupational balance. In addition, we have had to cope with colleagues and loved ones, who have contracted COVID-19, survived or in a number of cases died from the virus, including occupational therapists Vivek Sharma and Dianne Harvey, our thoughts go out to their family and friends. We also need to keep in our thoughts those occupational therapists who are also still struggling to fight off the virus and the impact it has and will have on their health and lives going forward. We still have a significant number of diagnosed cases and although the death rate appears to be going down, we need to be mindful of a potential second wave, however this is the right time to look at fatigue. There are two areas of fatigue that we need to be aware of:
1 Post viral patients
2 Healthcare professionals Fatigue is being mentioned a lot within the healthcare setting and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists has produced three documents regarding practical advice for people who have been in hospital and at home and another guide on practical advice for people during and after having COVID-19. What I want to discuss is professional fatigue, which is not often recognised, we have all had to adjust and adapt our way of working and this can cause considerable fatigue. 1 New areas of work The exhaustion of moving to a new area outside your comfort zone, trying to rack our brains on how to work with a new client group, especially in a time of urgency of discharge and not necessarily in a way we would choose to work with our clients. 2 Technology The use of this technology can cause fatigue and we need to be mindful of its impact on us as professionals. The need to concentrate on a screen for long periods, not having access to a suitable chair or desk space, poor broadband, all impact our fatigue levels. Are we giving ourselves time to stand, walk and complete other tasks to improve our wellbeing? Or are we driven to not wanting to be seen as not achieving our expected
workload? 3 Client relationships It is extremely tiring to try and develop a rapport over the telephone with new clients, which can impact the quality of a virtual assessment and can be exhausting. 3 Assessments So much of what we do is observation and not always overt, from the start of an assessment we are reviewing, analysing and seeing what our clients are doing, in virtual visits this information is not as available to us, making the assessment time tiring as we are straining to receive as much information as possible via a small screen. 4 Tolerance Our client’s tolerance to long virtual assessments is impacted and it is virtually impossible to have those light-hearted conversations that provide a natural interlude, enabling a visit to last longer. I have noticed that a virtual visit can only last an hour before we are all fatigued and need to bring it to a conclusion. 5 Reports Due to the above we often need more than one call, which then impacts the speed of work and can cause additional stress and fatigue. We need to give ourselves a break, remember to practice what we preach, give yourself time to do those activities you enjoy, whether that be gardening, knitting, painting, reading, baking or just sitting and contemplating life. Occupational balance is key to a healthy professional and if we are healthy we have more energy to work with and advocate for our clients. -magazine.co.uk
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Changing the face of OT Tackling the lack of diversity within the occupational therapy profession
I
t feels like currently there are two pandemics going on in the world; COVID-19 and racism. Sadly, COVID-19 will be the easier one to stamp out.
The tragic events of 25 May that saw George Floyd killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, sent waves across the globe. Enraged by another racist murder of a black man by a white police officer, people gathered in solidarity in countries throughout the world to make a stand and demand that action be taken. The sad reality of these circumstances, is that it has taken a racially motivated murder to be caught on camera, to open people’s eyes to the systemic racism that exists closer to home in their own environments. The #BlackLivesMatter movement has sparked conversations, actions and it has importantly encouraged people to look at their own workplaces and social environments and raise questions about the diversity, equality and inclusion policies in their own professions. The occupational therapy profession is no different. The voices of the OT community, practitioners, educators and students, both from BAME communities and not from BAME communities, have spoken up and come together to question the lack of diversity in a profession that champions and thrives on inclusivity. A profession that at its core believes that everyone should be treated equally and that celebrates and integrates itself in the lives of people from all backgrounds, of all ages, of all ethnic diversities and of all abilities. Why then is the representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups within the occupational therapy profession so low? The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) announced that BAME representation within the occupational therapy profession was just 8.3%. Acknowledging on Twitter from @theRCOT account: “BAME representation within the occupational therapy workforce was only 8.3% (NHS Digital 2019 data from Trusts/CCGs in England); this reflects RCOT members’ disclosed ethnicity. Given BAME representation in the UK from census data is 20%, clearly we still have a long way to go.” On 5 June, RCOT released a diversity statement in response to the events of 25 May, it began with this sentiment: “RCOT shares the outrage of members, colleagues and friends, and condemns the murder of George Floyd, and continued injustices around the world. We stand in solidarity with our BAME members and colleagues against racism of all kinds. “To anyone who feels that we’ve been slow in putting out this statement, we hear you. But we wanted to truly reflect on this issue, what it means to us and our members. We’ve done a lot of listening and reflecting on our work so far. To be honest, we’ve also done a bit of soul searching. “The principles of diversity and equality are core to the practice of occupational therapy and are enshrined within the RCOT Code of Ethics. We believe that all
people should be treated with dignity and respect, above all as equal members of society with the same choices, rights and privileges. Discrimination and prejudice have no place in our practice and no place in society. “As a professional body, we also know that we need a workforce that reflects the population we serve. We recognise that the occupational therapy profession lacks this diversity and we are committed to changing this.” We can’t print the full statement here, but you can read it on the RCOT website in the news section. The statement goes on to further acknowledge the lack of diversity in the OT workforce and highlights some ways that they will try to “influence the future makeup of the workforce” and “make our message relevant to BAME communities, through images and storytelling”, before calling on the support of their BAME members to educate them on ways to improve the diversity of the profession. This statement, while it recognised the lack of diversity in the OT profession and stated a willing commitment to change the landscape of the profession, it simultaneously raised more questions among the BAME OT community than it answered. Many OTs who read this statement were frustrated and angry with the lack of real action that it outlined. Consequently, through the avenues of social media and virtual networking, a group of OT practitioners, educators and students came together to discuss the profound impact that this statement had on them and the wider OT community. The discussions culminated in an open letter being drawn up by Musharrat AhmedLanderyou, Elizabeth Kwarteng, Meroe Dalphinis, organised by Kwaku Agyemang, and supported by a BAMEOT UK network. The open letter was supported by 48 BAME and nonBAME OTs, students and educators.
BAME representation within the occupational therapy workforce was only 8.3%
The letter states the “hurt and disappointment” that was felt by the BAME OT community due to the timing and content of the statement issued by RCOT. It questions several aspects of the statement, including why RCOT do not have an Equality and Diversity Lead Officer in place. It calls for more transparency regarding the ethnicities of the senior roles at RCOT and for clarification on who will be directly involved in the actions for “refreshing” the RCOT brand to encourage young people of all ethnicities into the profession. “We came together to write this letter, because of our shared experience of pain, anger and frustration, and to show solidarity with BAME communities who continue to experience structural racism, discrimination, health inequalities, social challenges and injustices. We also know this is not exclusively felt by BAME communities, but we now have allies from all communities, making us stronger together. We stand with JBOT’s (2020) endorsement of WFOT’s (2018) call to action to decolonize the profession and apply “occupational consciousness” as a means to realise this goal. We need authentic, compassionate and determined leaders, developed at all levels of the profession, supported to action their visions to radically transform our organisations, policies, and practices. So that we can thoroughly address structural racism, discrimination, inequity and injustices that exclude individuals and communities.” RCOT did respond to this open letter on 24 June. However, Elizabeth Kwarteng, one of the authors of the open letter, did comment that it took them several days to respond whilst “it was noted the CEO Julia Scott was liking and replying to tweets. This added to the already very prevalent feeling of being ignored.” The response to the open letter did once again acknowledge the lack of diversity in the profession and reiterated their commitment to addressing this and to making changes to stamp out racism in the OT profession.
The black lives matter movement is saying, take your oppressive knees off our necks, stand with us and work with us for change, and if you have power it is your responsibility to make visible and sustainable change happen. One action, within RCOT’s gift, is appointing an Equality and Diversity Lead to strategise and influence, and RCOT to genuinely support to embed the role. “There is a need for introspection from within RCOT, as to why they continue to be complicit in the status quo of structural racism as an organisation, as a staff group and towards their membership. The Big BAME conversation and questions posed don’t really demonstrate this. They have to go to this uncomfortable place; the start of real change is from acknowledging this outright. They can’t continue with the attitude of not seeing, of ignoring, to rationalise that the problem of structural racism doesn’t exist within their organisation, it does. Also, the denial of structural racism by using their catch all phrase “because we are a client-centred profession we are inclusive”. Or tweaking around the edges, because if a system is not working, change by tweaking does not impact change in the system, as it is absorbed by the policies and procedures that enable continuation of the ‘bad’ system. But actions speak louder than words, where are their transformative actions? We need action not talking, not more reviews, because the information RCOT seek has been sitting in pages of commissioned reviews, in black and white, waiting for them to act on it. I am begging the RCOT, please don’t ignore us, be motivated, do something, start somewhere with one authentic action, because when you start, RCOT, you won’t be able to stop.” You can follow Musharrat J. Ahmed-Landeryou on Twitter @LecturerMish. Let’s hope the following weeks will see the professional body for occupational therapy put its words into actions and begin the journey of changing the face of OT. The open letter and the RCOT response can be read at ot-magazine.co.uk.
What it didn’t do, was outline a physical action plan for tackling the lack of diversity or actually commit to appointing an Equality and Diversity Lead Officer or any other definitive actions. There is a long way to go to addressing systemic racism and now is not the time for empty words, it is the time for immediate transformative action. Musharrat J. Ahmed-Landeryou, occupational therapy educator and one of the authors of the open letter shared her thoughts on the response from RCOT: “Shame on RCOT for their response to the open letter. For not taking the gift of that ‘reaching out arms wide open’ letter, and not showing commitment to change through stating some clear rapidly time-framed transformative actions. I feel broken, I cried in frustration, out of us being ignored again by an institution that has the power to do, but doesn’t. The RCOT response is a moral gesture, to make themselves feel better perhaps, we don’t need this, we need transformative action, that is evidence that RCOT stand for BLACK LIVES MATTER, for BAME LIVES MATTER and are motivated to act.
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I am begging the RCOT, please don’t ignore us, be motivated, do something
Educate Yourself
Books
If you wish to educate yourself further on racism and how to be an effective ally for the Black Lives Matter movement, the first thing you should do is start your own educational journey. Start by recognising your white privilege and do not simply ask members of the BAME community to give up their time to educate you on racism, it is not their job to educate you. There are resources out there in abundance that will help you understand the extent of the racial injustices that occur throughout the world and resources that will help educate you on your own practice as a healthcare professional.
