January/february 2016 • Issue 8
Improving Independence
Helping our Heroes
Taking A Break Using respite to recharge Modular Living Improve your home, improve your life
An OT’s experience
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New From Quantum®
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Welcome
welcome H
appy New Year! I hope you all managed to take a break to rejuvenate over the Christmas period and are ready to start the new year with an abundance of enthusiasm and motivation.
I always find the start of the new year to be a great opportunity to assess my goals for the year and tidy up my desk, both literally and metaphorically. By this, I mean clearing out my mind of any clutter, to ensure my focus at least starts off on the right course in January. Writing down goals can be a great way of pushing yourself into doing something, if you write it down and pin it to your office wall or kitchen fridge, somewhere you will see it often, you will find it hard not to push yourself to take steps to achieve the goals you have set. No one wants to look at a piece of paper and feel disappointed because they didn’t even attempt to achieve a goal. Tr y t h i s fo r b o t h yo u r p r o fe s s i o n a l a n d p e r s o n a l
The team Editor: Rosalind Tulloch Staff Writer: Lisa Mitchell Staff Writer: Dionne Kennedy Designer: Katie White Marketing: Sophie Scott Sales: Robin Wilson
Contributors Kate Sheehan Adam Ferry Jason Piper Dawn Fraser Cheryll Hollis
t m t m t m
aspirations, it can be amazing how much writing something down can be the first step to greatness. Remember to make your goals achievable, though. This issue we have a huge variety of topics for you to peruse, from speaking to Rosie Curtis – an OT who works with military charity Help for Heroes, to a focus on modular living, as C3S explain the amazing work they do by supplying modular homes as extensions to solve accessibility needs, turn to page 32 to find out more. We also take a look at how you can utilise Pinterest and blogs for your professional career. Pinterest in particular seems to be very helpful for paediatric OTs, as it showcases some amazing ideas for sensory equipment and toys. You will find the usual array of innovative products, columns, news and interviews on the pages of this issue. We hope you enjoy it and would like to wish you a very successful 2016. ■
Sign Up For Your Free Subscription TODAY! Member of PPA Scotland
Contact Details 2A Publishing Ltd, Caledonia House, Evanton Drive, Thornliebank Ind. Est., Glasgow, G46 8JT T: 0141 270 8085 F: 0141 270 8086 E: enquiries@2apublishing.co.uk
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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 2016 © 2A Publishing Limited.All Rights Reserved. ISSN 2056-7146
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contents January/February 2016
07 WHAT’S NEW We explore what’s happening in the healthcare sector
13 I LOVE TOILETS Kate Sheehan discusses her love for toilets
53
15 tHE SOUND OF MUSIC We look at the benefits a tune can bring and speak to Nordoff Robbins to find out what they offer
25 A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN OT Each issue we speak to a different OT about
what their job entails
26 GoalAssist We find out more about the innovative, new
DLF app designed for OTs
45
28 CAREFLEX This specialist seating company has changed
someone’s life with their competition winner
30 GET PINNING We look at how you can make Pinterest and the
world of blogging work for you as an OT
32 DON’T MOVE, IMPROVE C3S Modular offer an alternative to adapting
an existing home. They discuss the benefits their modular homes can offer families
37 PRODUCT FOCUS Showcasing the most innovative products 43 INNOVATION AWARD We spoke to the winners of the OT Show’s
let us know your thoughts on the ot magazine Page 81 4
www.
Innovation Award
47 CLEVERSTIX A look at this clever developmental cutlery 51 CHILDREN’S PRODUCTS The best children’s products on the market
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09
17
32
SUBS82 C todaRIBE y fo r fr
ee!
55 NEWLIFE Changing lives through emergency
71 STUDENT ADVICE Dawn Fraser offers advice to students
equipment
56 THE OT SHOW Kate Sheehan reviews the seminars and
72 EVENT CALENDAR A compilation of the best events for the year
exhibition
ahead
61 TAKE A BREAK We look at the importance of Respite Care
75 TACKLING TAX A guide on how to tackle tax as an
and accessible holiday accommodation
65 HIRING EQUIPMENT Specialist bed manufactuers Centrobed
share their thoughts on hiring equipment
67 HELPing our HEROES Young OT discusses her work at Tedworth House
on how to utilise social media
47
independent OT
77 RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING
The latest employment and training opportunities available
81 YOUR VOICE COUNTS
Let us know your thoughts on the magazine www.
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what’s
new
We explore what’s happening in the healthcare sector, from new products and services to inspirational stories
Training event hailed a success
Y
orkshire Care Equipment, a healthcare equipment supplier based in Harrogate, held its annual training day, known as Yortrain Gold Event, at the famous Great Yorkshire Showground on 2 December last year. The event proved to be a great success, attracting around 200 OTs to experience a wide range of training courses, listen to motivational speakers and peruse exhibition stands where professionals could try out equipment and discuss client needs with product specialists. Tristan Hulbert, the training coordinator at Yorkshire Care Equipment commented: “We’ve run the event for three years now and numbers have increased year-onyear. I think people are genuinely excited about the variety and quality of training and obviously the word gets around. People love the fact that it’s completely free of charge for healthcare professionals – we fund the entire day – and the way it’s so relevant to their dayto-day caseloads. Last year, 100% of attendees rated the training as good or excellent, and we had some incredible feedback. We’ve not got feedback through for the 2015 event yet, but the comments we’ve had so far have been fantastic anyway.”
“All in all, it was a fantastic day”, concludes Tristan, “and we feel it’s a fantastic way of giving back to therapists. We work alongside 1500 healthcare professionals throughout the north of England on a daily basis, carrying out on-site assessments with equipment such as specialist seating and transfer aids, so we know just how busy they are. Holding an event like this one enables us to say thank you for the fantastic work therapists do and also gives people a chance to refresh their knowledge, be inspired, network, share ideas and learn new ways of improving patients’ lives.” ■ The company’s new mobile friendly website, complete with a new company video (both of which were launched at the event), can be seen at www. yorkshirecareequipment.com. Alternatively, the Yorkshire Care Equipment team can be contacted on 01423 799960 or at enquiries@yorkshirecare.com
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what’s new
Mangar International Receives COT Endorsement for CPD Training Specialist CPD training created for OTs by Mangar International has been endorsed by the College of Occupational Therapists (COT).
the CPD modules has been personally trained by Rachel Russell and will be available to provide training sessions across the UK.
The workshops in bathing and falls, developed under the expert guidance of Rachel Russell and Kate Sheehan from the OT Service, were created in light of legislative changes introduced with the 2014 Care Act. Thought to be the first collaboration of its type between a manufacturer and OT professional to achieve COT accreditation, the training places occupational performance at the core of the learning.
Roger Brereton, Sales Director, said: “Mangar International places great emphasise on OT support, ensuring they have the information needed to support service users requiring our products. Working with Rachel and Kate from the OT Service means we can now deliver accredited training, designed by professionals for professionals.”
Mangar International is a world leader in the design, manufacture and supply of inflatable moving and handling and bathing equipment. The company has worked with local authorities and supported occupational therapists with joint assessments, product training and literature for more than 30 years. The new CPD accredited workshops have been created to give OTs the opportunity to reflect on their professional skills and knowledge when assessing the need for bathing and floor recovery equipment. Both modules take two hours to complete and are free to occupational therapists and care home healthcare professionals. The Mangar International team delivering
8
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Anyone wishing to register for training can apply online at www.mangar.co.uk
Andrew Marr and Jackie Ashley to discuss life after a stroke
T
h e D isab l e d Li v i n g Foundation (DLF) is delighted to announce that the second Alf Morris Lecture will be given by Andrew Marr, journalist and TV presenter, and his wife, Guardian journalist Jackie Ashley. The lecture is being held on 17 March 2016 at the Shaw Theatre, London, and Andrew and Jackie will be discussing their experiences adapting to life after Marr’s stroke in 2013. This will be the first time they have publicly talked about their experiences, sharing their insights, views on rehabilitation and the need for better access to help and equipment. B e fo re m a r r y i n g i n 1 9 8 7 , Andrew and Jackie were aware of the principles of living with disability through the work of Jackie’s father, the late Lord Jack Ashley, MP for Stoke on Trent from 1966 to 1992 before sitting in the House of Lords. Following a routine ear
Continued success In December 2015 we attended the second Occupational Therapy Adaptations Conference (OTAC) which took place in Cardiff, supported by the team at The OT Magazine, Made2Aid and recruitment company Alexander Leigh.
and Adaptations’ by Peter Davis of Ropox and ‘Designing for Dementia’ by Marney Walker of Viva Access Ltd to ‘The Social Service and Wellbeing (Wales) Act’ presented by Stuart Barrow, MD of Promoting Independence Ltd and organiser of OTAC.
The event showcased an excellent array of exhibitors and saw nearly 500 occupational therapists register to learn, discover and network at OTAC Cardiff. The 12 seminars that were scheduled throughout the day were each at full capacity, these included a wide range of talks, from ‘Kitchen Design
Free for all occupational therapists to attend, the show attracted OTs from Cornwall to Scotland. The event proved a worthwhile and educational day for all attendees and the opportunity to experience products first-hand and talk to service providers face-to-face was invaluable.
