Occupational therapy helps people live their best life at home, at work – and everywhere else. It’s about being able to do the ‘occupations’ they need, want and have to do.
That could mean overcoming challenges learning at school, going to work, playing sport or simply doing the dishes.
Occupational Therapist, Beth Dent, talks about her job:
I am Beth and I am a newly-qualified occupational therapist (NQOT) at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT). I started in January and have completed rotations in the Older Adults and Frailty Team; and also in the Trauma and Orthopaedics Team.
Working at ULHT provides valuable experience as a NQOT with other different rotations across medical, surgical, stroke and hand therapy. Each rotation enhances our skillset, confidence and experience as an OT to provide a person-centred approach.
We always consider ‘what tasks are important to the person’, considering self-care (washing and dressing, meal preparation), leisure (hobbies, socialising in a group, wellbeing) and productivity (going to school, work, or retirement).
My favourite aspect of being an OT in an acute hospital setting, is listening to the patient and supporting them to overcome functional and/or emotional challenges. This is by problem solving and suggesting creative techniques to enable ongoing, or maintain functional levels of independence following their discharge from hospital.
Working in an acute hospital setting is very fast paced, but I love joint-working with all of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) staff, as well as families, to support people to reach their goals and where appropriate, make ongoing referrals to continue rehabilitation at home or in a rehabilitation setting.