Recommended reading list contributed by Meroe Dalphinis:
Please find below a list of recommended online resources and books:
Small Island by Andrea Levy Windrush Betrayal by Amelia Gentleman Battle of Brick Lane by AK Azad Konor On Brick Lane by Rachel Lichtenstein White Privilege by Kalwant Bhopal Think like a white man by Nels Abbey White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo Why I am no longer speaking to white people about race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
Online Resources Gotta Be OT blog Black OTs Matter: Changing Your OT Practice to Combat Racism, Address Racial Trauma, and Promote Healing gottabeot.wordpress.com OT & Chill podcast L.O.V.E, Let’s talk race open.spotify.com Justice-Based Occupational Therapy (JBOT) newsletter, vol 2, issue 2, June 2020 Response to occupational therapy statements on justice and racism slu.edu/mission-identity/initiatives/transformativejustice/pdfs-images/jbot-newsletter-vol2-issue2.pdf Ladders 4 Action blog Guidance for white allies who are trying to help ladders4action.org/news-blogs-videos/blog/dono-harm Resource on Privilege and Intersectionality Resources to learn and explore the multiple ways that privileges and oppression manifest in our various social, cultural, economic, and bodily identities and situations guides.rider.edu/privilege Working hard to belong: a qualitative study exploring students from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds experiences of pre-registration physiotherapy education Hammond, J.A., Williams, A., Walker, S., (2019), BMC Medical Education, 19: 372 DOI doi.org/10.1186/ s12909-019-1821-6 Scorecard Report, Race at work: MacGregor-Smith Review one year on Department for Business, Energy and Industrial strategy bit.ly/2BYymjL
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And Me OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Somia Elise Jan reflects on her occupational therapy journey as a person of dual heritage
It’s June 2020 and I am absolutely devastated by the current events around the world with regards to race. I simply cannot comprehend how, in this day and age, you can still be brutally murdered or targeted and bullied, all because of the colour of your skin. Unfortunately, though this is not a oneoff incident, it is just one that has fortunately been caught on camera. I do say fortunately, because I think it is forcing the world to open their eyes to racism that is happening everywhere and every day. During this period of the #BlackLivesMatters movement I have been forced to reflect on my own experiences of coming from a minority background, I am of a dual heritage, English (my mother’s side) and Pakistani (my father’s side). I must stress at this point that I do not want to take anything away from this powerful and overdue movement, however it has forced me to identify with some of my own experiences that I have perhaps suppressed, both the positive and negative. I think that this suppression
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is part of the problem minorities face, and an important aspect of this movement. We often accept that in some situations we will be treated a little differently, but why? Why do we accept this? I’m sure if we are more open with our experiences we’d be welcomed? Or maybe not. But, if we aren’t, we can address this, challenge it and implement change. I have made the decision to push myself out of my comfort zone and share my journey into becoming an occupational therapist as an attempt to spread awareness of both a culture and a profession I am immensely proud to be a part of. I hope sharing my story will reach others who are struggling on their journey and to remind them they are not alone. I hope it helps attract more minorities into this wonderful profession because we need you and your uniqueness more than you know. Please note this article is just my experience and I am not generalising a whole culture.
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My Journey During my time at college, whilst undertaking my A levels like my peers, I was studying with a view to attend university. However the path I was “supposed” to take was not that of occupational therapy. Originally, I was meant to study pharmacy. The dream of becoming a pharmacist was not my own but more of my fathers (he meant well).
Culturally there is an unspoken pressure within the Asian community that the women either stay at home, or go on to become successful. However, successful is only recognised in limited forms such as a doctor, pharmacist, lawyer etc. I remember writing my personal statement to apply for pharmacy courses, and even volunteering in a pharmacy to get experience. One day it hit
me, I did not want to do this for a living. I had personal experience with an occupational therapist which is how I knew about the profession. I decided to seek further voluntary experience to ensure this was the path for me. Spoiler alert - it was! I fell in love with the profession instantly. I loved everything it stood for, person-centred, goalorientated, and just an overall feeling of wanting to make a difference for people within their everyday lives. I made the decision to sit down with my father and tell him I was no longer pursuing pharmacy as a career. It was not that simple, I felt like I was letting him down. Unfortunately, when I sat him down and had the conversation about my future, my fears were confirmed. He did not support my decision and could not understand why I would want a job that is unheard of and not as well paid. Despite my efforts to sell my decision to my dad it was not well received and he believed I was making a huge mistake. The reason I am including this in my story is not to blast my father because he is an amazing man, and he now sees the reason behind my decision and whole-heartedly supports me and is proud of me. But the culture he has been brought up around created this idea of what my life should be like. Before I’d even begun my course, I felt I was in a battle against this expectation, as I was also the first female from my dad’s side of the family to go to university.
During the summer before I started university I made the decision to wear a Hijab (headscarf) for religious reasons. On my first day of university in September 2013, I remember walking into my first lecture, my heart was racing so fast, I was so nervous, although I’m certain this was a shared feeling. I remember looking around the room to see my new cohort (of around 60). I distinctly remember seeing a range of ages, but not a range of colour within my class. This instantly left me feeling isolated. As the morning continued I felt myself naturally drawn towards the three other students of colour. Although I got closer to other students over the course of the year, I would be lying if I said I didn’t spend the majority of my time with the other students of colour. Honestly, I don’t recollect any negative experiences from either fellow students or lecturers, which I know is fortunate from speaking to others. I think in my first year I was my own biggest oppressor, in
terms of not stepping outside my comfort zone, and I don’t entirely know why. When it came to my first placement, which was in a high secure male unit, I remember feeling physically sick and genuinely petrified around how service users might react to me wearing a hijab. Would I be safe? I remember going on my pre-placement visit and sheepishly asking, “will the patients try to strangle me with my own scarf?” I think this was a combination of anxiety around being in the unfamiliar setting of a high secure unit and my own anxieties about responses I might get for wearing a scarf. My educator was lovely and reassured me where she could. She was not aware of any other staff members who wore the hijab but, advised I tucked my scarf in as a precaution. Again, fortunately I went through the placement with no problems from staff or service users, and in fact my hijab sparked off some nice conversations about Islam. Mainly around the
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purpose of wearing the Hijab, which is around one preserving modesty and privacy. There were also some questions around my name and the meaning (Somia is an Arabic name with the meaning ‘reserved; skill; truthful; divine’). None of the service users to my knowledge were Muslim and until recently I was not aware of any impressions I may have left on the them. But I recently dug out my old placement books and read the following feedback: “Somia has been able to establish good rapport with clients and the immediate team. She has always appeared open and honest in her approach and is willing to work with a variety of clients from various backgrounds without discriminating’’. Reading this back has made me smile because this is everything I strive to be now, and I guess at the time this was written I did not fully appreciate this skill I had developed. During the summer of 2014 I made the personal decision to remove my hijab. I did this for many
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reasons but, primarily I felt I was not doing the hijab justice as I was not practicing all elements of my religion. For me personally, it did not feel right to wear it at that time and for the remainder of my time at university I was not wearing a hijab. No one really asked about this, and this is not something I really addressed other than with my closest friends and family. Looking back, I am surprised this was not brought up in passing conversation, but this perhaps links into people being scared to ask personal questions. Whilst I had no negative experiences wearing it, I almost felt a sense of relief, like I fitted in more with my cohort by not wearing it. I spoke to more people in the remaining years, I don’t think this was because others could approach me more easily without the hijab, but maybe it was? I can only comment on my feelings at the time. Without my hijab I oddly felt I was able to speak out more freely and have more conversations. This has left me feeling uneasy as I have gotten closer to my religion. I realise I should never be ashamed of my religion, in fact I should be proud, and I am. This is something that has come to me over time and through personal growth.
pale skinned. My name however would generally spark some conversation. Mainly discussions around how to pronounce it, something I am still uncomfortable about constantly correcting people on.
any attention to my uniqueness, which makes me wonder how many others are struggling with integrating their personal and professional identity. I am sure this isn’t simply limited to just aspects of race or religion.
concerns on behalf of our service users who might not be able to do so for themselves. This is something I personally found difficult to do confidently as a student as I did not want to appear ‘cocky’.
Diversity in healthcare
I have always taken pride in my ability to engage service users by using their unique qualities, asking them about their cultures, beliefs and values. Something that is so important because they all impact on our occupational performance. If we do not ask these questions we are missing essential parts of these wonderful service users. How can we begin to understand what is meaningful to them if we aren’t exploring this?
I also think if we speak out more about our experiences, both positive and negative, we will attract a more diverse audience to our profession. To me, it is crucial that no one should feel like they can’t do something because of culture or skin colour or beliefs. We can do anything we put our minds to. I think the more diversity within our profession the more approachable we are to a range of service users.
Since qualifying in 2016 I have worked in a range of settings across physical and mental health, and I have worked with some amazing colleagues. But like during my university experience I have barely come across other occupational therapists of colour. Reflecting further, I think within the physical areas I have worked in there has also been less diversity across other professions too. Within mental health I feel I have observed more diversity, however I still feel within healthcare, as a general, where I have worked the staff have been predominantly of a white background. Some days I find myself asking, why? Why are we few and far between? But then when I reflect on my journey, I think about how I found myself conforming for a lot of my educational and professional journey. I didn’t really bring
Throughout the rest of my time at university or on placement, particularly after removing my hijab, I wasn’t really asked about my religion or culture. I’m not sure if this is because, on the surface, I do not look like I am of mixed ethnicity as I am quite
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I love when people ask me about my religion, I love sharing that side of me, and now I offer information without being asked as I finally put an end to my selfoppression. I think the more I have grown professionally the more confident I have become in speaking up on behalf of my service users which has given me further confidence to speak up on topics that feel important to me. Being qualified comes with a responsibility to raise
I share my story with the hope it reaches either professionals or students experiencing similar hardships. To those sat in a room full of people feeling completely alone, I say reach out. You aren’t alone in this and I believe together we will get there. It’s time to be open and share our experiences and to spread awareness of diversity in occupational therapy. Through this we can inspire others to join us in doing the same. You can follow Somia on Twitter @SomiaOT.