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or older, suffer frustration, despair and pain because of relatively simple problems, which can be solved. The help and equipment is all around them, but they do not know how or where to obtain it.
operation in 1967 Jack Ashley became profoundly deaf but being tenacious and driven Jack, together with Alf Morris, spent years campaigning for disability rights, founding the all-party parliamentary disability group and the Chronically Sick & Disabled Persons Act. He was also instrumental in getting the Disability Discrimination Act that was passed in 1995. Jackie commented: “Alf Morris and Jack Ashley dedicated their parliamentary careers to challenging the limitations imposed by society on people with disabilities. Both believed that practical help could be transformative, enriching not just individual lives but families and whole communities. The Alf Morris Lecture is just a part of their legacy and, with healthcare provision under increasing strain, we believe its message of empowerment through knowledge is more important than ever before.” Andrew and Jackie will ‘interview’ one another at the Alf Morris Lecture. A warm, funny and very engaging couple to listen to, Jackie will initially reflect on her background and the work of her father, whilst Andrew’s reflections will focus more on regaining
his independence. Discussing how his previous knowledge of independent living for people with disabilities contrasts with his own experience, they will share with the audience their problems in obtaining support and finding suitable equipment – things that should be readily available to all after a medical crisis. Describing his stroke as similar to instant ageing, Andrew’s fresh insights into adjusting to sudden change focuses not only on adaptations for the home, but also on the ability to work and travel, as well as relationships with family and friends. Andrew commented: “Every year, millions of British people, either disabled
Launched by the Disabled Living Foundation, the Alf Morris Fund for Independent Living was set up to honour a man who made a difference to the most vulnerable members of society. This Fund will help people find out about the resources available to keep them independent, and to help them make choices. Its purpose echoes Alf’s vision, in his own words, “adding life to years” rather than just years to life. Ticket prices star t at £25 with concessions available. Guests can attend a drinks reception before the lecture at 6.00pm, with a celebratory dinner afterwards at 8.15pm in the Pullman St Pancras Hotel. All monies raised are donated to the Alf Morris Fund for Independent Living. ■ To buy a ticket, please call 020 7432 8006, email alfmorrislecture@dlf.org.uk or visit www.alf-morris-lecture.org.uk
for OTAC Trish Sweeney, Director of Viva Access Ltd commented: “It was brilliantly attended and a great atmosphere.” The event is scheduled to take place across the country in 2016 with conference’s planned for Reading on 11 April and in Newcastle on 7 December. The success of OTAC Cardiff has resulted in over 80% of the stands being booked for OTAC Reading in April. To find out more please visit www.otac.org.uk or to register for your free place visit www.eventbrite.co.uk and search ‘OTAC’. ■
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what’s new
Supporting Recovery Through Outdoor Adventure
T
he Lake Distric t C alver t Trust, a residential centre that delivers challenging outdoor adventure for those with disabilities, is launching a new service in 2016. Combining the therapeutic benefits of challenging outdoor activities with professionally delivered rehabilitative support, their new residential courses are for those recovering from acquired brain injury or stroke. They have 40 years’ experience of working with disabled people, this new service delivers a structured programme of physical activity, cognitive skills development and social interaction, all delivered by qualified instructors and occupational therapists and in the beautiful surroundings of the Lake District. Their centre and facilities are all fully accessible and residents will also get the opportunity to use the on-site sensory room and hydrotherapy pool through the course of their stay, as well as using all the communal areas for further socialising and rehabilitative activities.
2016 Course Dates: • Monday 4th to Friday 8th April • Monday 10th to Friday 14th October • Monday 14th to Friday 18th November Prices • Service User with carer* £829 • Service User only £549 These prices include all activities, therapy sessions and catering. To find out more details on the structure of this recovery support program and to discuss your requirements, please call them direct on 017687 72255 or check out their website www.calvert-trust.org.uk/lake-district/supportingrecovery. ■ *All service users with personal care needs MUST attend with a friend, relative or care worker. Carers will receive full board and accommodation and have access to all the facilities at the centre in the evening. They must be present with the service user at all times, but will not personally take part in day activities.
Call for Papers The PMG Conference are calling for abstracts for the 2016 Conference to be submitted by 31 January 2016. If you are interested in presenting a free paper or parallel session at the Conference you can find guidelines for submission and all relevant details at www.pmguk.co.uk
10 www.
This year The PMG Conference will take place from 18-20 July at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham. The event offers three days comprising a comprehensive educational programme, industry exhibition and networking opportunities for all delegates. The event
generally focuses on the posture and mobility needs of wheelchair users and is relevant to all professionals working in this area, with much of the content being transferable to other complex seating needs. ■ For more information visit www.pmguk.co.uk
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Patterson Medical best selling Days walking rollators 102
103
100 Series
105
106
Now with 3 year warranty The 100 Series aluminium frame ensures a combination of lightweight design and robust build quality with a maximum user weight of 165kg (26st). The range is now available in 6 attractive colours.
165 kg
3
26 st
Maximum User Weight
Year Warranty
102
6
Ruby Red
Blue
Quartz
Russet Orange
Key Features
Small
A
Width betw een arms > 460mm
Now with a 3 Year Warranty – The robust 100 Series is made from tough materials to stand up to the rigours of everyday use. For added peace of mind the range is now supplied with a 3 Year Warranty
C
155 - 180cm 5´1 - 5´11˝
150 - 175cm 5´0 - 5´9˝
Available in 6 attractive colours Seat Wid > 350m th m
105
Purple
Colours Available
103
X-Small
Racing Green
106
Medium Large
Overall Width
epth Seat D mm > 320
Ergonomic Handgrips & Adjustable Height Handles with 5 settings at 25mm intervals
B
Loop Lockable Brakes provide added security and convenience. The brake tension can also be easily adjusted to suit your requirements
175 - 200cm 5´9 - 6´5˝
168 - 188cm 5´5 - 6´2˝
> 620m m
D
Available in four sizes to accommodate a range of heights and builds
All models share the dimensions above
Folds Easily for Storage or Transport – Simply fold together by pulling the strap on the sea
A
Handle Height 775 - 875mm 30½ - 34½˝
Handle Height 780 - 900mm 30¾ - 35½˝
Handle Height 840 - 940mm 33 - 37˝
Handle Height 875 - 995mm 34½ - 39¼˝
B
Seat Height 500mm / 19¾˝
Seat Height 535mm / 21˝
Seat Height 565mm / 22¼˝
Seat Height 620mm / 24¼˝
C
Backrest Height 750mm / 29½˝
Backrest Height 800mm / 31½˝
Backrest Height 800mm / 31½˝
Backrest Height 870mm / 34 ¼˝
Ordering Information 102
103
105
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Wheel Diameter 150mm / 6˝
Wheel Diameter 200mm / 8˝
Wheel Diameter 200mm / 8˝
Wheel Diameter 200mm / 8˝
Ruby Red
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Product Weight 6kg
Product Weight 7kg
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165 kg
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For further details contact Paul Smith, National Account Manager for Community Equipment on: Tel:
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COLUMNIST
Kate Sheehan
Kate is the Director of The OT Service; the company 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 their handpicked network of occupational therapists. For more information email kate@theotservice.co.uk
I love toilets
I
am often found on holiday and trips checking out accessible toilets and critiquing their design, product choice and usability, much to the embarrassment of my family.
As a toilet geek, I know that the average UK toilet height is 400mm to the rim of the pan and the seat adds an additional 20mm, making a combined height of 420mm, this height was developed in the 1880s by the ceramics industry when the population was approximately 200mm shorter than we are today. Therefore for most of the UK population the average toilet is too low, which is probably why we spend a lot of time raising them! Going to the toilet is an essential activity of daily living and we all do it. As with many things in life, everyone is different ,this applies to how many times we go to the toilet, for most people, normal frequency is about six or seven times in a 24-hour period, yet between four and 10 times a day can also be seen as normal1. We must remember that going to the toilet is a complex activity and we need to be able to have the physical ability to access and use one. This task can therefore become difficult if our hand dexterity, eyesight, standing and sitting balance and strength are impaired. So, we must remember to do a complete activity analysis of how our clients use their toilet as we each carry out this activity differently. When doing the task we must never neglect to address the ‘use of’ the
toilet, such as lifting the lid, accessing the toilet paper, holding toilet paper or cleaning ourselves, or indeed how our clients can clean their own toilets as these are parts of the activity that often cause considerable anxiety and stress.
I once visited a male client who was struggling to get onto the toilet, on discussion I could not work out why the task was difficult until, he showed me a ‘dry’ run. On entering the bathroom he moved towards the toilet, lowered his trousers and pants independently, straddled the toilet and sat down facing the cistern, I think I disguised my surprise very well, causally asking why he sat facing the wall, he stated he was one of eight boys and his mother was fed up of cleaning pee off the floor so made all the boys face the wall and sit to have a wee. So, on reviewing the activity analysis, he struggled to abduct his hips far enough to straddle the toilet without physically struggling and in extreme pain, so we discussed the options and he decided to just turn around and sit on the toilet in a more conventional way, and it worked! However we did have to also arrange for the re-positioning of the toilet roll holder so he could easily access it. Never assume you know what a client does on their toilet, remember an activity analysis is a crucial part of the OT assessment process and that we are all unique in the way we carry out our activities of daily living. ■ 1. www.bladderandbowelfoundation.org
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ERGOSPACE When every millimetre counts ERGO Standard
ERGO Space
The compact ERGO Space seat is designed for Curve stairlifts on narrow staircases, where space is at a premium. The ERGO Space seat wraps around the user’s body, positioning the back just 50mm from the wall - 60mm closer than on the regular ERGO. In addition, the Space backrest is shorter than the standard ERGO seat, eliminating any clash with the user’s shoulder blades.
110mm
By seating the user further back towards the wall, any potential overhang of the feet or knees is reduced. Essential space is reclaimed, allowing safe operation of the stairlift.
50mm
In some situations, a user with short legs may find it difficult to flex the knee over the edge of the chair, resulting in the leg being unable to reach the footplate.
ERGO Space with Plus Pad
ERGO Space (user has short legs)
The specially designed ERGO Plus pad features a contoured edge, allowing the user’s upper legs to angle down and their feet to rest on the footplate. Adopting this more natural and secure seating position can save 25mm. For more information on the Platinum ERGO Space seat, visit
50mm
50mm
www.platinumstairlifts.com
or call 01535 631177
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Music therapy
The sound of music
T
he power of music can affect us all; tearing up at your favourite sad tune, remembering the song playing during your first dance at your wedding, or what was number one in the charts the day your child was born. But it can also provide an array of benefits to your well-being. Music therapy is a specialised approach to using music in order to support and encourage physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. Nordoff Robbins have been transforming lives using music therapy throughout the UK for 40 years. Music therapists are skilled practitioners, regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). They are trained to use the innate qualities of music to help people who face many challenges through illness, disability or life circumstances. This is possible because every human being has the ability to respond to music, irrespective of illness, disability, age or cultural background. Music therapy uses this connection to
facilitate positive changes through engagement in live and often improvised musical interactions between client and therapist. No single course of music therapy is the same, because all the individuals that music therapists work with are unique. Sessions can be one-to-one, or in small or large groups. Sometimes family members, friends or carers get involved. The work can involve playing different instruments, singing, movement, writing songs or even performing. Music therapists frequently work as members of multi-disciplinary teams in health, education or social care to deliver integrated support to vulnerable adults and children. “Music therapy is all about the relationship between the individual and the music.” Says David Robinson, Regional Manager, Nordoff Robbins. “Musical participation and response does not depend on the ability to speak, so music therapy is a particularly effective clinical intervention for people who have difficulty communicating verbally, or who are › www.
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Engineered to meet the performance needs of the most active user
*The Q6 Edge® 2.0 with TRU-Balance 3
iLevel 10” Seat Lift at 3.5 mph
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Interchangeable panels
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A revolutionary redesign to the industry renowned Q6 Edge®, the new Q6 Edge® 2.0. Featuring the R-Net control system, and an optional upgrade to the new QLogic 2, which enables simple usability and a quicker interface. The Q6 Edge® 2.0 is a versatile powered solution, which can be configured with the highly adaptable TRU-Balance® 3 Seating System, and benefit the driver, to suit their needs.
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› dealing with issues that cannot easily be expressed with words.
“It can help develop and facilitate communication skills, improve self-confidence and independence, enhance self-awareness and awareness of others, and improve concentration skills. “ Music therapists can work with many thousands of people living with a range of conditions such as autism, dementia, poor mental health, learning disabilities, neurological damage. In some cases, people receive music therapy as part of their palliative care. All of these people have one uniting factor - their quality of life can be dramatically improved through the specialised use of music as therapy. When asked about a success story, David found it hard to choose. “There are many thousands of success stories every year across the country in settings ranging from special needs schools to dementia care homes, from hospitals to day centres and from prisons to hospices. For example, children with multiple learning difficulties can develop emotional, social and communication skills. Someone with an acquired brain injury as the result of an accident can be helped to rebuild their self-confidence and sense of independence. A person dealing with the isolation of increasing dementia can, through music, rediscover the comfort of emotional connections with other people.” Since its humble beginnings, research has been at the heart of the Nordoff Robbins music therapy concept. Their research is directed by and feeds back into their daily work. The Nordoff Robbins research and learning resource centre is available for practitioners and researchers online. The charity has been training music therapists since 1974. As well as masters-level programmes they offer instructive short courses and workshops open to everyone interested in learning more about music therapy. There are an infinite number of ways that music can help someone; it’s worth thinking about not only how music therapy can benefit someone you know, but perhaps how you can integrate it into your everyday life. ■
Drake Music Across the UK there are other charities that use the principle of music to help develop people’s skills. Drake Music are leaders in music and disability, working with an experienced and highly trained team of over 40 associate musicians, artists and technologists to deliver their programmes throughout England. They have been pioneers in the use of assistive technology to make music accessible for over 20 years, where they have developed innovative and imaginative approaches to teaching, learning and making music. Their work includes education workshops for children and adults, training and consultancy for professionals working in the education, arts and charitable sectors, artistic development programmes for disabled musicians, as well as major research into new accessible technology. As a charity Drake Music aim to increase participation in music-making at all levels, helping to break down disabling barriers using technology, they look to create opportunities and instruments that make music fully accessible with the hope to one day have a world where disabled and nondisabled musicians work together as equals. Drake Music’s approach to music includes partnership working, with a broad range of individuals and organisations including: schools, universities, arts organisations, local authorities as well as musicians and artists from all sorts of disciplines. ■
If you think that someone you know could benefit from music therapy, or you’d like to learn more; you can visit the
For more information on the work they do visit
Nordoff Robbins website, www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk for
www.drakemusic.org
answers to some FAQ’s as well as a referral form.
www.
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Product focus The independent living sector is filled with amazing innovations to help people live more independently. Every issue we will bring you a selection of products, from daily living aids to major mobility products, that make life a little easier for those who need it.
Wheelchair Track This rubber Roll Out Trackway for wheelchairs covers a range of surfaces including grass, gravel and other uneven surfaces for easy and safe wheelchair and pedestrian access.
Super-Bariatric Commode The Super-Bariatric Commode is just one of more than 80 new plus size products in Cefndy’s debut YESS!! range. ‘YeSs’ stands for ‘Your Equipment SIZE Solution’ and all products, including the product pictured, take 50 stone/318kg. Cefndy maintains that the term ‘Bariatric’ has become too generic and the focus needs to shift back to the patient and the issue of finding appropriately sized equipment for the ultimate patient comfort. ‘Bariatric’ does not fit all Plus Size patients. There are many shapes within the Plus Size Group and each shape presents different challenges. One such example is Bulbous Gluteal, where the gluteal shelf causes seating alteration. In recognition of this, Cefndy offers an Adjustable Back option, as seen in this product, so allowing for an optimum toilet seating position.
Easily cleaned, rolled up and stored for convenience, this versatile wheelchair mat can also be trimmed to length, ideal for fitting around steps, flowerbeds and downpipes, is easy to install and is a low maintenance, cost effective solution from expensive construction work. This incredibly hard-wearing product is ideal for outdoor areas, providing exceptional performance throughout its lifecycle, withstanding extreme temperatures and all types of weather and elements and won’t lift up or displace in windy weather. The mat is
also manufactured with an open-hole grid format that is designed to allow rain and surface water to drain away freely, so it is perfect for the unpredictable British weather. This rubber matting offers great value for money over its lifespan due to its higher quality, durability and anti-fatigue properties, making it an ideal solution for safe passage on uneven surfaces for both wheelchair and pedestrian users alike. Length 1500mm - £139 (£166.80 including VAT) Length 2500mm - £189 (£226.80 including VAT) Length 5000mm - £359 (£430.80 including VAT). ■ Slingsby, 0800 294 4440 sales@slingsby.com www.slingsby.com
Super Bariatric then sits alongside Cefndy’s Mediatric™ and Bariatric products, giving three width solutions that are off-the-shelf. This is a significant advantage for prescribers as often, Plus Size patients require bespoke solutions. Be sure to find out about the three size options that form the YESS! range. ■ Prices available on request Cefndy, 01745 343877, www.cefndy.com cefndy.sales@denbighshire.gov.uk
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product focus
The Melrose
The Melrose offers a unique combination of tilt in space and independently controlled back recline and leg elevation. This enables carers to constantly adjust the users’ position to relieve pressure and provide all-day comfort. Features of The Melrose include three positional adjustments, a variety of back comfort supports, a choice of pressure cushion and the sizes are easily adaptable to each users’ needs. D Rings are fitted as standard. They enable the lap strap to be connected. The seat width can be adjusted by removing and interchanging the arm pads to fit the seat to the user. There are two sizes of arm pads that allow the seat depth to be adjusted. There is a wide and varied selection of colours that The Melrose is available in, including, beige, green, blue, red and black. ■ Prices available on request Repose, 0844 7766001, info@reposefurniture.co.uk www.reposefurniture.co.uk
MP5 Ultra Medpage Limited have launched a new epileptic seizure monitor. The Medpage MP5 ULTRA is extremely user-friendly, and was developed to provide seizure detection from a broader range of seizure using high specification motion sensors, combined with analytical computer software that accurately determines if a person is having an epileptic seizure while in bed. Extensive research into seizure type characteristics provided data which, was used to develop algorithms to calculate and identify the regular sleeping movements of a patient. Non- typical seizure movement is ignored by the motion sensors, virtually eliminating false alarms in all bed type/patient trials. The MP5 ULTRA provides selectable pre-programmed seizure type detection modes as well as manual adjustment and setting save function. ■ Prices from £439 +VAT Easylink, 01536 264 869, sales@easylink.co.uk www.easylink.co.uk
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product focus
Arabian Bandaging Stool
The Arabian stool is designed for use by nurses and care staff who deal with clients who need dressings/bandages applied to the full length or part of the leg. It is designed to lift one leg at a time using one or both of the two horizontal actuator driven pads, this allows easy access around the complete circumference of the limb. Community nurses and other healthcare professionals have a recurring problem when it comes to cleaning, dressing or bandaging the leg. Often the legs are heavy due to conditions such as Lymphoedema. The bandaging
requires up to four layers and prior to application the leg needs to be cleaned. Supporting the swollen or infected leg is difficult as the patient will need to have either one of them raised for up to one hour and will often require two nurses. Using the horizontal pads during bandaging allows the limb to be supported, reducing the need for two nurses. With bandaging needing to be done regularly, using the Arabian stool can result in a significant cost and time saving. ■ Prices available on request Centrobed, 01233 635353, sales@ centrobed.com, www.centrobed.com
Typeassist and Typeassist+
New iPad app and Windows software from Assistive Control. Typeassist’s very simple screen layout suits users with a wide range of disabilities who are looking for an easy to use programme for typing and speech support. It is ideal for anyone with limited dexterity, needing to use far fewer keystrokes to get your message across than a keyboard with a traditional layout.
Typeassist users can ‘type’ and ‘speak out’ text quickly and in comfort and all the features can be accessed directly from the onscreen keys. It’s really easy to set up and get started, with no lengthy instruction manuals and no need to be computer literate.
including a “Beginners” programme, useful for younger users or those still developing their literacy skills. ■ Typeassist - £19.99 Typeassist+ - £59.99 Assistive Control 01886 884 188
Typeassist+ offers a wider range of editing and customising options,
enquiries@assistivecontrol.com www.assistivecontrol.com
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product focus
The Nimble
We discovered this clever little gadget at The OT Show last year and were very taken with the simple and innovative design. Simon the designer, came up with the Nimble when entering a competition (If Only Competition by Bath University) where older people and those with disabilities had submitted videos explaining their everyday difficulties. A main problem that kept cropping up was opening food and drink packages from around the house. The Nimble was originally designed to combat this difficulty with the older generation and those with any dexterity issues. Further into the product testing, they found that people were using it for other things such as a page turner and a wrapping paper cutter. Its multi-use meant that it became a go-to item for
will open neatly and easily.
anyone that just gets annoyed opening finicky packaging such as parcels in the post and even pasta packets that happen to explode on opening. It looks just like a thimble and houses a tiny, ultra-hard, ceramic blade that is sharper than steel and it won’t rust. However, it will not cause any serious injury as it is such a small blade and it is a great replacement for scissors and sharp knives. To use you simply place it on your finger and score along the packet and it
It has been tried and tested thoroughly by people young and old, disabled and able-bodied, to ensure it is the best it can be and since launching in April 2015 it is proving to be a firm favourite in households across the globe. ■ Prices from £8.99 Nimble, 01509 387030 hello@version22.com www.version22.com
Everyday Activity Seat The Leckey Everyday Activity Seat provides the perfect solution for children and young adults with moderate needs who require pelvic stability but do not need the same advanced level of support as those with complex needs. This new updated version of the Everyday Activity Seat offers clients the same great postural stability as before, supporting function and the opportunity to do everyday things such as eating, reading and socialising, but it is now available in new fabric options. Clients can choose between soft fabric and vinyl, with options available in a range of great coloursblue, green, raspberry and grey. The new fabric options offer further benefits such as a focus on comfort, durability, easy cleaning and resistance to many stains. Leckey knows that every client is different and the design updates to the Everyday Activity Seat offer clients more choice allowing them to pick a fabric and style that best suits them and their individual tastes and personality. Nevertheless, the extensive range of accessories available for the Everyday Activity Seat allows you, the therapist, to meet your client’s postural needs. The Everyday Activity Seat brings both style and substance. ■ Prices available on request, Leckey, 0800 318265, www.leckey.com
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Product focus Adam Ferry/UK Therapy Services Adam Ferry is an occupational therapist both in the statutory and independent sectors. He is the co-founder of UK Therapy Services and specialises in adult rehabilitation services. With combined experience of over 30 years, UK Therapy Services provides an independent company specialising in providing high quality occupational therapy assessment, rehabilitation and consultancy packages for
Care-ability Easy-Slide sling applicator Recently, I was involved with a case which involved some complex moving and handling issues, including client weight, shape and more crucially an isolated rural environment in which it was difficult for care providers to offer more than one or two carers per visit. The issue I had was sling application and although I considered many options to minimise the carer need, the issue continually returned to how a very limited number of carers could apply slings safely and comfortably for all parties without impacting on other high risk areas such as tissue viability. I contacted Care-ability for advice and they provided an in-house demonstration and trial of their Easy-Slide sling applicator. The Easy-Slides’ are low friction sliding boards which work in pairs to enable application of slings effectively and efficiently. The results were extremely positive, allowing for not only a reduced care package but in this case maximising the client’s independence due to their ability to be supported with sling placement, thus empowering and providing increased comfort.
the private, statutory and business sectors. In this regular article Adam will explore and review products he experiences in practice, giving insight and reflection to those who it may benefit. ■ You can contact Adam on adam.ferry@ uktherapyservices.co.uk or visit www. uktherapyservices.co.uk for more information.