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Product FOCUS
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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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VIBRATIME VIBRATING REMINDER WATCH
A discreet device that can be used by both adults and children, this watch vibrates to remind the wearer to take medication at a certain time of day or to remind them to exercise or perform another task. It has eight vibrating alarm settings and the alarm will last for 20 seconds and can be cancelled at the touch of a button. designed2enable.co.uk 2
INFLATABLE HAIR WASHING BASIN
Designed to be used for washing a person’s hair in the comfort of their own bed. This inflatable, portable product allows an individual to have their hair washed comfortably, keeping them feeling fresh and clean even when they can’t make it to a bath or shower. 2020mobility.com
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WHEELAIR
A temperature control system designed to fit any wheelchair to keep the user cool. The WheelAir is a clever and discreet piece of kit that allows self-regulation of body temperature through an active airflow system. The clever concept is designed to fit all wheelchairs and it is a comfortable addition to any seat, keeping wheelchair users cool on hot summer days. wheelair.co.uk 4
UNIQUE500 ELECTRIC MOBILITY SCOOTER
This retro model, Unique500 features a vintage design and classic paint job. It is equipped with a strong 500W motor and has a running range of 45 miles per full charge. It is stylish and eye-catching and offers a smooth and comfortable ride. mobilitypower.co.uk 5
SILICONE ECO STRAWS
This pack contains six 100% pure silicone drinking straws, with a plastic-free cleaning brush. They come in a handy carry pouch and these food-grade silicone straws are non-toxic, and contain no plasticfillers. They come in two sizes, standard and smoothie (extra wide), and they can be easily cut to size if required. Perfect for carrying in a bag to use when out and about. activehands.com
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COMPRESSION SOCKS
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A comfortable and luxurious compression stocking class 1 from SupCare. This bordeaux bamboo fibre compression stocking is attractive, easy to put on and is suitable for wider calf sizes. The high content of bamboo helps to provide a comfortable softness and support to legs and feet.
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compressionsockshop.co.uk FRIO JUNGLE FIVE WALLET
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For clients who need to carry insulin pens with them look no further than the FRIO wallet. Designed specifically to carry five insulin pens, this practical and pretty wallet will also keep them between the safe temperature range of 18-26 °C. friouk.com MOOGOO ONCOLOGY CARE PACK
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Following chemo or radiation therapy, some patients suffer from dry, red, irritated and sensitive skin. This pack was created to help patients hydrate, protect, soothe and care for their skin during and after treatment. It also includes some soft, cosy socks too. The products are made from natural ingredients and are free of paraffin. moogooskincare.co.uk
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We all welcome a little extra assistance now and again, particularly when travelling alone. Thistle Assistance is an initiative to help you feel safer and more comfortable when using public transport.
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n i y a d A . all d o o W Clare rked at the
o has w Children’s e r a l C gham r six Birmin ital for ove ntly Hosp nd is curre al n a years nior rotatio pist. a the se tional ther a occup
What is your current role? I currently work as a senior rotational occupational therapist at Birmingham Children’s Hospital (BCH). Having rotated across almost all of the specialities the children’s hospital has to offer during my six years there, I’ve been in the acute/neurological rehabilitation rotation for 18 months now and love its variety and challenges.
Describe a typical day In this role, every hour is different, not just every day! There are three OTs that cover neurosurgery and the acute wards. Prior to COVID-19, the three of us would meet in the morning with our neurophysiotherapy colleagues to discuss the caseload, any new patients or referrals and joint assessments for that day. MDT working is really important to us, especially in neurorehabilitation. The caseload can vary enormously. We could be seeing a four-monthold baby on intensive care with a complex cardiac condition who has been long term ventilated, to
. f o e f i l e th Clare l l a d o o W assess them in their buggy and car seat and develop a programme of development to help their parents. Then we could be seeing a 14-year-old that has been involved in a road traffic collision and has suffered a traumatic brain injury. I support the patients and their families in establishing routine, implementing cognitive and physical rehabilitation programmes tailored to their unique goals, and liaise with the MDT and outside agencies in the community or charitable organisations to facilitate a smooth discharge onwards to continue their next chapter. In-between working on service development projects, and problem solving anything from feeding interventions for my teenage spinal cord injury patient, to negotiating splint wear with a toddler, the role is anything but predictable.
What’s the best part of your job? Being inspired and humbled by the wonderful children, young people and their families I meet every day. They don’t know it, but often they
Each month ..
we talk to a differen occupati onal thera t pist to see wh at a typic a l day is for the ma a little mo nd explain re about their role.
give me far more than I can ever give them. Watching a child start their admission incredibly poorly, often on intensive care after illness, injury or surgery, and being a part of their journey of recovery through rehabilitation and adaptation of tasks is very rewarding.
What’s the hardest part of your job? Creatively planning assessments and interventions with limited resources can be tricky. Working with such a wide range of ages and conditions we often have to improvise with the limited stock we do have to make things work for our patients, or rely on family to supply what we advise. Specialist equipment such as switches, switch toys and sensory equipment would be amazing, but they are very costly. They would have a huge positive impact on our patients. The toys we do have in the department can be very old, must be wipeable for infection control, and are shared amongst a large department of both inpatient and outpatient therapists.
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Automatic Pill Dispensers and Medication Reminders Our products are widely used by Health and Social Care professionals for vulnerable older people and those with learning difficulties who need to be reminded of essential daily tasks such as taking their medication. Find out more today:
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The Care Home Crisis “As COVID-19 decimates our confidence in care homes, what are the alternatives?” This was a headline in the Guardian recently. It also begs the question as to the knock-on impact for OTs in adult social care. Phillip Mumford, managing director at inclusive design consultants, Cowan Architects, addresses the issue.
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a great deal of discussion, both in the industry and the media, on the loss of confidence in care homes, with admissions falling dramatically (halved suggests The Telegraph) and an estimated 6,500 operations having to close over the next five years according to Knight Frank. In May, polling by the Policy Exchange think tank in association with Independent Age, suggested 31% of us are less likely to seek residential care for an older relative and 40% of those aged 65 or over are less likely to consider it for themselves - particularly significant given our rapidly ageing population.
authorities such as spiralling dementia cases, a fall in the number of hospital and care home beds and a lack of funding, in addition to the increase in elderly numbers.
Unfortunately, this comes on the back of the ‘Perfect Storm’ that had been already brewing as a number of key elements were putting increased pressure on local
A report last summer by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists highlighted the importance of OTs in relieving pressure on the social care system.
Until the care home sector can restore some confidence in their offering, older people and their families will be keen to look at alternatives and there is likely to be a widespread move back towards caring for our vulnerable relatives at home, either by adapting their own home or adapting an extended family home. This means that they will, no doubt, be looking for support and advice from OTs with pressure to supply a quick fix for a long-term solution.
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At the very heart of the OT’s role is their assessment of an individual’s ability to participate in daily life, followed by their provision of support. This is to address needs, teach strategies and adapt the home to allow as much independence as possible. The report also adds ‘to address the barriers to people staying connected within their local community’ which is even more critical in a post-lockdown world. Very soon, the OT will be key in manning the new ‘frontline’ by helping considerably higher numbers of people who want to stay out of care homes for the foreseeable, post-COVID-19 future. The demand will be for immediate help as some relatives are already trying to get their loved ones out of the care homes they are in. Occupational therapists are unique in that they are trained to work within both health and social care settings, and across mental and physical health. Your advice therefore can be crucial, particularly in terms of the speed of assessing an individual’s circumstance with a focus on their safety and wellbeing. For example, according to recent estimates, the OT’s intervention addressing trips and falls can result in a 40% reduction of incidents for older people. Indeed, 98% of OTs are confident that they can play a key role in keeping people at home. Advising on equipment is equally impressive and as we know, there are many simple ways a house can be adapted to make life easier for the less mobile. The end results must facilitate integration with home comfort, while avoiding the institutional feel and expediating independence. It’s about creating a solution to the problem and the disabled equipment provider must do the same. “We see ourselves as a Solutions Provider,’ says Alistair Gibb, managing director of TPG Disabled Aids. “We try to appreciate the critical wellbeing and social issues keeping someone at home provides. Uprooting them from the support of family, friends and neighbours should be avoided if possible.” The new WashPod disabled wetroom unit from
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Dignity Access is an example of a solutions-based product that offers an interim, mid-term measure for immediate bathing needs. If access to an upstairs bathroom is precluded, WashPod is a new mobile, wheelchair-accessible pod that avoids costly and lengthy adaptations while providing dignified washing facilities and independence. It can be hired and quickly fitted internally in a spare room or externally in the garden with various models for maximum versatility. This is a solution that takes weeks rather than months to apply, arriving in and leaving the home with minimum disruption or alteration. In the long-term, more complicated adaptations can be made if necessary but in the short-term the quick wins will make the greatest difference. The speed in which the solution can be put in place can be crucial to the Continuing Care package required. Anything that avoids the time needed to go through planning applications, architectural design and physical ground works, offers the OT the greatest chance of making a difference in a timely manner when the pressure is on.
PRIORY HOSPITAL ENFIELD Priory Group is now the leading independent provider for behavioural care in the UK. We are recruiting now for:
LEAD OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST Are you looking for a new and exciting career? Would you like to work for one of the largest independent providers of mental healthcare in the UK? Priory Hospital Enfield is a 53 bed hospital in the Borough of Enfield, situated close to Central London with excellent transport links and a free car park for staff. Priory Hospital Enfield provides a full care pathway from medium secure, low secure to an acute service wing. The full multidisciplinary team works with men who have a diagnosis of mental disorder and associated challenging behaviour. An exciting opportunity has become available for a Lead Occupational Therapist to work across the hospital, incorporating all the services. The successful candidate will work as part of the team to develop and deliver a holistic standard of care. As the leader of the department, you will actively engage within the Clinical Governance of the hospital, attending meetings, providing feedback to other hospital leaders and working towards the agreed goals and objectives of the hospital and deliver supervision to members of your team on a monthly basis. What we can offer you: • 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays at commence of employment
• A Group Personal Pension Plan (GPPP)
• Free meals and refreshments whist on site
• Great opportunities to develop
• Flexible benefits (including preferential rates and access to schemes such as gym membership, IT, private healthcare, Shopping discounts)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Plus much more!
• Free car parking on site
• Private Medical
If you love to make a difference, we'd love to hear from you. For more information, text PRIORY ENFIELD to 66777 or to apply, visit jobs.priorygroup.com/vacancies and search ‘Enfield'. (Texts are charged at your standard network rate)
Patient Transfer Aids
Light and easy to manouver Transfers can be carried out by a single carer Semi-encompassing frame gives assuring sense of security High visibility features for hand and feet placement dignified and safe transfer for patient and A digni carer Minimises the risk of back injury for the carer Helps to keep patients at home Accessories – knee support, arm supports, riser blocks.
For more information please contact our sales team on tel 01440 702811 or email sales@enableaid.co.uk
THE ONE HANDED BRA The item that could change your patient’s life
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osing the ability to use one arm or hand can feel very debilitating and frustrating for many. This could be through a stroke, arthritis, amputation or wrist damage. You may be working with a patient recovering from surgery waiting for full function to return or they may have been born with a limb difference. Anyone who has lost the function of one limb will find it difficult to adapt, however, as OTs you know you can recommend dressing aids, offer advice on how to tackle activities of daily living, get creative with kitchen skills and offer advice for bathing and hair washing. Often patients will have a carer or partner who can help to get them dressed, however, this does remove their independence significantly and for a woman the trickiest task of dressing can often be putting on a bra. Putting on a bra is quite an intimate process and not always something that a patient would want even their partner to help with. The ability to independently put on a bra easily is naturally very practical, but it can also have an effect on the patient’s emotional wellbeing. The One Handed Bra company (powered by BraEasy) is an Australian-based company that was created by Rachel Whittaker, a mother frustrated with her search for a bra that her teenage daughter could independently put on. Jamie-Lee was nine-years-old when she was diagnosed with a very rare and life-threatening tumour. During surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible Jamie-Lee suffered a stroke which resulted in deficits on her left side.
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Subsequent chemotherapy and radiotherapy were successful and Jamie-Lee is now 20. In her early teenage years her mum struggled to find any bra for Jamie-Lee to put on herself, so she embarked on a mission to change this. Rachel has succeeded in creating an amazing, simple and stylish bra that allows women to dress independently. The bra itself features Velcro side openings that are incredibly strong, ensuring there are no wardrobe malfunctions. You can simply leave one side open, pull the bra on and attach the Velcro side opening to your comfort, and you only need the use of two fingers to remove it. They boast a range of sizes with bras from A-H cups and you will find useful measuring instructions on the website too. They have a range of attractive styles, not medical looking old-fashioned bras, these are bras you want to buy, they are as much about offering pretty lingerie as they are about practicality. You will find videos showing you how to put the bra on and take it off, and you can also book a free online demonstration too. They ship worldwide too.
Life-changing The feedback from women in a variety of different situations have been so positive. Here’s just a few things they had to say: “I work in disability services, and this product is damn amazing!” “Love this idea and as a former manager of a bra store,
I can assure you there IS a market for this and a lot of people would be so grateful for these bras.” “First all - I LOVE the concept! Absolutely love. I damaged my wrist 18 months ago, and for 3 months my husband had to help me get dressed. As an incredibly independent person, this killed me inside.” “Recently broke my shoulder and this would have been awesome.” “I’d have killed for this after my surgery. My surgery had a few adaptive products I could buy before my surgery this would have been gold.” “I had a frozen shoulder for two years and could so have done with this. Xxx” “I love this idea!! I broke my clavicle last year and ended up spending 6 months in recovery (bra-free). This is an actual issue I don’t think a lot of people consider! Go you!! “
I work in disability services, and this product is damn amazing!
This could be a life-changing item for many patients, to find out more visit theonehandedbra.com.
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LANGHAM GORDON ELLIS
the unique Prima Softgrip Outdoor Grab Rail. The team is always happy to meet with OTs, Marty Brookes is in her element doing Furniture Raiser Training! The motivation for us is hearing from OTs how things are going, and how we can assist them and their clients. Although our working environment has changed due to COVID-19, the needs of our clients are still there. We are adapting with online training and assisting OTs to do remote assessments. We are passionate about helping people stay independent at home and live with dignity. Bill Ellis is now 94, but still critiques products in his care home. He is a big fan of the new Prima Gentleman’s Toilet Aid and continues to have design suggestions for new products. For us, its personal, we want to make a difference, and we hope you can see that in our unique designs. To book your online training or for product queries, please contact us at enquiries@ gordonellis.co.uk.
W
e go back a long time! Started over 150 years ago by Fiona Ellis-Winkfield’s great grandfather, the business has had many incarnations, but our associations with OTs (and their predecessors) began after the first world war when Gordon Ellis developed a stool frame for veterans to weave and thus regain hand dexterity after injuries. The close relationship with therapists led to the development of toilet aids,
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initially with basic wooden blocks under a toilet seat. In 1978, Elaine Ellis was anxious that hygiene should be improved, Elaine and Bill developed the Derby Raised Toilet seat – the first ever plastic raised toilet seat. Since then the original Derby seat has sold millions of units around the world and is still sold today. Over the years there have been many product developments, including furniture raisers, the iconic MPR and its younger sibling the Suregrip, plus
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Product FOCUS
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Every issue we bring you the latest products from across the market to help you improve the lives of your clients.
1
BEURER EM29 KNEE AND ELBOW TENS MACHINE
The EM29 is designed to provide drug free pain relief to the elbow or knee. Using TENS technology, it delivers a mild electrical current to stop pain in its tracks. It has four-hour effective treatment programmes that can have the intensity adjusted throughout and an automatic switch-off function. argos.co.uk 2
UNFORGETTABLE DIGITAL RADIO AND MUSIC PLAYER
This simple device is designed to make playing music and listening to the radio easier for people living with dementia. It features large coloured buttons to make them easily recognisable and easy to operate. It also comes with a free USB stick that can hold thousands of songs – a great way to allow access to memorable songs. dementia.livebetterwith.com
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VIP2 FOLDING WHEELCHAIR
The VIP2 folding tilt in space wheelchair offers a superb combination of tilt in space and reclining positions to ensure the user can achieve optimum levels of pressure relief, positioning and comfort. It has a 35 tilt and either a backrest with fixed recline positions or an adjustable reclining back of 30. The recline angle of the fixed backrest adjusts from -5 to 15. 0845 630 3436 karmamobility.co.uk/where-to-buy 4
SPILLNOT
The innovative SpillNot is a cup holder with a difference. It is designed to reduce the risk of the contents of your cup spilling when you are carrying it. You simply place your glass or mug on the SpillNot and the looped, fabric handle prevents you from applying a lateral force to the liquid in the cup, so the liquid doesn’t spill – we don’t know how it actually works but somehow it does! activehands.com 5
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PICNIC COOLER
This stylish picnic cooler is the ideal companion for your clients. As lockdown lifts and the lovely weather continues everyone will be keen to (responsibly) get outside and enjoy picnics and meet-ups with family and friends. This picnic cooler will keep food, drinks and medicine cool on those hot summer days. oliverbonas.com
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SWING WASHBASIN
This height-adjustable swing washbasin from Ropox features a 180 swing which enables the client to wash their hands independently while seated. When the basin is retracted there is plenty of room for transfer and carer access, and wheelchair users can also hand wash independently with plenty of space under the basin. To reach the taps the client can alter the angle of the basin themselves.
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07831 401118 | ropox.com 7
AUTO 3 AUTOMATIC RAMP
This automatic ramp from Secret Access is a unique access solution which automatically extends from within the doorstep when required and then retracts back within the doorstep when not in use, ensuring the building is wheelchair accessible at all times. Ideal for reaching higher entrances where there may not be room for a longer extending ramp. 0333 772 2012 | secretaccess.co.uk 8
IPHONE MINI FAN
This portable little device simply plugs in to your iPhone, iPad or iPod to keep you cool on hot days. Whether sun bathing in the garden, commuting on public transport or stuck in a hot office, this handy little fan will cool you down with its soft and quiet breeze. A must-have for the summer.
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Celebrating 40 years
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Our award-winning P Pod provides sociable postural support & our Mobile Base fits through standard door frames and is available with powered tilt function.
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24 hour posture management for children and adults
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MSI MoJo Customised to the individual, the MSI can be used with a variety of bases including our own Mojo wheelbase
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The Miko buggy offers a fully reversible seating position and accommodates SOS seating such as the lightweight Flexi Seat aiding the daily management of children requiring postural support
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01283 520400 www.specialisedorthoticservices.co.uk
OTs AND TECH SKILLS Lucy Mitchell is a former NHS OT who retrained as a software developer and now works in the health tech arena using her skill set from both professions to digitise healthcare with a person-centred focus. Lucy explores the importance of embracing tech skills as an OT.
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odern healthcare and (to a lesser extent) social care are hugely augmented by technology. We can provide people with the longest, healthiest lives ever lived by humans because we are able to combine clinical expertise and human empathy with the muscle of computerised information processing. Humans and computers are good at fundamentally different things, so there is no concern about one replacing the other. As
where possible (video or telephone calls, webinars, virtual appointments). Microsoft Teams has been used for over 100,000 meetings by NHS services in a little over three months, with over half a million messages sent every day. It feels like ten years’ worth of technological growth in healthcare services has happened in under six months. During this time, I have been hearing from OT friends how their services have been stripped back, digitised, and potentially changed forever; but I wonder sometimes whether we could change the narrative to something more positive if we were more empowered to do so. Compared to diagnostic health, allied health professions and therapies like OT have not
seen the funding or tech innovation that the rest of the medical world has. TRANSFERABLE SKILLS My case is perhaps a little at one end of the spectrum of things that an OT could do to grow their tech skills. I’m very interested in the digitisation of public healthcare. I stopped working as an OT and retrained in three months at a full-time coding bootcamp. As anyone who is familiar with the OT PGDip knows, accelerated learning is no walk in the park. I qualified as a very junior software developer and thought “oh no, what am I going to do now? How do I convince a tech company to hire me?” It turned out that the bootcamp themselves thought I was magical — a bit of life experience, proven skills communicating with a diverse group of people, and an encouraging manner (the OT’s bread and butter) — and gave me a job immediately until I found an elderly care tech company
Clive Thompson (one of the most eminent writers on technology and its impact on the world) and Garry Kasparov (Chess Grandmaster widely acknowledged as the best chess player of all time, who has played both with and against machines) have said, people working collaboratively with technology are far more effective than either people or technology on their own. During COVID-19, a multitude of services have moved to remote-friendly or remote-first operations
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remain convinced that I will use those skills: as an informal carer to my loved ones who will need increasing levels of care, by volunteering in my community, by coaching other women and OTs who want to transition to that second group of “OTs working in health tech”, and in any other professional work I do.