Easy-Slide, a more active user can push or shuffle himself backwards in the chair, into a correct and comfortable position. With a non-ambulant user, the Easy-Slide can be used as a low friction surface to enable a sling to be fitted with minimal effort. The sliding boards are small with soft, round edges and smooth surfaces making them very easy to place and remove and to always have readily available. The Easy-Slide boards are available in two sizes and are sold in pairs. The small size is £65 per pair, the large is £90 per pair and a full set which comprises one large pair and two small pairs are £180. Multiple order discounts do apply. ■ For more information see www.care-ability.co.uk
approved By ad am ferry
What Care-ability say: Easy-Slide oval is a sliding board which is used for supine transfers from one bed or stretcher to another but also for positioning higher up in the bed. Due to their flexibility and low friction construction, Easy-Slide oval can also be used to assist placement of a lifting sling both in the recumbent and in seated positions. The smaller version of the Easy-Slide are used in pairs to facilitate positioning further back in a chair. Using www.
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a day in the life
A day in the life of... Debbie Bissell (left) and Rosie Goy (right)
are independent OTs who formed a partnership, LD-OT Consultancy. They offer specialist OT consultancy/ professional assessment and opinion in relation to clinical needs. They are both currently privately practising within a large local authority completing comprehensive specialist assessments to ensure needs are met and the correct level of support is provided. They are both trained Secretary of State best interest assessors which compliments their specialist role. They both provide specialist advice to the CQC when required.
What made you want to become an OT?
my OT skills, and she was absolutely right.
Debbie: I had worked as an OT Technician in the 80s at Moxley Hospital, Sandwell, when qualified OTs were few and far between. After getting married and having a family I returned to OT work in mental health and decided to complete the course. Rosie: I remember from a young age, a family member having OT as part of their rehabilitation, and it was incredible the difference it had made to their life. I later studied via an in-service course whist working as an OT Assistant in a local social services department. One of my placements was in a Community Learning Disability Service and that generated my interest in working within this area.
Describe a typical day...
What drew you to your particular area of work? Debbie: I went into learning disability OT quite by accident. After leaving an OT addictions post I decided to try something different. I actually expected it to be a stopgap. I loved the variety offered in LD. From equipment to skills assessments to sensory processing assessing. I worked with a fantastic integrated team alongside great social care practitioners Rosie: I was encouraged by a Head OT to join their service as a basic grade within a community learning disability team. I remember she told me it would be an area within which I could utilise all of
Debbie: Check emails before leaving home followed by going into the office to liaise with social workers. Clinical advice given and assessments booked. Home visit to assess clients abilities and needs. Rosie: Like Debbie, I generally start the day with checking my diary/emails and making calls to confirm appointments, etc. I like to carry out joint visits with my Social Work colleagues wherever possible, so as to ensure a thorough assessment of the person’s needs within their usual environment. Due to many of the people we work with not able to engage in the assessment process, it is important that we meet with their carers. I give my advice and recommendations verbally to allow for timely implementation and later document this formally. On other days, I support other social workers and OTs with technological solutions to support their assessments.
What is your favourite part of the job? Debbie: Meeting clients and carers who also do a hard job. Sharing experiences and ensuring clients have the correct assessment and correct needs met. Rosie: Seeing our service users gain more life satisfaction and knowing you had a part to play in that. â– www.
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22/12/2015 14:20
New APP
GoalAssist
Charity, Disabled Living Foundation (DLF), have produced a clientcentred app to support OTs during assessments.
D
LF have spent the past year working on GoalAssist; an app with a variety of features with the aim of helping occupational therapists. Vanessa Butler is an OT who helped with the development of the app and discussed her role and her thoughts on how it will be of benefit. How did you get involved in the DLF project? What sort of involvement did you have with the app? When I was an occupational therapy student I made regular use of the resources that DLF have on offer, be it in my academic work or when on placement. When I graduated and was browsing the job scene, I was delighted to find that they were recruiting for an occupational therapist. Naturally, I was drawn to the position. I came to find that DLF are involved with other projects in which occupational therapists are directly involved in, so having the support of other OTs was very supportive for my work on GoalAssist. I was mainly involved with inputting the advice into the app. It all relates to a goal, technique, equipment, safety precaution or signposting which then is related to 12 different sections which range from dressing and personal care to shopping, telecare and memory aids. The information used was peer reviewed research and in line with the NHS Information Standard, which is a certification programme for all organisations producing evidence-based health and care information for the public. The main beauty of GoalAssist is the vast amount of information that the occupational therapist has access to, that they can provide to the client at the click of a button. The occupational therapist can choose to input their own unique advice and images onto any part of the handouts, making them as client-centred as possible.
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The app has a variety of different features; the main one is that the occupational therapist can create personalised advice handouts for a client. All the information is accompanied by step-by-step images and there are over fifty videos for the client, carer or family member to refer to, especially when the occupational therapist is not with them as it offers them another visual tool of reference. The occupational therapist can send text message reminders from the app to the client, carer or family member to remind them to refer to their handout when carrying out their activities at home. Emails can also be sent – so if the occupational therapist wanted to update the information on the handout they can send it via email to the client. GoalAssist will help the occupational therapist as it has all the information that we give to clients on a daily basis in one place – so instead of just verbally telling the client the correct techniques or giving them a piece of equipment, the client has a document containing information that they can refer to at any time. This makes them more likely to engage in the correct techniques and be aware of safety precautions to increase their independence. The occupational therapist and the client can set goals together and the app
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The app has a variety of different features; the main one is that the occupational therapist can create personalised advice handouts for a client
has a place that these can be input, making them time specific and graded - so the client also has their goal on the handout to refer to as well. Who do you think will benefit most from the app? Primarily, the client will benefit most from the resources that the app produces; they have a handout that they can refer to throughout their reablement period and long after they have been discharged. So, be it the technique or piece of equipment that the therapist may have provided them with, they have information on how it works along with images and of course the video resource which clearly outlines how to carry out the activity – be it using a bath board or a sock aid or a safer technique for getting in and out of bed. GoalAssist empowers the client to achieve their reablement goals. The occupational therapist and the entire reablement team can benefit from this app as they can make use of the information and refer to it for learning about the various pieces of equipment that are available and the correct techniques. The handouts can be made quickly, saving the occupational therapist time on administration. The family members and carers can also benefit from the app as they can refer to the handouts, especially if they were not present for the therapy session, they too can help the client through the guidance of the information provided on the handout.
Do you think the app will be successful? Yes, I think there is a huge gap in terms of the advice that clients are receiving to help them remain independent. The use of computers, tablets and mobile technologies are firmly integrated in society and are now increasingly becoming more commonplace across both healthcare and education – the occupational therapist can use GoalAssist on any or all of these platforms. The app allows the occupational therapist to create a personalised handout in a couple of minutes that the client can refer to before, during and after the reablement process. Initially this app was designed for reablement services and this remains the case, however, from the feedback we have received it is evident that the app has a much wider scope than who it was originally designed for. I can see the app having a place with any occupational therapist working within the older adult sector. I think both occupational therapy students and qualified occupational therapists will find the app a great asset to support their practice ensuring that the patient is getting all the relevant information that they need to enable them to maintain their independence at home and in the community. Having moved onto practice occupational therapy now, I can see a need for an app like GoalAssist that has so many features all in one place. â–
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careflex
CareFlex Competition Changes Lives Since 1995 CareFlex have produced innovative specialist seating in the UK, bringing a wide range of adjustable chairs and chair accessories to the marketplace
A
t t h i s ye a r s’ OT S h o w C a r e f l e x offered visitors to the stand a chance to win a SmartSeatPro chair, which could be donated to a person/charitable organisation of their choice.
their previous roles and activities as possible.
Phillipa Shaw is an OT at Daniel Yorath House (DYH) in Leeds, which is part of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust and was delighted to be the winner of the most flexible chair on the market.
The SmartSeatPro, which Phillipa has donated to a gentleman named Ian, is unique to CareFlex. The multiadjustable back has three upper backrest components, which can be altered in height, depth, angle, offset and rotation, to suit a user’s needs. Each of these upper elements includes built-in adjustable wings, which can be individually positioned to contour the seat back to the user’s shape.
Daniel Yorath House is a specialist neuro-behavioural rehabilitation centre for people with an acquired brain injury. Opening its doors in 1992, DYH was one of the first assessment and rehabilitation centres
Ian, is a 52 year old gentleman who sustained a brain injury during an assault in 2013. He is now wheelchair dependent and subsequently, seating and pressure relief are of high importance for him.
for brain injury in the UK and offers a range of flexible rehabilitation options within a modern and comfortable environment.
Phillipa Shaw is Ian’s occupational therapist at Daniel Yorath House and she has been researching specialist seating options for him since his admission in October. Upon winning the Careflex SmartSeatPro, Phillipa was ecstatic and instantly thought of Ian and the genuine difference it could make to his quality of life.
The House specialises in the assessment and rehabilitation of people with an acquired brain injury and complex needs such as cognitive, physical and/ or emotional difficulties, including physical and verbal aggression, impaired social functioning and disinhibited behaviour. Specialist rehabilitation is based on a neurobehavioural approach and focuses on enabling service users to function more independently, develop their lives as they choose and to participate in as many of 28 www.
When asked about her professional opinion on the importance of correct seating, Phillipa stated that, “achieving a good posture is vital for health and wellbeing. From an occupational therapy perspective, correct seating and posture is a fundamental requirement for increasing independence and engagement in activities.” ■
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22/12/2015 14:33
New Cost Effective Pricing for TRU-Balance® 2 Power options 2 power tilt system
2
2 power recline system
power tilt and recline
Only available with: Q6 Edge / Lightning / Q610 Standard / Q600 Sport TRU-Comfort® Plus / Synergy Seating Systems
TRU-Balance® 2 Power Tilt - Features
TRU-Balance® 2 Power Recline - Features
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14/08/2015 00:20 12:59 22/12/2015
V
irtual bulletin board Pinterest has taken the world by storm; whether it’s your favourite recipes, outfits or interior design ideas, it’s a great way to collate your favourite things and share them with your following, but it can also prove highly beneficial in your professional life; it is a great way to gather your thoughts and ideas and help keep you organised. Pinterest is probably most beneficial for paediatric occupational therapists as it is packed full of amazing ideas and activities for kids, but it is certainly not limited to the younger generation.