that I wanted to work for. The takeaway from this is that digital skills are just another string to your professional bow. You already have a powerful set, and if you’re interested in growing further in this direction (which I appreciate not everyone will be) you will only get stronger. FOR OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT The title of this article is intentionally vague: tech skills can mean lots of different things (for a start, technical or technological). This doesn’t have to be yet another hoop to jump through to feel like you’re hitting the minimum professional bar, and it certainly isn’t a competition. As someone who has spent the last couple of years actively building out various digital skills, it could mean: 1 Learning how to organise and host a successful webinar 2 Learning how to
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leverage your network of contacts without having to (or being able to) physically go to meet ups or conferences 3 Learning a programming language or the basics of computer science 4 Learning how to build an app, or understanding how they get built in general 5 Keeping abreast of digital health movements and organisations, for example, through Twitter or e-newsletters 6 Being able to share updated best practices, or new research digitally, to people wider than just your immediate professional network These small steps could
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be the beginning of a new branch in your career; it will doubtless be an interesting personal experience, whatever the outcome. I see it as bringing multiple benefits — not just meeting the standards for and moving beyond Health Education England’s “Digital Ready Workforce”, but also potentially innovating the way services are delivered, and growing a profession made up of curious, creative, caring, intelligent individuals. FOR OUR PATIENTS AND CLIENTS There are two broad categories in my mind when I speak about OTs having technical skills: those who work as OTs and increasingly weave technology and digital health into their practice, and those who leave patient-facing work to do the inverse; weave OT into increasingly digitised health and care services. For numerous reasons, I decided to leave the NHS after studying for two years and working for two more in London’s biggest Trust. I was not sure then (and am not sure now) whether I will return to patient-facing clinical practice, but I
I now work for a company which is digitising social care notes and how care workers record and deliver care. As any OT who works in the community can confirm, social care is years behind healthcare in the technological sense. We don’t have cool AI or flashy startups. A lot of notes are either handwritten, siloed from other systems, or both. With huge pressure on hospitals and secondary care, care in the community and keeping people happy and healthy in their own homes is a priority for everyone. I adore and have huge faith in the NHS, and I do not want to actively encourage OTs to leave clinical service— I know we need all the help we can both give and get to keep public services running. However, it has been incredibly rewarding for me to use my skills in a different setting. As well as helping build the software, I am now able to influence the product that the company makes in very visible, positive ways, such as working with the designers to ensure our copy and tone are personcentred, pushing for full accessibility features as a ‘must-have’ not a ‘nice-to-have’, and using my clinical expertise of working with older adults, plus NICE guidelines and
other research, to inform how things like our Falls Assessment is built. For the majority of OTs, seeing patients every day, there is still much scope for these digital or technical skills to flourish. Digital literacy is a big part of life (technology’s reach is inescapable) and a really basic example could be: if a patient has an Amazon Alexa or a smart doorbell system or similar tech which they aren’t quite confident with, I can use my knowledge to upskill them in the same way I would upskill someone not able to reach their toes how to put on a sock with the mighty sockgrabber. If this sounds mundane, then you’re already well on the way to more complex tech understandings. FOR OURSELVES There is a lot of evidence around how having a broad skillset brings more rewards than you’d expect. Nobel Prize winner and highly celebrated theoretical physicist Richard Feynman discussed many times how his eclectic hobbies (playing Brazilian music, lock-picking, sketching) helped him be better at physics, instead of distracting him from it. Perhaps watching some YouTube videos on how algorithms work or getting the newsletter from the HealthTechNewspaper will, in some very small way, contribute towards you being an even better OT in the future.
they took a while ago and enjoyed. You don’t have to build an app by yourself, but it is also very possible for you to given the right support — and a bit of encouragement and inspiration can often be the first step. I have heard it said many times (and agree) that it is genuinely easier to teach health people tech, than to teach tech people healthcare. You’ve already done the hard part! I know there are ways health services can be improved, or even totally re-invented or re-imagined, using technology, and I really believe OTs should be part of this as we have such a wealth of knowledge and unique professional insight to contribute. You don’t have to know how every health app works to be helpful to your patients (a good thing too, because there are over 318,000 of them, according to recent data). Building out your digital skills could be something as small as starting an online journal club with OTs from different Trusts who share your passion or special interest area, or doing a bit of research on whether you’d like to trial a certain app
in your service. Even though the NHS is stretched, we are lucky to be working in a time when entrepreneurship is encouraged, and digital tools are available freely on the internet. The NHS has a specific training program for entrepreneurs and the National Institute for Health Research offers flexible fellowships and funding opportunities. Many free online courses for programming, data science, data visualisation, UI/UX (user interaction/ user experience design) and more can be found via Coursera, Udemy, Khan Academy, and others. Building the future of OT As Fleming and Mattingly famously said, “therapists think in more than one way” and one of the super powers of the OT has always been, in my opinion, the ability to draw multiple, often quite disparate, strands of experience and knowledge together to inform their decisions and
practice. By growing your digital skillset — either your understanding of tech or your ability to implement it — you become an OT primed and ready for the brave new world of health and social care. No one really knows what it will look like yet, but this is a chance to help construct it. In my opinion, building personal skills in the tech domain is something OTs should take into their own hands, rather than waiting for professional bodies to encourage it. This is for two reasons; the first is that, though the Royal College of Occupational Therapists is positive about technology being at the heart of innovation in OT, pushing for systemic change in how a profession operates is not an easy or quick process. Despite some parts of health being very well funded, it’s still early days for tech in allied health professions. The second reason is I’d love to see people grow skills and ideas that they are passionate about — as we all know, meaning is at the heart of engagement. You can follow Lucy Mitchell on Twitter at @hardy_cultivar.
If nothing else, I hope this inspires just one OT to take the step towards building that app or service they think the world would really benefit from, or following up on that Python lesson
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Choosing a stairlift We spoke to Steve Wilson, a director of Dolphin Lifts Midlands about what to consider when looking to install a stairlift
if the user is 20 stone, be sure to install a stairlift with a weight capacity of at least 25 stone. For people using a DFG grant to pay for the stairlift this is also very important as by the time the DFG grant runs out they may require a new stairlift if the unit is now unsuitable due to the client exceeding the weight limit.
MISCONCEPTIONS The most common misconceptions people have is that a stairlift will take over their house. Over recent years, the design has improved significantly resulting in much slimmer stairlifts which allows other household members to easily walk past it – unlike the old days when there would often be a tiny gap between the chair and the wall. INSTALLATION People often think that a stairlift will be bolted to the wall and the installation will involve walls being badly damaged and they will have a team of workmen in their house for days. The truth is the average installation time is between 4-6 hours, the
stairlift is fitted to the tread of the stairs and therefore there is no damage to the walls or dĂŠcor of the property. WHAT SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION? The weight of the client is a major factor. As an industry, we know there are more and more bariatric users and one of the biggest mistakes people make is to install a stairlift which can accommodate the current weight of the client. Research proves that a large percentage of users will get heavier over time due to their condition, therefore it is vital to future-proof the stairlift by installing a unit which has a higher weight capacity than the current weight of the user. For example,
If necessary, a stairlift can be bespoke but with so many models available (we stock over 80) it is almost never the case that a suitable stairlift cannot be installed regardless of the size, shape and style of the staircase. As long as the survey is conducted by someone with the necessary qualifications and experience there
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should not be a problem, for example we recently installed a stairlift in a 500-year-old castle. The survey itself took three days as the stairs were flagstone but the client was delighted with the end result. HOW DOES WORKING WITH AN OT HELP? We have worked with hundreds of OTs over the years and this certainly benefits both the client and the supplier as the OT will know better than anyone what the client requires to increase their independence within the home. Here at Dolphin Lifts Midlands we have invested heavily in a showroom at our Tipton headquarters where OTs and their clients can try out various different models to see which suits them best. Brochures and videos are all well and good but nothing can beat actually trying the product out. Dolphin Lifts Midlands stock a wide range of products including stairlifts, wheelchair lifts, through the floor lifts and hoists all of which are manufactured by leading UK companies. For more information call 0800 032 2080 or visit dolphinmidlands.co.uk.
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Creative Interventions Christina Emes is an OT working on the inpatient stroke service at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. Here she shares the outcomes of a creative group she organised for inpatients to help with function and socialisation post stroke.
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stroke is a rapid, often catastrophic event. Effects can vary but often attribute to a complex range of motor, perceptual, cognitive and sensory deficits and using or understanding language can often be challenging. Symptoms of pain, fatigue, and low mood are often experienced by many individuals. As an occupational therapist working within an inpatient stroke service at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, I began to understand the impact that these factors have upon an individuals’ rehabilitation journey.
So, why use creative activities? As someone who engages in creative occupations, I understand first-hand the positive effects that these have upon my own mental wellbeing through relaxation, occupational ‘flow’ and the sense of personal achievement. Whilst researching creative interventions for stroke inpatients I discovered several successful stroke-specific art projects led by other NHS Trusts within the UK, and I came across a wealth of evidence to support using creative interventions in neurological rehabilitation. Specifically, Symons et al’s (2011) qualitative study outlines the positive effects provided by attending a weekly therapeutic art class for people
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with neurological conditions; through improving hand function, providing cognitive benefits and an opportunity to practice social skills. In Lee Ting Lo et al’s (2018) systematic review it was suggested by Demarin (2017) that different art methods were helpful in ‘stimulating’ various areas of the brain, and the ‘stimulation’ from these methods could enhance neuroplasticity, which is useful in aiding rehabilitation post-stroke. For many individuals, experiencing a huge ‘life event’ whilst losing functional, physical and communication skills following a stroke can lead to psychological effects and social isolation. Bolweck et al’s (2014) study highlights how engaging in regular visual artistic interventions facilitates the spatial improvement in functional connectivity in certain parts of the brain that are connected with psychological resilience. In addition, Morris et al’s (2017) randomised control trial outlines how art can improve self-efficacy and attribute to emotional wellbeing in stroke rehabilitation. As I began reviewing the evidence base and considering my own practice, developing a creative activity group for inpatients in a stroke service began to feel like an obvious choice for me.
Why was the group set up? The main focus of the group sessions was to provide an opportunity for inpatients to engage in creative activities to increase upper limb function, to practice cognitive skills including attention and planning and to provide an opportunity for inpatients to socially interact in a more informal way. In addition, the group sessions enabled people to trial small adaptive aids and equipment such as adaptive scissors and lightweight foam to place around pens or paintbrushes. The group also provided an opportunity for assessment of an individuals’ specific upper limb movements in isolation, an individuals’ seating or postural support in function, and cognition. During group sessions, I wanted to facilitate a relaxed group setting to bring group members together in conversation. However, it was crucial to have a focus through creative activities so people did not feel pressured to engage in conversation, whilst increasing their socialisation. I was aware of how individuals’ poststroke often experienced a loss of speech and difficulty in communicating feelings and emotions and ‘art’ could act as a means of self-expression. As low mood is such an impacting factor for many people following a stroke it was important that the group provided the opportunity for people to participate in peer support and group members would often provide positive feedback for each other. I also considered how engaging in creative activities may lead to individuals experiencing occupational ‘flow’ (positive feelings, loss of time and deep concentration).
Activities and interventions Every week four or five people attended the group and a new creative activity was introduced every session. These included cutting out shapes and using household items to create paintings, drawing and making cards and bookmarks. Activities were appropriately graded to suit each person and written hand-outs with step-bystep pictures and instructions were provided. Art is very subjective, and people were given autonomy over which materials they wanted to use each session. Music was played during the sessions as several studies have shown the positive effects of music listening on cognition,
mood and motor processing post-stroke. It also provided a talking point for individuals and facilitated a relaxed atmosphere.
Outcome measures Following the session, attendees were provided with a Likert scale evaluation questionnaire to complete at their leisure, to obtain feedback to implement changes and evaluate the overall success of the group. Often people who attended the group were unable to complete the questionnaire, although they often verbally reflected upon how much they valued it, with one-member rearranging family visits so they did not miss a group session. One member explained that although initially he felt he was “not creative” the group had inspired him to pursue new creative occupations. The feedback outlined that the group was enjoyable, people enjoyed socialising with other inpatients and that the group gave people an opportunity to participate in more varied therapeutic sessions, learn new skills and would recommend the group to others. In addition, the group provided a creative therapeutic intervention in a cost-efficient way and assisted the service in meeting national standards such as the NICE Guidelines and Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme. Upon reflection, implementing the group developed my confidence and practice skills as I often had to adapt the creative activities quickly during sessions. Facilitating the relaxed platform allowed inpatients to feel less ‘observed’ and often people who were more reserved in other therapy sessions became more engaged during group sessions. In addition, the group highlighted the value of the profession and demonstrated the varied skill set that OTs have. I received really positive feedback from people who attended the group and I will continue to use creative interventions within my practice. As OTs, if we purely concentrate on selfcare or physical activities alone we may disadvantage or limit the people we work with. I believe, through understanding and embracing our creative past, we as OTs can retain our unique identity, which is crucial in demonstrating our value in an ever-changing health industry.
Music was played during the sessions as several studies have shown the positive effects of music listening on cognition, mood and motor processing post-stroke
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Paediatrics All the latest from the world of paediatrics
SECTION lthough it may feel like it has been the summer holidays for the last three months, they have actually only just begun. However, with the delicate promise of a full-time return after the summer break we must consider how the last few months have affected the younger generations, especially those with sensory and educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Suzy Rowland addresses the challenges that neurodiverse children and their families may experience as they prepare to transition back to school.
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We also talk to Jenny Gow, founder of the incredible charity A Bear Named Buttony. The charity provides teddy bears with stomas
to young stoma patients, and has recently introduced the Young Adult Project to provide older children with a back pack of necessities. This thoughtful project was inspired by Jenny’s own daughter and to date they have donated thousands of Buttony Bears.
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We also hear from the families of two young children who have had life-changing experiences with the help of mobility aids and we bring you the usual array of products for your younger clients. If you would like to share any work you are doing with younger clients or on paediatric wards, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at ros@2apublishing.co.uk.
Read on to find out more...
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SENDING KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL Suzy Rowland is the founder of the #happyinschool project, and author of S.E.N.D. In The Clowns, a personal and practical guide for families with neurodiverse children navigating the education system (out 1 Sept 2020). Suzy explores the challenges facing children who have sensory educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in transitioning back to the classroom.
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e’ve all experienced such seismic change in the last few months, some of us will emerge from this extreme threat, shellshocked and fragile, others will re-enter the world feeling energised and ready to grab life by the throat. Everyone’s response to potentially life-endangering events is entirely personal and depends on an almost infinite number of external and personal factors. Like all political decisions, the government guidance
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on the pace of easing lockdown and getting kids back to school, has created tensions. Emotions are high but as far as possible, parents and professionals need to approach the transition as calmly and safely as we know how. Neurodivergent children tend to be highly sensitive to mood, they need us to be their beacon in the storm. Online questionnaires conducted by academic institutions and SEN charities have shown wide disparity of lockdown experiences
of special educational needs children and their families. Some have been bereaved or known a family member who has been ill with COVID-19. Others have fared better. Time won’t allow for teachers to conduct detailed read outs of every child on their return to education. Some children will run through the school gates excited about seeing their friends and teachers again, others will be so anxious or phobic about returning to school that they may only last a few days before they start refusing to go. The abrupt nature of the school closures - especially for those in key transition years, who have missed key ‘rites of passage’ rituals – may trigger a range of emotions that children with sensory or social communication difficulties common in children with autistic spectrum condition, will find difficult to express. Some will have attachment disorder, feeling terrified about leaving their parents, some will be depressed unable to explain why. All of this, on top of the challenges of their special educational needs, and possibly an additional physical condition. Sleeping and eating patterns have been disrupted, and due to social distancing measures, some children have been deprived of vital health and wellbeing support networks. Big, isn’t it? It’s so big that their transition must be broken into digestible pieces; to
which I have developed the CALM model to assist in delivery: C – collaborative A – adjustments L - low stimulus M – monitoring
Collaboration
Collaboration is the only way we can get through this: gathering the ideas, thoughts and opinions of everyone involved in the child’s learning, development and care, especially the young person themselves. Discussing objectives, looking at barriers to learning and discussing how they can be addressed. A trusted team around the child, with parents and professionals playing supporting roles, with the child’s needs front and centre, creates a strong scaffold for successful re-introduction to school. Understanding that resistant or oppositional behaviours may be the child’s way of communicating their fear or discomfort to another change. Using the communication tool that’s right for the individual is key; whether it’s play therapy, social stories or another system such as PECS (picture exchange communication system) or assistive technology. Parents and professionals need to allow plenty of time to explain and reassure along the way, because children won’t learn a thing if they don’t feel they’re in the ‘safe zone’.
Adjustments
Adjustments or reasonable adjustments to the school
day, are an adaptation that children with special educational needs are legally entitled to, as outlined in the Equality Act 2010. Close attention to any SEN support plan or education and health care plan is a good place to start to examine the specifics on what those adjustments could be. Movement breaks, extra time between lessons, lessons in a room away from peers, extra time for hand-washing or supervised access to hand-sanitiser are all examples of COVID-19 era adjustments. A worrying bi-product of COVID-19, is the temporary legislative changes in special educational needs provision for children. In brief, the local authority’s duty in relation to the delivery of provision set out in the child’s education, health and care plan remains for them to use ‘reasonable endeavours’ to secure or arrange support, rather than a legal imperative.
of freedom of activity and the ability to disperse energy more freely than would be allowed in the more rigid environment of school.
Monitor
Transition activities can be done before, during and after change, large or small, hopefully teachers are already in regular dialogue with their pupils ahead of their return. Parents should endeavour to talk positively to their children about going back to school. Once children are back, probably in a staggered format, teachers and parents will need to monitor children’s’ progress closely as they get used to the new ‘normal’ it may not be plain sailing, a drop of CALM is an ingredient we will all need. You can follow Suzy Rowland on Twitter @radiantlady.
Low Stimulus
School will be where COVID-era children will display a variety of anxiety disorders. Schools may need to consider a ‘transition zone’ where anxious, or over-stimulated children can acclimatize to the school environment in a calm, quiet, soothing space, check in with a member of staff, before entering the technicolour experience of school. Children with ADHD may need time to settle back into the school routine, after a significant period
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Help QEF Survive and Thrive
T
he Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF) is a charity which has been at the heart of the Surrey community for more than 85 years, however it is now facing an uncertain future due to the impact of COVID-19 on its fundraising and donations. QEF is well-known for the vital services it provides to disabled adults and children, from mobility and driving assessments to the incredible Bugzi loan scheme that provides powered mobility for children under five years old. However, the charity had to temporarily close its three mobility focused services in March which resulted in the cancellation of 165 mobility and driving assessments, and included the closure of the subsidiary charity MERU which provides the Bugzi loan scheme. With an estimated shortfall in funding of £1million by
the end of July, QEF has done everything possible to try and find solutions to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on its services. However, it still needs to raise £500,000 by September if they are to continue their vital work providing expert services to adults and children with disabilities or acquired brain injuries. If QEF do not receive urgent funding by September 2020: 1 They will be unable to finish equipping the Care and Rehabilitation Centre for QEF service users 2 Funding for key services such as the Bugzi loan scheme will be at risk 3 They won’t be able to catch up on missed mobility and driving assessments - helping people of all ages to be independently mobile 4 They will be unable to support children left without independent mobility – children
will not only be stuck at home but unable to move around the house to play with their siblings. To support them in this mission they have launched the ‘Survive and Thrive’ appeal. In normal times, the charity supports more than 6,000 disabled children and adults every year, enabling them to develop key skills, increase their mobility, maximise their independence and receive life changing support from its neurorehabilitation team. Today the future of these services, that thousands of people rely on, is at risk. QEF chief executive, Karen Deacon said: “In January this year we were financially stable and looking forward to opening our new Care and Rehabilitation Centre and celebrating our 85th anniversary – a huge milestone in any charity’s life – but now, like many others, we are struggling to keep our services going. This is not business as usual and we have been changing our approach to try and combat the financial losses we have suffered. Since March we have done everything we can to maximise selfhelp first, before asking for money; prioritising our essential, front line
services to support the most vulnerable people, furloughing more than 100 staff, temporarily closing three vital mobility services and launching new virtual fundraising activities, but it just hasn’t been enough. “We are launching this appeal now as we need help to ensure our expert services can survive, so that the disabled people that rely on us can thrive. We really value all the support the Surrey community has given QEF in the past, but we need them now more than ever. If we can bridge this gap in our funding, then we can ensure a positive future for the charity and the people who rely on our services.” The charity has a host of fundraising activities planned over the next few months to encourage people to support them, including The Big Ride or Stride a virtual bike ride and walking event, as well as the Queen Tea event, in honour of the charity’s founding supporter, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, where there will be the opportunity to win a virtual tea party with celebrities. To find out more and support QEF’s Survive and Thrive appeal visit qef.org. uk/surviveandthrive.
CLASSROOM
INCLUSION Five-year-old Noah Hyndman is reaping the benefits from his new powerchair, the Paravan PR25 from Precision Rehab, as it allows him to fully access activities in his classroom and the playground.
told he would have to be hoisted as staff would not lift him from his chair to the floor. As much of the class time in Reception year is spent on the floor, Sarah was determined to try and find a powerchair which would enable Noah to take part in class activities without having to be hoisted.
I was convinced there had to be something out there and as soon as I saw the PR25 and spoke to Matt, I knew we had found the answer for Noah! Last year, Noah was diagnosed with limb girdle muscular dystrophy, a very rare form of dystrophy which took three years to finally diagnose and means Noah is unable to move independently, as his mother Sarah explains: “Until just before his fourth birthday, Noah could walk and stand independently but this was increasingly putting more strain on his body which would take up a lot of his energy.