Get Pinning! It’s free and super easy to get started on Pinterest. Simply fly over to pinterest.com and follow the prompts to join. You can sign up with Facebook or Twitter; it’s best to connect these as it makes it easier for you to find friends, family members and brands to follow on Pinterest. After you create a profile you can officially get started. The best way to add content from any site is to add the ‘pin it’ button to your web browser. This way it’s so much easier to add a pin to any of your boards.
Paediatric Pinning Top 5 Paediatric OT Blogs As a profession, paediatric occupational therapy, is becoming increasingly technologically savvy. It is increasingly important to have an online presence.
To create your own boards click the ‘Add +’ button in the upper right-hand corner of your main Pinterest page. Select the option to Create a Board. Give your board a good name so your followers know what types of pins they’ll find on it. For example, you could use ‘Fine Motor’ or ‘Gross Motor’ or just about anything you fancy. Similar to Twitter, if someone you follow has posted something you like you can pin that to one of your boards too; just hover over the image where you can repin, like or comment. You can upload your own photos to Pinterest too, just click on the ‘Add+’ button on the upper right-hand corner. We’ve included some ideas on our Pinterest for you to have a look at. Join us at www.uk.pinterest/ theotmagazine. 30 www.
With a record number of students studying occupational therapy, a new generation have all the information they could want at their fingertips. There are endless ideas and suggestions roaming the web and a lot of inspiration is gained from other occupational therapists from all over the world uploading videos and photos of their new and bizarre methods of treating, calming or teaching children. Many occupational therapists hunt online for activity blogs and pin posts to their cyber boards on the popular scrapbooking social media site, Pinterest. Here at The OT Magazine, we have combined some of our favourite paediatric blogs from the web: 1. CanDo Kiddo This insightful blog is brought to you by paediatric occupational therapist, Rachel Coley. Rachel,
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social media
3. The Anonymous OT This enigmatic blog is quite unlike any other. As you can imagine, the site’s host remains a mystery, however, their mission is crystal clear. They have created a platform for parents and professionals of paediatric occupational therapy to congregate and speak freely without fear of reprisal about all things in the field. The site claims: “I want to remain completely uninfluenced, to only offer the most candid advice from my own experiences, whether those have been good, bad, or indifferent.” www.theanonymousot.com
a North Carolina native, has spent nine years in the field and five of those have been spent solely focused on infants and toddlers. It explains on her website: “CanDo Kiddo makes playing with your baby simple with kiddo-tested activities from a child development expert-turned-mommy. And we’ve taken one of the most basic, yet beneficial pieces of baby gear - a blanket on the floor - and turned it into a resource with 45 play activities for the first four months of life.” www.candokiddo.com
2. Mama OT A California-based occupational therapist, Christie Kiley, is first and foremost a loving mother, who three months after her baby was born, started out her life as a paediatric OT. With a vast background knowledge in diverse subjects she concentrates on writing for people involved with child rearing. Christie says: “I have an additional background in gymnastics, psychology and education. MamaOT.com is a place where I am dedicated to encouraging, educating, and empowering those who care for children.” www.mamaot.com
4. The Playful Otter This site is devoted to fun, play and games. Almost all paediatric occupational therapists will agree that toys and games are vitally important to the development and success of therapy when it comes to young minds. The blog is full of ideas and reviews of games that OTs can use in their sessions and is presided over by Kathy Hanson. Kathy says: “As an avid game player and occupational therapist who works with children, teens and young adults, I use games and toys almost every day to help promote healthy development. Just go play. It’s good for you!” theplayfulotter.blogspot.co.uk
5. Your Kid’s OT This blog is brought to you courtesy of Australian OT, Cindy. Her strategy is very different to most OTs. She strongly believes in incidental learning. She helps other therapists, parents and children find ways to promote a healthy lifestyle, a productive learning scheme and continuous therapy in situations in everyday life. Cindy explains that: “A simple walk around the block can be a lesson in colour and number recognition, counting, turn taking, waiting, as well as, gross motor opportunities for hopping, skipping or bike riding. I love finding ways to encourage a child’s development in their natural environment.” ■ www.yourkidsot.com
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Don’t move,
H
ome is where the heart is. Everyone has a special connection to their home, whether you have lived in your starter home for a year or you have dwelled in your forever home for fifty years. It isn’t just the bricks and mortar, the view from the living room window or the walk-in wardrobe space in the master bedroom that you come to love; it’s life’s firsts, it’s the community around you, it’s the fun the kids have with their friends in the local park.
When faced with life-altering circumstances, many people become afraid that all of that has been put in jeopardy. Their beautiful home no longer has the room or capacity for a wheelchair or the space for a downstairs wet room. Will they have to relocate? Not always. C3S Modular is a company that specialises in modular housing and modular extensions. These pre-fabricated units are specifically for people who are disabled, who want to remain in their family homestead. The unique company have helped hundreds of families refurbish and expand their houses so as 32 www.
to accommodate for a wide variety of illnesses and disabilities. C3S started over 30 years ago and have assisted countless people since, in all aspects of the extension process. They proved to families and individuals up and down the country that they could live a full and happy life in their home without having to compromise on the house and area they lived in before the circumstances arose that C3S were necessary. Their specialist modular division was set up in 1993 and that’s when the company really began to make a difference. The business has somewhat humble beginnings and never fully intended to crack the modular homes market. The company started by manufacturing small easy-to-deploy bullet and bomb resistant buildings for clients around the world. They have modestly admitted that they built the first Home Living Module almost by accident. The basis of the Home Living Modules is to provide a warm and comfortable extension to any existing home. This quickly installed extension then gives people with restricted mobility a downstairs
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,
MODULAR LIVING
Improve
Making homes accessible by extension
bedroom and/or wet room with completely level access. A spokesperson for C3S, Edward Hartley said: “Our first Home Living Module was a resounding success, but we knew we could build an even better product. Since then we have never stopped improving and 240 plus Home Living Modules later our customers continue to be amazed by the quality and simplicity of what we do. “C3S is a large company which manufactures everything from bespoke bullet proof glass to fitting out luxury buildings around the world. People are always amazed about what a diverse business C3S is yet how we are still dedicated to making every project perfect for each client’s needs. “Without question it is the talented team of people throughout our business. Their experience, knowledge and dedication is why customers keep coming back to us.” Very few companies in the construction industry are prepared to invest time and resources in to developing innovative new solutions for the market. C3S’s Home Living Modules are one example of how they have developed a well-designed and cost-effective solution
which is rapidly gaining traction with councils and registered housing providers around the country. Edward remembers a job that particularly stays in his mind. Edward said: “The one that always sticks in my mind most is when we removed two dilapidated old ‘Homes for Heroes’ bungalows and replaced them both with specially designed brand new buildings, practically in a day. It was complex logistics, but doing it this way saved the residents and local community so much disruption. Both sets of residents were delighted and all the neighbours were in the street for the whole day watching what was going on.” Referrals normally come in to the company by telephone from either family members, occupational therapists or home improvement officers. C3S will then either conduct a home visit and design a suitable solution from scratch or provide a quote off existing plans or sketches. Regardless of the steps taken to move forward, the company don’t charge anything for creating initial plans and giving a quote. Once everyone is happy with the plans and quote they › www.
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MODULAR LIVING
› then deal with any planning permission requirements
before manufacture and installation of the Home Living Module extension. It arrives fully fitted and decorated so you don’t need to do anything more once it is installed. Every little detail is thought of and incorporated in with the unit, “even down to the toilet roll holder,” reminds Edward. One family that has massively benefited from C3S’s Home Living Modules is the Wilkenson’s. Matt is 20 years old and lives with muscular dystrophy. His life was becoming increasingly difficult, the older he was getting and the faster the illness was progressing. His mum, Karen, took charge of his care and explained what having a ‘pod’ meant to her and her son. Karen said: “We used to have to run up to Matt a lot of the time and at the time we had a shower over the bath but because the illness works from the feet up, to lift his legs up over the bath was difficult. He couldn’t have a shower without someone being present in the house, due to the risk of him falling. He is now 20, you can imagine, it was embarrassing for him to ask me, his mum. In all honesty, I used to have to wash his hair, and help him shower. It must have been awful for him at that age. “Now he’s got his pod, he’s a different lad, a totally different lad. He doesn’t have to use the stairs anymore, he’s got his own bedroom, sitting room and wet room. He has his own doorway, he’s got a ramp outside, handrails and a light outside, if he goes out and comes back later. It’s given him a whole new way of life. It’s made such a big, big difference and it blends in very well with the house. As a company they are very good. I had to take away half of my patio but they utilised the patio stones that they needed to take away on the slope, they used them on the path around it so Matt could come round to what was left of the patio. It still blends in. The fact they thought of that was excellent, because Matt would be coming off the path onto the grass, but they utilised all my flagstones. It doesn’t make Matt feel alienated. He can still come into the garden if I’m out with the dog or he can take the dog out there. “Personally, I think that they should be more freely available to people with health issues. C3S came and did the measuring up and explained to me. They were all amazing. When you are having a module put in, you have an outside team and an inside team and they were all brilliant. They were very understanding and didn’t make Matt feel awkward in any way. He doesn’t like being different. They let him choose where the
34 www.
plugs went, the carpet, the colour scheme. I’ve got a very happy son, now. “When people came to visit, like his older brother and sister. Everyone had to go upstairs to see him, we spent a lot of time upstairs, but now we can all be downstairs together, as a family. “When I got the phone call to tell me that it had been granted, I cried. It was such a relief. I was so pleased. “He’s just a happier lad. He’s more sociable, he spends more time with us as a family, he will happily come and sit with me now, in the living room, and he will freely go out in the garden and play with the dog. He joins in family conversations. It’s opened up a whole new world for him. His friends can come round with ease, even if I go to bed, because he has his own door. It’s almost like his own little flat. “I highly recommend them. The company are excellent, they try their hardest to do it in the time that they tell you. Ours was built before the set time, so it was even more perfect. “When it came, it looked like a Lego house on the back of a lorry. It was then lifted up by a big crane and put in place. People on the street were out taking photos. We had to vacate for health and safety reasons, but once it is placed down you can go back in. We just went out for the day, the outside and inside teams were working together, I didn’t want to get in their way. “Personally, as the mother of a disabled son, I think it’s the right way to go forward in the future. I think it would help so many more people, quickly. I don’t think I could have tolerated a normal brick build. As a company they were brilliant. It’s made such a difference to Matt’s life, and mine.” ■ Find out more about C3S Modular at www.c3smodular.com.