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However, cognitively, Noah is like any other fiveyear-old and loves playing with his brother, sister and friends, including going for family walks with our dog and since starting school he has wanted to join in more than ever. This is why we attended the Kidz South event last year to see what products could help make this dream a reality”. When Noah started primary school, Sarah was
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“I was convinced there had to be something out there and as soon as I saw the PR25 and spoke to Matt, I knew we had found the answer for Noah! Matt and his colleagues were so passionate and took the time to explain all about the chair, how it could be adapted for Noah and also listened to Noah’s requirements to ensure the PR25 would be the best solution. I spoke to several other companies at the show but none of them shared Matt’s passion and we also
loved the fact Precision Rehab is a family business, with family values and a belief that the chair should fit the person as opposed to the person fitting the chair,” continued Sarah. Noah has now had his PR25 for a few months and is getting used to all the unique functions, two of which have changed Noah’s life as Sarah explains: “Thanks to the PR25’s multi-function seat positioning, Noah can now reach things that would otherwise be inaccessible, and lower the seat to ground level so he can transition from the chair to the floor on his own and fully engage with his classmates at school, he can still drive the chair with the seat either raised or at floor level, which is amazing. Noah also finds his PR25 very easy to manoeuvre and loves the speed of the PR25 as he can now keep up with his
friends in the playground and feel like one of them, which is all he and the rest of the family wanted. I can’t thank Matt and the team at Precision Rehab enough for all their hard work and the difference they have made not just to Noah but to our family!”
Paravan PR25
The PR25 features some of the technology found on the Paravan PR40 and uses its automatic stabilizer wheels to enable the seat system to be powered from a normal seat height to floor position. This function allows children to access the chair from ground level enabling interaction with their peers, it is also suitable for small adults. With a base width of just 64cm and choice of two additional functions, Tilt-in-space and seat lift, the PR25 is easy to manoeuvre and fitted with modern R-net controls.
For more information on the full range of powerchairs available from Precision Rehab call 01256 300111, email info@precisionrehab.co.uk or visit precisionrehab.co.uk.
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BEAR NAMED
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BUTTONY Jenny Gow is the brains behind an incredible charity that provides cuddly teddy bears to young stoma patients. However, these are no ordinary bears. Each of these teddy bears have a stoma, just like their recipients. young patients; to offer a happy distraction and to reflect their own situation. Buttony is also a great way to help communicate to younger patients what it means to have a stoma, to explain the process and to hopefully remove the stigma surrounding stomas. We spoke to Jenny to find out how it all began… How did you start off?
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Bear Named Buttony was inspired by Jenny’s daughter Eilidh. Eilidh had a stoma from the age of three and spent much of her childhood in and out of hospital, missing school and missing out on play dates and parties. Jenny recognised the challenges and difficulties that her daughter went through for all those years and she wanted to do something for children in 54
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a similar position. Being in hospital is scary, especially for young children who are undergoing stoma surgery. Being away from the familiar surroundings of their own home, their toys, their books, and missing out on fun with friends, time at school, trips or parties taking place, can be devastating for little ones. Buttony Bear is designed to be a cuddly companion for these
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I had always wanted to do something positive for kids like Eilidh. When she had her first stoma all those years ago there was no support for families like ours. There is still a stigma attached to having a stoma and it is time we got people talking about bowels so that they realise that anyone, whatever age, could need a stoma. I have a friend who is a great seamstress and she designed the stoma attachment, her partner has a stoma and she and I have been sewing stomas onto our bears since then. Buttony Bear is a Canterbury Bear and made to last, he has a bit of character and every bear is slightly different.
and had not appreciated how great the need was. We got busy very quickly and struggled to keep up. In 2016 we became part of The Breakaway Foundation, a restricted fund within their charity, but in 2019 we became a charity on our own and have an enthusiastic board in place. This month we launched a Young Adult Project which is something I am really excited about. The Young Adult Project will focus on providing young teenagers, who feel that a teddy bear may be a bit young for them, with a bright wash bag containing a variety of goodies for young people, including a drawstring bag to hold emergency supplies, a small perfume or cologne, a positive information card and a note from a young person who has had a stoma for some time.
How has this charity evolved?
Later in the year we will publish a Buttony Book which we will donate to families alongside their bear. We hope that we can make a real difference and raise lots of positive awareness.
We were perhaps quite naive when we started
How many bears have you donated?
We have donated almost 3,200 stoma bears as I write. How do the children and parents feel when they receive a bear? We have had great feedback from families, Buttony Bear makes it easier to talk about stomas and explain what it is. The kids feel they have a friend just like them which makes them feel less isolated. We keep in touch with many families and Buttony has become part of many of their everyday lives. We have an active Facebook page and every year we send birthday cards to bears, care of their child owners. Buttony actually shares Eilidh’s birthday, because without her he wouldn’t exist. How do families go about getting a bear for their child? Families can contact us direct through our Facebook page (search ‘A Bear Named Buttony’) or by emailing us at info@ buttonybear.org.uk. We do aim to provide bears direct to paediatric stoma nurses so that they can give the child a bear prior to their surgery. How can you help? The charity relies on fundraising efforts and donations to keep the project going. You can sponsor a Buttony Bear for only £30, ensuring a child will receive this treasured teddy with a stoma just like theirs, or a young adult pack for older children. The charity is grateful for any size of donation as it all helps them to keep doing their vital work. You can donate at their Virgin Money Giving page here: bit.ly/2CNCcwl.
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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
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Kids
SCALLOP PORTABLE SEAT
The R82 Scallop portable seat is ergonomically designed to help support a child when sitting to promote a healthier posture. It can be used on the floor or on a chair and has been developed in conjunction with users, families and therapists. It is stable yet flexible, and allows the child to get involved with activities. completecareshop.co.uk 2
ALPHABET FLOOR TILES
Matching up the letters on these floor tiles will keep little ones amused for hours as they secure them in the correct space. Kids love to play on the floor and these tiles are colourful, fun, educational and will aid dexterity and concentration. amazon.co.uk 3
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SENSO-REX WEIGHTED BLANKET
This soft and plush weighted blanket is designed to calm and relax children with sensory integration problems, ADHD or those with autism. The beauty about these hypoallergenic blankets is that they come in a huge range of patterns to suit future astronauts, Disney fans and many more themes. senso-rex.com
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GEMINO 30 S ROLLATOR
This lightweight paediatric rollator is designed to enhance children’s mobility and independence. It is stable, safe, will aid gait training and it has a handy bag on the front to store things in. Available in a variety of colours to complement a child’s style, it also folds down to a compact size for travel.
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WORRY EATERS
These cuddly little companions could come in very handy during these worrying times. Children are very aware of the changes going on around them and this can weigh heavily on young minds. Worry Eaters are a great way to take away those fears, simply ask your child to write or draw their worry on a piece of paper and then pop it into the mouth and zip it away.
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SIMPL DIMPL
This bright, colourful keyring calms fidgety fingers with its two silicone spots. Kids can prod, poke, push and pop the little buttons on this keyring to keep restless hands at work and to aid in concentration. Available in four colour combinations, the keyring is the perfect little toy for kids to carry with them in their pocket or bag. 0208 953 4484 | happypuzzle.co.uk
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WINNING THE RACE Elliott Baker’s mobility journey has been supported by Quest 88 for more than 10 years, from walkers to RaceRunners
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lliott Baker is 12-years-old and he has Kernicterus, a condition which has symptoms similar to athetoid CP but also effects Elliott’s hearing, speech and eye movement and can cause muscle spasms that can cause arching of the back and neck. From a very young age Elliott has needed support with his mobility as his mother Caroline explains: “As soon as Elliott started trying to walk at around the age of two-years-old, we knew he was going to need support and his OT recommended we look at the Kaye Walker from Quest 88. This was the beginning of what has now been a 10-year relationship with the team at Quest 88 who we think of more as friends these days”. Over the intervening years, Elliott has used four Kaye Walkers and took delivery of his latest one towards the end of last year. “The Kaye Walkers have been brilliant for Elliott as they have helped him to walk as independently as possible at home, on family days out, at school and when with his friends and they are incredibly 58
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sturdy so have only needed replacing due to Elliott growing,” continued Caroline. In addition to the Kaye Walkers, Elliott has also had a Kitten trike. As part of his ongoing therapy programme, Elliott has been attending the Footsteps Therapy Centre in Oxford (footstepscentre.com) since the age of fouryears-old. The centre specialises in the intensive rehabilitation of children and young adults with cerebral palsy, genetic disorders, epilepsy, other neurological and neuromotor disorders and undiagnosed conditions through
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an approach which is intensive and childfriendly and combines fun and games with traditional physiotherapy exercises. The staff aim to enhance and improve the physical, cognitive and speech development of the patients, as well as increase their confidence and independence. “The work they do at Footsteps is amazing and I am sure having the Kaye Walkers at home over the years has helped with this as Elliott became more confident, and steadier on his feet,” continued Caroline. As Elliott moved up through primary school
his frustration at not being able to properly join in PE lessons grew. Caroline mentioned this to Quest’s managing director Rob Henshaw who suggested they assess Elliott for a Petra RaceRunner as he was now tall enough to potentially use one. From the moment he tried it – he loved it as it meant he could take part in PE lessons that involved running and keep up with his friends. Having the running bike made such a difference to Elliott as he could compete with his friends which is what every young boy wants to do. Elliott is now in year eight
I know that running is never going to be easy for me but thanks to my new Petra RaceRunner I will be able to keep up with everybody else in PE lessons again
at his local secondary school but has once again had to miss out on joining in some of the PE lessons such as athletics as he had outgrown his Petra RaceRunner. Caroline got back in touch with Rob who visited the family to assess Elliott, and just after Christmas, Elliott received the present he was hoping for – a brand new Petra
RaceRunner. “Prior to getting the new RaceRunner, I had spoken to Elliott’s PE teacher and he said it sounded great as he could do so much with it. Elliott loves his new running bike, and the fact Rob took the time to arrange for the handover to take place on the running track at Stoke Mandeville stadium
was the icing on the cake for Elliott. I cannot recommend or thank Rob and the rest of the Quest team highly enough”. “It has been a pleasure to help Elliott and his family over the last 10 years and watch him develop from a toddler through to a teenager. He really is an inspiration to us all and that is why we are delighted to announce that as of February this year Elliott will be one of our Quest 88 Ambassadors,” commented Rob. Elliott has now had his new RaceRunner for a couple of months and is looking forward to using it in PE lessons. “Quest are brilliant. I have found all their equipment really easy to use over the years and thanks to their Kaye Walkers I have always been able to walk around with my friends
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at primary and secondary school and with mum, dad and my sister Ella on days out instead of always having to use my powerchair - so I never felt left out. I know that running is never going to be easy for me but thanks to my new Petra RaceRunner I will be able to keep up with everybody else in PE lessons again. When Rob asked if I wanted to become a Quest ambassador, I was so excited and I hope I can help other children and their parents realise that just because you have a disability there is equipment available which means you can still have just as much fun as everyone else and really enjoy life at school and at home,“ commented Elliott. For more information on the range of products Quest 88 provide visit quest88.com.