-magazine.co.uk
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Product focus
The independent living sector is filled with amazing innovations to help people live more independently. Every issue we will bring you a selection of products, from daily living aids to major mobility products, that make life a little easier for those who need it.
Swivel Seat Deluxe The Swivel Seat Deluxe is an invaluable car mobility aid for use in transfers to or from a car. It has a luxuriously warm and comfortable fleece upper, generous foam padding and a base that turns easily to allow the user to get in or out of seats with ease. The swivel car seats rotation is extremely smooth and requires minimal effort from the user thanks to the use of high quality, low friction bearings between the base and the upper cushioned section. Designed with the user’s comfort and safety in mind, the Swivel Seat Deluxe stays securely in place when in use, giving the user real stability and is ideal for use in a car or on any household seat or chair. To ensure the disabled car seat is always clean, the fleece cover can be removed and washed when required. The Swivel Seat weighs 1.5kg itself and is suitable up to a maximum user weight of 115kg. Only £14.95 with VAT Relief (£17.94 inc VAT). ■ Complete Care Shop, 0845 5194 734, sales@completecareshop.co.uk, www.completecareshop.co.uk
Quickie Shark
Da Vinci Mobility are specialists in handcycles. They make their own range that attach on to people’s everyday wheelchairs, turning the wheelchair into either a manual or electric assist trike. There is probably no better way of someone with a disability keeping fit than handcycling as it provides exercise and stimulation. Handcycling is also
a great leisure activity that allows participation from all the family. Da Vinci, as well as their own range, sell the Quickie range of handcycles including the Quickie Attitude and the Quickie Shark recumbent handcycle. The Quickie Shark RS and RT are the best-selling recumbent handcycles on the market. The Shark’s new
and improved frame allows you to perform at your best and is the first choice of handcycle professionals. The aerodynamic design means it is built for comfort and speed. Handcycle prices start from £1695.00 and recumbent Shark prices form £3,795.00. ■ Da Vinci Mobility, 0151 548 1999 www.davincimobility.co.uk
www.
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Buckingham Crutch Pod This red version of the Buckingham Crutch Carrying Pod has been designed by an occupational therapist to allow those using elbow crutches to easily carry small personal belongings whilst holding both crutches. This practical solution affords the user independence when carrying out simple daily tasks. With its stylish modern design the Buckingham Crutch Carrying Pod easily clips to a variety of positions on the stem of the crutch allowing personal belongings such as a mobile phone, sunglasses, keys, water bottle, or remote control to be carried with ease. The Buckingham Carrying Crutch Pod does not upset the balance or function of the crutches. Priced £8.94 inc. VAT. ■ Complete Care Shop, 01722 675040 sales@completecareshop.co.uk www.completecareshop.co.uk
iWalk 2.0 The first of its kind in the world, iWALK 2.0 is a revolutionary hands-free knee crutch designed to meet the mobility needs of people with nonweight bearing lower leg injuries. It is suitable for conditions including achilles tendon tears and ruptures, broken or sprained ankles, ankle replacement surgery, bunion removal surgery, metatarsal fractures and broken feet, calf injuries, tibia and fibula fractures, heel injuries, and it also works as a temporary prosthetic for below the leg amputees. An iWALK 2.0 hands-free crutch gives you your hands back. Normal crutches rob you of three of your four limbs – the iWALK gives you them back. Walking the dog, cooking, climbing stairs, opening a door, using the phone – all simple tasks that take on a whole new level of difficulty when you use conventional crutches. ■ 0845 056 1069 sales@bearproducts.co.uk www.peglegs.co.uk
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product focus
Lymphediva
Pebble UK are proud to be Lymphedivas’ UK supplier of their amazing range of arm sleeves, and matching gauntlets and gloves, with over 90 different colours and patterns to choose from. It was designed for those who have battled with breast cancer and have been left with lymphoedema, or the susceptibility of swelling in the fingers, hands and arms, due to lymph nodes being zapped during radiological treatments. For many patients, compression sleeves are worn as part of their self-healing or management plan, developed with their doctor or therapist, and until 2007, the only sleeves available were unsightly, thick, beige and bandage-looking. Thankfully, Lymphediva developed
their wonderful range of medically correct apparel, which is much more inspiring for women (Lymphedivas) and men (Lymphedudes) to wear, helping them to feel beautiful, strong and confident. Lymphediva sleeves are made with a 360 degree stretch fabric, which prevents binding at the elbow with improved ‘bend and flex’ movements in a fine knit construction for a thinner, more lightweight fabric. It also features an unscented aloe vera treatment for softness against the skin and a moisture wicking function to
keep skin feeling fresh and healthy at all times. Please call Pebble UK for a Lymphedivas brochure today. Single Gauntlets £40.35-£58.99 Single Gloves £62.50-£88.95 Single Sleeves £54.99-£75.00 Sleeve & Gauntlet/Glove Sets £78.50£139.99. ■ 0800 433 4757 orders@pebbleuk.com www.pebbleuk.com
www.
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product focus
Roomer S Ceiling Hoist The new Roomer S ceiling hoist has an innovative twin-strap design which allows the hoist to transfer a user through a doorway in one smooth action. The elimination of building works required to remove doorheads is a massive advantage, enabling faster, cleaner and more cost-effective installations. The Roomer S can lift up to 220kg and the internal software allows for data download to monitor usage. The Roomer S cassette has convenient on-board lifting controls and features a telescoping spreader bar which will ensure the comfort of every user. The comfortable 3-point sling suspension further enhances the lifting position.
The flexibility of the Roomer S means that it’s a popular choice, offering a budget-friendly solution to OTs across the country. The Roomer S is joined by the HeliQ and the Altair hoists, for a full range of ceiling hoisting solutions. Prices available on request, depending on installation requirements. ■ For a brochure, demonstration or a site survey, call Wealden Rehab on 01634 813388 email sales@ wealdenrehab.com or visit www.wealdenrehab.com
Noozie Noozie is an electric hot water bottle. At 65 degrees the temperature is a cosy, controlled heat that totally eliminates the dangers and risks of burns that arise when filling traditional hot water bottles. It is an ideal product for people suffering from chronic back pain, abdomen pain, sports injuries etc. Rechargeable from the comfort of your bedroom this electric hot water bottle makes it easy to keep warm. It is available in red, purple and blue for £39.95 online. ■ 020 3637 4760 www.nooziecomfort.com
40 www.
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Got a “Plus Size” patient but you can’t find the right size equipment? LAUNCHING 1 OCT 2015
THE “OFF THE SHELF” EQUIPMENT SOLUTION TO ALMOST ALL SIZE PROBLEMS
ENDORSED BY ANITA RUSH, (M.Sc Health Ergonomics, Dip Health Care Studies. SRN. Clinical Nurse – Specialist Equipment).
“No one size fits all, we know that,” says Anita. “While we have to work within the resources we’ve got, you’ve also got to look at the home and housing environment of the particular patient. Cefndy has embraced this daily problem & I am delighted to endorse this off the shelf Plus Size Solution” GET YOUR YESS!! BROCHURE/EQUIPMENT SELECTION GUIDE ASAP!
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Are your chairs FIT FOR PURPOSE? Gail Russell, an independent OT, says, “The pelvis is the foundation to build a stable seating posture. Get the pelvis position correct, or, at least, the best you can, and everything above and below has a better chance of improving.” Poor posture can exacerbate changes in body shape due to adaption of tissues and might impact on body systems. Assessing an individual’s needs for seating can be complex and assessment should be carried out by an appropriately trained individual* Ensure rapid access to seating and plan reassessment on a regular basis*
Pressure ulcers are high on the politcal agenda in the UK, with the treatment costing the NHS between £1.4 and £2.1 billion each year (Posnett, The burden of chronic wounds in the UK, 2008), so it makes sense to choose a seating solution that will greatly help reduce the risk of pressure damage. Avoidance of pressure ulcers is a key outcome for the seated acutely ill individual* CareFlex has over 20 years’ experience in providing high quality seating and you can rely on us for expert, impartial, ethical advice.
* TVS Seating and Pressure Ulcers: Clinical Practice Guideline
Call us now to arrange a demonstration or assessment 0800 018 6440 enquiries@careflex.co.uk www.careflex.co.uk
Because seating does matter to CareFlex
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22/12/2015 16:04
Whirl just got even better book your free assessment today! Quoting OT Magazine
The powered Whirl is a prone stander that enables upright standing into 30° prone. The Whirl promotes excellent symmetry and helps children through to young adults to develop and maintain their ability to weight bear. Core to the Whirl is its unique modular design. Components for the chest, pelvis, knee and feet can all be easily changed without renewing the main frame. Perfect for your child’s growth and standing programme.
• • • • • •
Even greater value for money and more affordable New slimline design gives you even better manoeuvrability Greater height adjustability, perfect for the smallest to tallest child Quick adjustments make set-up effortless Incremental movements of the footrest for accurate footrest positioning New footrest allowing for up to 30° angle adjustments to facilitate standing with subluxed hips
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Support for Life
HTS by Rifton
A complete hygiene and toileting system Bringing you innovative postural support and service products for everyone, whether at home, school, rest or play. Distributors of
Hygienic, simple, affordable and adaptable to most toilets, it’s versatility means it can be used on, over or off the toilet. The optional portability kit means you can also take the HTS on the road. Finally, there’s a hygiene system that solves the toileting challenge - the HTS. Email hello@jiraffe.org.uk today to book your free, no obligation, demonstration. Quote code: HTS-OT16
Visit jiraffe.org.uk or scan the QR code for more product details. How can Jiraffe help you? Call us for a chat on +44 (0) 114 285 3376 or email us at hello@jiraffe.org.uk For all the info visit jiraffe.org.uk
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22/12/2015 00:21
Innovation Awarded
W
ednesday 25 November last year saw occupational therapists from across the UK recognised for their hard work, innovative ideas and dedication to the profession at the inaugural OT Awards, which took place at the Occupational Therapy Show. Coordinated by Jen Gash, founder of OTCoach, she collated a panel of esteemed judges who had the hard task of narrowing down the entries to find some very worthy winners.
The award categories were, OT of the year, Senior OT of the year, OT Assistant/OT Technical Instructor of the year and Service/Innovation of the year. The OT Magazine were proud to sponsor the Service/Innovation award and had the honour of presenting this to an innovative team from East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS). ›
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innovation awarded
› The original team consisted of Sue Tracey (OT clinical
specialist), Rachel Bedwell (Advanced OT), Cheryl Kenyon (Team Leader, Lancashire Care Foundation Trust) and Gail Smith (Paramedic). They were nominated by their colleague Freya Sledding (OT Service Manager), who stated in the entry that following an availability of funding, which presented itself at short notice, the team showed “creativity, bravery and a commitment to reduce harm, increase efficiency and overall provide person-centred care to the frailest and most vulnerable group of our communities.” The team implemented a Falls Response Service (FRS) designed to attend emergency call outs alongside a paramedic to address the increasing demand on urgent care and to avoid lengthy wait times for fallers and unnecessary hospital admissions. We spoke to the team to find out more about the practical aspect of setting up this service and the difference it
• • • •
social or non-medical factors To reduce the number of older people presenting at ED following a fall To reduce demand for Paramedic Emergency Service (PES) ambulance response for low risk incidents that are categorised as green in NWAS To deliver immediate actions to support older people to remain safely at home following a fall To sign-post and/or refer for appropriate short and longer term support services.
How does the partnership work at a call out? FRS operates from a dedicated falls response vehicle. This is an unmarked car with no sirens or blue lights or controlled drugs. The car is equipped with a basic paramedic kit, moving and handling equipment including the ELK lifting cushion, a walking frame, a small supply of ferrules and an information resource pack. The daily team consists of one paramedic and one OT,
The team showed “creativity, bravery and a commitment to reduce harm, increase efficiency and overall provide person-centred care” has made to the lives of those they have helped and the impact it has had on reducing hospital admissions: Where did the inspiration come from to use the funding for attending emergency call outs? Local health and social care organisations (ELHT, NWAS, Clinical Commissioning Groups and Lancashire County Council) had been in discussion previously about a ‘falls pick up service’, but nothing had been formalised. When our acute and emergency services were approaching crisis point during the winter of 2014/15 the scheme was reconsidered as a way of building resilience into the system. Freya Sledding and Sam English (senior managers from ELHT and NWAS) had been involved in the earlier discussions and worked together to initiate the Falls Response Service (FRS). How did you go about setting up the partnership with the response team? Sam and Freya shared a common vision and worked together over two weeks to handpick clinicians and bring the Falls Response Service into action. What were the main aims of this partnership? • To reduce unnecessary hospital admissions due to 44 www.
all experienced clinicians and used to working as part of a team. The response to every incident is led by the paramedic assessment which follows the Pathfinder tool for all patients and utilises the Falls Self-care Pathway when applicable. Only when the patient is deemed to have satisfactory observations and no injury does the active therapy assessment begin, although the therapist is gathering information and reviewing the environment whilst the paramedic assessment is being completed. Together the team reviews balance, mobility and muscle weakness, evidence of UTI or chest infection and indicators of visual impairment or cognitive impairment. The OT reviews the environment and any home hazards and falls risks, as well as, assessing the older person’s functional ability and fear relating to falling. Interventions address immediate need and longer term issues and range from provision of assistive equipment, liaison with relevant healthcare professionals, referral to other agencies to offering advice/information and signposting to third sector organisations. How has this innovative service made a positive impact? In 2014, prior to FRS, NWAS response to green 3 and 4
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From left to right: Sue Tracey (OT clinical specialist), Rachel Bedwell (Advanced OT) and Rosalind Tulloch (editor of The OT Magazine)
calls saw only 30% of patients remain at home. Over a comparable period in 2015 78% of patients FRS attended have remained at home. We have been successful at: • Reducing pressure on ED and avoiding unnecessary admission • Improving capacity for NWAS by freeing up the emergency vehicles and response crews • Faster response time to patients who have had a fall, we have been mobile in under 30mins in 80% of cases, compared to a likely wait of 240mins for a normal emergency paramedic crew to attend • Significant savings in bed days and financially for both partner organisations Has there been positive feedback from patients and colleagues from the response teams? The Occupational Therapy Team that work out of ED commented: “The FRS crew ringing through an in-coming patient is saving us approximately two hours in our assessment time. Professional insight into the patient’s home environment and social situation is particularly useful. It gives us essential information which we might not otherwise receive.” Professionals who have shadowed the team said: “A brilliant service which makes such a difference to the patient.” “Good to see how we can work together to make things better for the patient.”
Feedback from patients was very complimentary too: “Extremely friendly, professional and informative.” “Excellent response from the time of making the call to the team’s arrival.” “I was treated with kindness and respect.” Do you think it has been beneficial in increasing an understanding of occupational therapy? Working together gives completeness to the assessment and generally ensures excellent patientcentred outcomes. The paramedic learns to look at the broader picture in addition to the immediate medical presentation. The OT learns to function in the crisis situation and instigate both immediate and longer term interventions. The paramedic working on the falls car commented: ‘Working with the OT has helped me to look at the whole person and consider what we can do instead of taking someone to hospital. The OT has terrific understanding of the community services and it’s great to be able to access these to ensure the person can stay safely in their own home.’ Is this service set to continue or be rolled out anywhere else? Rachel Bedwell (B6 OT and one of the nominated team) has now been appointed permanently to the Falls Response Service and NWAS have extended the secondment of the paramedic; this means that there is one fulltime OT and paramedic working on the falls car with cover if required from the wider services of OT and NWAS. Commissioners are keen to extend the service to seven days per week. ■ www.
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22/12/2015 14:56
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22/12/2015 00:21
CLEVERSTIX
CleverstiX Child development cutlery
W
hile at the OT Show last year we discovered many new products and innovations. CleverstiX was one product that drew us in with a fun ‘Jelly Bean competition’, which we happily took part in and even got to eat the jelly beans we had managed to pick up with our CleverstiX – always a great way to tempt people to your stand. Designed to help children improve their eating habits, CleverstiX help to make meal times a far less stressful situation, while improving fine motor skills and dexterity. Kevin North discovered CleverstiX when visiting his partner’s family in South Korea. He saw how popular they were and was interested to see that they were not only marketed as ‘Training Chopsticks’ but more
so as an aid to rapidly evolve brain development, handwriting, co-ordination and fine motor agility. They brought some back as gifts for friend’s kids and following some excellent feedback from them Kevin decided to look into distributing them in the UK. Here he shares the benefits of CleverstiX in more depth: How were they developed? CleverstiX are a special ergonomic design based on four key features: 1. The shape of a young child’s hand. 2. Finger Rings. Kids instinctively find it natural to use their fingers (and often therefore find other forms of cutlery unnatural to use). Therefore the product simply fits like an extension of the fingers. 3. No Spring Back. We found that nearly all other tweezer grippers or similar products were › www.
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We found CleverstiX were far more intense in fine motor development because they exercise flexion and extension › spring-loaded with a very limited degree of movement that meant that kids were only exercising the closing movement before the tweezers sprung back into place. In contrast we found CleverstiX were far more intense in fine motor development because they exercise flexion and extension by demanding control of both the closing and opening movements from a maximum of 70 degrees. 4. Wide Tips. Unlike, for example, chopsticks, CleverstiX have larger flat surface area contact points, so they are suitable for all types of food and cuisines – or even for playing fine motor skill games with various non-food objects as many of the OTs we supply have been doing.
Who can benefit from using CleverstiX and how? Parents and teachers who want their children to rapidly develop their pincer dexterity and improve their eating habits. As it states on our packaging: “Enjoy less mess and quieter mealtimes as little ones have fun using intense focus to dine without distraction!” CleverstiX are particularly beneficial for youngsters who struggle with fine motor skills or are easily distracted from their meals. Kids see CleverstiX as a toy but they also demand concentration in order to be able to actually pick up their food, thus creating new engagement with what they are eating. All the while hand strength is advanced so they can successfully use a knife and fork when they later return to them. CleverstiX also teaches good digestive habits by
48 www.
limiting eating to a healthy pace. What feedback have you had from users? The reason we started supplying Paediatric OTs was driven by consumer feedback. We initially launched in the general market, however we received more and more feedback from parents of children with special needs - particularly dyspraxia/DCD and some forms of autism/ASD – which led us also to the SEN market. We became really keen to have the SEN benefits of CleverstiX verified by experts, so we contacted the Dyspraxia Foundation charity for advice. They connected us with some occupational therapists who could evaluate the product. Since then the results of these assessments have been pretty amazing. We’ve received written endorsements from not only professional OT establishments, such as, Skybound Autism Therapies and OT for Kids, but also from CPD coaching specialists Dyspraxia Education and a glowing review from the National Handwriting Association that also appeared in their journal. ■ For more information on CleverstiX call 0203 1433 845 or visit www.cleverstiX.com
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22/12/2015 14:58
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12/16/2015 12:12:17 PM
22/12/2015 00:22
New communication and typing apps now available on the iPad!
Having trouble us a tradit ing ional Qwerty keyboa rd?
Typeassist uses word prediction and just 16 large keys for fast, efficient and comfortable typing, with speech output for all your communication needs. This unique system offers a completely new way to type and communicate and is suitable for users with a wide range of disabilities. Also available as a software download for your Windows PC, laptop and tablet.
To find out more about Typeassist please visit www.assistivecontrol.com Assistive Control | Tel: 01886 884188 | Email: enquiries@assistivecontrol.com
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Childrens
Product focus We take a look at some of the innovative products available for children with disabilities
bObles Donut bObles Donut is a fun, inflatable piece of furniture that allows children to move and play while supporting the development of their motor skills. It’s round shape and elastic material means the Donut can be used for countless activities including rocking, jumping, balancing as well as lounging. It is easy to clean and store when not in use.