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COVID-19 AFTERMATH THE
Sally Callow is the founder of ME Foggy Dog, an ME advocacy platform and managing director of Stripy Lightbulb CIC, an online training platform about ME/CFS, she also lives with ME/CFS. Here, she highlights the very real possibility that the coronavirus could trigger ME/CFS or a similar illness in those who have contracted the virus. weren’t hospitalised or tested for COVID-19 during their acute infection, they are not included in any COVID-19 statistics. Here are the seven key indicators of ME/CFS as stated on the ME Association website: 1 Post-exertional malaise or symptom exacerbation - a key characteristic of ME/CFS. Symptoms worsen significantly after activity has taken place. This reaction can be felt on the same day but also after a delay of 24-72 hours. 2 Exercise-induced muscle fatigue - which may be accompanied by muscle pain. 3 Cognitive dysfunction - problems with short-term memory and working memory, concentration and attention span issues, and word finding abilities. 4 Pain - can be persistent and difficult to control. Pain can be muscular, rheumatic or neuropathic. However, a significant minority of patients experience little or no pain.
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ost cases of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), otherwise known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), are triggered by viruses. This is why, since the very beginning of the pandemic, as an ME/ CFS patient advocate and creator of an online training company about ME/CFS, I have been warning that COVID-19 is highly likely to trigger ME/CFS, or an ME/ CFS-like illness, in some patients regardless of whether they had severe or mild COVID-19 symptoms. It has been shown that the original SARS outbreak between 2002-2004 triggered ME/CFS in some patients. It is important that occupational therapists are able to identify cases of potential ME/CFS and understand how best to support those patients. Early identification and support may prevent a deterioration into severe ME/ CFS which can, in some cases, cause the patient to be confined to their home. Internationally, thousands of post-COVID-19 patients have joined online support groups on social media looking for support and advice from fellow patients after finding themselves still unwell over eight weeks after the acute infection. Thousands of mild COVID-19 patients 60
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5 Sleep disturbance – insomnia, restlessness, sleep deprivation. 6 On-going, flu-like malaise - a general feeling of ‘being unwell’ that is accompanied by a sore throat, tender lymph glands and problems with temperature control. 7 Autonomic symptoms - including orthostatic intolerance. Autonomic symptoms are very common in ME/CFS, and orthostatic intolerance refers to difficulties remaining upright. Many post-COVID-19 patients are complaining of postexertion malaise after undertaking any exertion, this is the key defining characteristic of ME/CFS. Therefore, rest should always be recommended post viral infection. Most post-COVID-19 patients are complaining about having most, if not all, of the seven symptoms above. As with ME/CFS, post-COVID-19 is not psychological; understandably patients are becoming distressed and frustrated when GPs are not recognising their symptoms and, in some cases, prescribing antidepressants rather than dealing with their ongoing physical symptoms.
It should be noted that post-COVID-19 does not show up in any tests; blood tests, COVID-19 swaps, ECG, chest x-ray all come back clear. Whilst this should be reassuring for the patient, it is frustrating to not have a medical explanation of why they feel so unwell. Clear tests do not mean a lack of illness, it simply means medical science cannot yet explain it. “As experts in holistic rehabilitation, occupational therapists have a role to play in addressing the debilitating effects of COVID-19.” (RCOT, 2020) Chantelle Martin, social prescriber and HCPC-registered occupational therapist states: “As a new global disease, evidence is limited and still emerging regarding the acute and long-term impairments on function. Working as a social prescriber occupational therapist within a GP surgery, I have become increasingly aware this is an issue for patients, colleagues and friends. They are describing this as “frustrating”, “confusing”, “disruptive” and “like the virus is still live”. Many patients feel frustrated at the lack of knowledge and disbelief from medical professionals.” Top tips for working with COVID rehabilitation: 1 Believe the patient. Listen to the experience (even if it makes no medical sense), both physically and psychologically. Use the PEO model to explore impact on function and what matters to them. 2 Be aware and upskill to the fact that COVID may lead to post viral fatigue, post viral syndrome and ME/CFS. Complete ME/CFS training through Stripy Lightbulb CIC, look at what Physios For ME (physiosforme.com) have produced, and source the Royal College of Occupational Therapists guidance leaflets. Prioritise rest over exercise or ‘pushing through’ and energy conservation principles. Try not to scaremonger, the patient needs hope and belief they will get better. Give the right advice at the right time. See beyond outdated NICE guidelines recommending CBT and graded exercise therapy which can be harmful. Seek up-to-date information which may not be evidence-based yet due to lack of funding of research, believe the stories and suggestions of others who suffered post viral. Set realistic therapy goals based on the patient’s journey and ‘what matters to them’, not time constraints on our services. Focus on basic ADLs over leisure activities. 3 Support through all the feelings a patient may experience: shock, confusion, denial, anger, depression and acceptance. Be there alongside them. 4 Adjust expectations of self as a therapist and support the patient to adjust the expectations of themselves and all their roles. 5 As occupational therapists you are well placed to understand the challenges that may come with a post-viral illness and an OTs personcentred approach can undoubtedly help anyone experiencing symptoms of ME/CFS.
Sally runs Stripy Lightbulb CIC, an online training company that educates AHPs and those working with ME/CFS patients, the courses are currently reduced to £12. Find out more at stripylightbulb.com.
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A
HOISTING
CHALLENGE Charity Remap create an innovative solution once again
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Andrew Roberts came to look. He built a bespoke frame that sits half in and half out of the bath with a sliding seat. Carers and family can now hoist Alfonso onto this in-bath seat which then rotates 90 degrees and then slides into position over the bath, where the parent/carers can shower Alfonso. A screen is provided to minimise water on the floor.
emap is a national charity that helps disabled people of all ages to live more independent lives by designing and making customised equipment free of charge. Their mission is to provide solutions to everyday problems when there is nothing commercially available, designing and custom making equipment for individuals understanding that everyone’s needs are different. Remap’s skilled volunteers respond to thousands of requests for our help every year and the service is provided free of charge.
Gareth Slevin, an occupational therapist at Reading Borough Council, provides a recent example: “I have been supporting Alfonso and his family for two years. He has
severe cerebral palsy and his family and carers faced a challenge around bathing which included both father and mother having to take significant risks every time they physically picked up Alfonso and then carried him from bedroom to bathroom and lifted him into the bath. This was also anxiety-provoking for Alfonso and I felt a more dignified and independent transfer into the bath would be much better for him. “They have a mobile hoist but it can’t be used to lift him into the bath because the hoist legs would need to go under the bath, which is closed off with a panel. A ceiling track hoist was not possible due to landlord consent. So I asked Remap Berkshire for help and their volunteer
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“Alfonso can now be hoisted in and out of his bath without his parents having to risk their backs, without the landlord having to agree to any changes to their bathroom and without carers needing to take risks of their own regards moving and handling. Remap’s volunteer Andrew was incredibly patient, positive and so creative with his ideas. I honestly could not have got to this solution without him and the risks we have identified would not have been resolved without Andrew being so open to often complex, seemingly unworkable and an ever-changing design, it’s that simple. After seeing what we have achieved during this long project, I would doubt there are many scenarios which Remap would not be able to support my clients with - a solution,
however complex, could likely be achieved - as a therapist that level of problem solving is so valuable.” Remap volunteer Andrew Roberts commented: “Having retired, Remap offered me a way to use my engineering training and my home workshop in a personally rewarding way. “I enjoyed the relationships I’ve had with OTs. Take the start of the bath transfer aid project, I met Gareth outside Alfonso’s home for a briefing so I entered the home already feeling part of a team. That’s how it stayed throughout this complex project. The contribution of Gareth’s wide expertise and experience I valued equally as much as his sense of humour and receptive frame of mind.”
WHAT CHALLENGE DO YOU HAVE FOR REMAP? Whether you need a piece of equipment that isn’t on the market, or to have something adapted, Remap can help. Remap volunteers can design and custommake equipment for your specific needs. The service is available to disabled people of all ages, is completely free of charge and you can request their help directly. Find out more at remap.org.uk, call 01732 760209 or email data@remap.org.uk.
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Kidz to Adultz Exhibitions Free events organised by Disabled Living
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OTAC Events 2020 ®
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Check out the new dates of many of the events that have been postponed
Over the last few weeks many events and exhibitions have been postponed due to the current pandemic. Here you will find many of the new dates that have been announced for later in the year. If you know of any other events you feel would benefit your fellow OTs please don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing ros@2apublishing.co.uk.
OTAC Events 21 Oct – Newcastle, Newcastle United Football Stadium 4 Nov – Kent, Salomons Estate 2 Dec – Reading, Hilton Hotel 9 Dec – Chester, Hallmark Hotel – The Queen The UK’s only Occupational Therapy Adaptations Conference (OTAC). Free to attend and packed full of seminars, networking opportunities and a chance to speak to experts showcasing relevant products and services. otac.org.uk
Kidz to Adultz Events 12 Nov 2020 – North, EventCity, Manchester 18 May 2021 – South, Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre, Farnborough 25 Jun 2021 - Wales and West, International Convention Centre (ICC), Newport 9 Sept 2021 – Scotland, Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh Dedicated to children and young adults with disabilities. This show offers free CPD-accredited seminars and a large exhibition of companies showcasing independent living products and services to help young disabled people. kidzexhibitions.co.uk 2-4 NOV
PMG Conference The International Centre, Telford Posture and Mobility Group’s annual conference provides an educational programme, industry exhibition and networking events for professionals working in the field of posture and wheeled mobility. pmguk.co.uk
9-10 NOV
Naidex NEC, Birmingham The UK’s largest disability event, you will find hundreds of exhibitors all under one roof. They have a dedicated OT seminar programme and the opportunity to network, learn and discover new innovations and hear disabled people talk about issues important to them. naidex.co.uk 9-10 NOV
Dementia Care and Nursing Home Expo NEC, Birmingham Ideal for anyone working in social care settings. This show boasts over 100 seminars and 50 masterclasses all designed to help you expand, evolve and innovate your social care business. carehomeexpo.co.uk 9-10 NOV
European Neuro Convention NEC, Birmingham This is Europe’s only trade event for brain and spine experts. It has CPD accredited presentations dedicated to improving patient outcomes and the latest innovations in the medical arena on display. neuroconvention.com 25-26 NOV
The OT Show NEC, Birmingham The unmissable show sees in excess of 5000 OTs descend upon the NEC to knowledge share, network, attend seminars and workshops and discover innovations that can help individuals lead independent lives. The education programme is packed with integral presentations and on stand demonstrations take place throughout. theotshow.com www. -magazine.co.uk 65
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