The bObles donut is made of inflatable elastic material with a foam knob in the centre, and helps develop motor skills regardless of sitting, lying or standing. You can also visit the bObles website for some cool advice on how to use this fun toy to your advantage, or check out the accompanying products to build your own fun furniture room. ■ bObles Prices from £39.99 info@coolshop.co.uk www.coolshop.co.uk
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childrens products
Oogi The slightly odd, yet colourful, Oogi is a versatile toy made from super soft elasticated silicone and its arms, legs and head are suckers, allowing Oogi to be positioned in endless different postures. It can even be thrown as a game to see who can ‘stick’ him to a wall or surface. Great for encouraging creativity and building fine motor skills. Children can stand, hang, stretch, bridge or swing their Oogi. Oogi can also be used in conjunction with the Bilibo and Mox as previously featured in The OT Magazine. ■ Prices from £19.99 for a set of four Oogi Toyella, 0800 542 6857, sales@toyella.com, www.toyella.com
Terrier Tricycle Theraplay has been designing and manufacturing cycles since 1970 that allow cyclists of differing abilities to enjoy the thrill of cycling. The Theraplay range features 21 cycles in various sizes and styles. The Terrier Tricycle is a rugged trike for children from 4 ½ years. This model has 16” wheels and a caliper brake with a parking brake mechanism. The Terrier
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has a frame folding mechanism option which allows the frame to be folded for transportation and storage. ■ Prices available on request Theraplay 0141 876 9177 info@theraplay.co.uk www.theraplay.co.uk
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The Monkey Specifically designed for younger children, The Monkey by Jenx is a gentle introduction to standing. Offering smooth and easy angle adjustment, even with the child in The Monkey it can go from upright at 90 degrees all the way down to 20 degrees prone. This wide angle range is the perfect way to gradually build tolerance to standing as part of a therapy programme. In addition the outstanding thoracic and pelvic support along with flexible leg positioning make The Monkey a great option for almost every child. Straps fasten in the centre and adjust independently from either side, enabling a mid-line position to be achieved and maintained. Buckles and velcro mean that, once adjusted correctly, the straps can be fixed making it difficult to tamper with. A removable abduction block is provided as standard to help create and support an abducted standing posture. ■ Prices available on request Jiraffe 0114 258 3370 hello@jiraffe.org.uk www.jiraffe.org.uk
Chatter Tracker The chatter tracker will help you to keep the noise level low in a classroom, community centre or therapy room. Using a traffic light method, as the noise gets louder the lights move from green to amber to red. When it gets to red, a siren goes off to indicate that the noise is too loud. This stops as soon as the noise in the room lowers. Operates on 240v transformed down to 12v. ■ Prices from £99.95 (excl Vat) Spacekraft, 01274 581007 enquiries@spacekraft.co.uk www.spacekraft.co.uk
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22/12/2015 15:18
Bathing
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Kingkraft Ltd. 26D Orgreave Crescent, Dore House Industrial Estate, Sheffield, S13 9NQ phone 0114 269069/ fax 0114 2695145 email info@kingkraft.co.uk web www.kingkraft.co.uk
C&S
22 Theaklen Drive Ponswood Industrial Estate Hastings East Sussex TN38 9AZ
seating
01424 853331 info@cands-seating.co.uk www.cands-seating.co.uk
Products designed and developed to aid basic postural management. T Rolls T Rolls are used to control position of the body in supine lying.
The Tomcat SCIENCE CHAIR is designed for ambulant and semi ambulant users with wide ranging disabilities who wish to use a chair independently in the workplace, or in mainstream education. Aged 6 to adult, it is particularly suited to restricted growth and mild to moderate CP.
See our web site for our full range of postural control & support products.
Thanks to the Science Chairs unique design, users get on and off the chair independently; with assistance limited to setup and transport only. It combines excellent postural support with reliable, rugged construction, whilst its office style seating is very comfortable and popular. Its transport base changes from “movable” to “locked” with a single lever action, and it folds neatly for storage.
Alternative Positioning Roll The APR is designed for use where more control of the abducted lower limbs is required.
The Tomcat Science Chair has helped many youngster achieve the very best from their mainstream education and has won the prestigious DTI SMART AWARD for technical Innovation.
Ask for info about the Science Chair: tel: 01452 616900 email: info@tomcatuk.org www.tomcatspecialneeds.co.uk
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12/11/2014 14:14
22/12/2015 16:06
NEWLIFE
Changing Lives Through Equipment Newlife Foundation provides children who have disabilities, life limiting or terminal illnesses and their families with equipment and support, helping to change their lives, often when time is of the essence.
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t the heart of Newlife is the Care Services Team where nurses operate a national helpline to support and inform families, whether they have just been told of their child’s disability or need help accessing local services to support their child. It is through Newlife’s Nurses that families can access grants and loans for essential medical equipment when statutory services are unable to help – equipment including pain relieving beds, wheelchairs, communication aids and much more, which can make a real difference to a child’s quality of life. Specifically Newlife’s free Emergency Equipment Loans ensure children who are at risk, are unsafe or cannot wait, get the equipment they urgently need - in most cases this can be delivered within 72 hours and collected again when it is no longer needed. Newlife also loans Play Therapy Pods that contain a selection of specialist toys that can teach cause and effect and assist with developing skills as well as distracting from pain and distress. They also recognise the importance of quality family time and creating lasting memories, especially when time is short. Their Comfort Capsules have been put together with the help of an expert team in order to provide families with carefully chosen items so that they can make the most of their precious time with their child. One family who has benefited from Newlife’s services is that of two-year-old Holly Shaw. Holly has developmental delay, problems with her hearing and epilepsy, as well as low muscle tone - meaning she is unable to support her own weight or move independently.
Holly’s family turned to Newlife for help in finding a suitable seating solution for their daughter. Holly had the use of a functional chair provided by statutory services, in order to help her develop her sitting balance, but she tires quickly and needed somewhere more comfortable to relax. The only place that she has been able to find some comfort is on the family’s sofa or on her mum or dad’s knee – but with Holly’s younger sister also needing her parent’s attention and household jobs to take care of, this isn’t always practical. Holly’s new P-Pod has been specifically created for children like her who need extra support when sitting. It means that she can now relax in comfort, whilst maintaining support for her posture and reducing the risk of her developing a deformity in her spine in later life. The chair allows Holly to play with her sister and spend time with her family from a Holly Shaw relaxed and supported position and also allows her mum to do jobs around the house, knowing that Holly is safe in her seat. Holly’s mum Amy said: “Having the P-Pod means that we know Holly is safe and supported and it also makes things easier for us at home. Before I would have to sit with her on my knee for hours at a time. Now I know I can wash the dishes and she is safe and happy in her seat. Our other daughter is only one so of course she needs our attention too – it’s great because I can now play with them both together.” ■ 01543 462 777, info@newlifecharity.co.uk www.newlifecharity.co.uk
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22/12/2015 15:15
the OT show
Inspiration and education at the
Occupational Therapy Show N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 5 s aw t h e t h i r d Occupational Therapy Show take place at the NEC, Birmingham. It is the UK’s largest dedicated CPD education and trade event, solely for occupational therapists and last year it attracted over 4000 OTs from all over the country and from a wide range of specialist areas, to educate, inspire and raise the profile for such an amazing allied healthcare profession.
service to users. She challenged the audience to grasp all of the opportunities that arise both in and outside of the profession as this impacts on OTs personally and professionally and would therefore make the indiviudual a better therapist. Helena reflected on her lifetime in occupational therapy and spoke about her positive feelings for the future of the profession, as long as OTs engage with CPD, decision makers and fellow colleagues.
Kate Sheehan, director of the OT Service, has shared her experience of the show here and has highlighted some of the seminars she attended.
Also on day one, Gaynor Sadlo from Brighton University, presented on ‘Neuroscience explains the therapeutic power of occupation’. She demonstrated how during the last decade brain imaging techniques have discovered many processes, revealing that the principles of occupational therapy are supported by neuroscience. How skill development builds brain tissue to change structure and function. MRI studies reveal how skill (especially manual activity) promotes reorganisation of dentrites (synaptogenesis), increased density of supportive glial cells, and increased vascularisation.
There were over 55 hours of accredited CPD education on offer which stretched across four separate streams including: • Physical • Mental health and learning difficulties • Children and families • Innovation in practice and shaping the future.
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On top of this were some high quality exhibitor led sessions in two separate theatres, as well as on stand CPD education from the likes of Handicare, Safespaces, Made2aid and many more, covering a broad range of subjects from core principals of posture management, sourcing suitable products for your client to challenging behaviour and keeping clients safe.
Gaynor discussed how human beings seem to be rewarded, through ancient biopeptides and hormones that all animals experience, for example, when engaging in survival-related eating or mating. However, for us engaging in complex occupations also seems to be rewarded.
With packed theatres over the two days some of the highlights included, on the first day, Helena Culshaw, independent OT and a past chair of the College of Occupational Therapists, who spoke about her 40 years of practice ‘Lifelong Learning - the long and winding road’. Here, Helena expressed learning never stops as it enables OTs to provide the most effective
The hypothesis here is that engaging our true occupational nature brings a form of self-medication v i a s u b s t a n ce s l i k e d o p a m i n e, e n d o r p h i n s, serotonin, oxytocin, and adrenaline, which form our complex reward/pleasure system. For example, the hippocampus (the learning centre) has opiod receptors. It might be that lack of participation in today’s world
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leads people to seek out other substances like alcohol and drugs in an attempt to gain these pleasure-states. As it is now scientifically proved, Gaynor questioned why have OTs turned away from using interventions that promote activity when occupation can reduce stress through re-focus of attention onto the clients activity of choice. Deborah Harrison and Jo-Anne Webb, spoke about the evolving development of manual handling training techniques and a pioneering approach developed by Deborah in collaboration with Salford University and their web based learning training. They presented the findings of the research and how the new approach was proving to be extremely successful in a number of ways. Feedback from students rated highly. Organisations who may use the course material stated it would allow effective monitoring of a carer’s understanding and the client would benefit as the training is more holistic and client-centred. On day two, Michael Mandelstam, packed the theatre to overflowing and enthralled us with his legal mind. He provided the delegates with a succinct and practical overview of statutory responsibilities for the provision of equipment and home adaptations.
The session picked out the key rules and principles, as well as common pitfalls OTs fall into and how to avoid them in the future. He went onto explain how OTs can argue (or clinical reason) cases, to ensure they are legally sound but also have a positive outcome for the client. Throughout the show, practicing OTs spoke about their service developments, how to address the winter pressures (Trudie France, Royal Free), how integration of health and social care can work (Heather Hurst and Margo Mason, Gloucestershire NHS Trust), how falls prevention can be improved with those clients with sight loss (Suzy England, The Pocklington Trust), which inspired, stimulated debate and enthused delegates to go back to their services and innovate. There were also those sessions that enabled OTs to develop careers. Sian Burgess (Derby University) spoke about professional social media presence and the impact it can have and Rachel Wilson (Independent OT) discussed the difference between an expert witness and a practicing OT. The Occupational Therapy Show had an amazing buzz, it enabled professional networking, a chance to reflect on diversity and the remarkable work OTs do. › www.
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the OT show
›
Exhibition An impressive 290 exhibitors filled the hall and offered occupational therapists the opportunity to test out, touch, feel and discuss products and services from every area of the profession. Demonstrations of products took place throughout the day, detailing how specific products can be used, and recruitment companies were on hand to discuss career moves and potential employment opportunities. The Paediatric Trail highlighted the companies who offered products and services for children with disabilities and those who offered support to families. The stands were exuberant and innovative, running competitions and giveaways for visitors, and offering popcorn or pick and mix sweets to entice OTs to their stands. The effort of the exhibitors and the organisers
entries and hosting the ceremony itself. She announced the runners up and winners of each award and shared the work each had done to deserve the accolade. The runners up were presented with a framed certificate and the winners were presented with a comically large cheque for £250, to put towards a form of CPD.
The winners were as follows:
Outstanding OT 1st place Melanie Price - Lead Occupational Therapist for Schools, Royal Free London (Nominated by: Betty Hutchon, Head Paediatric OT) 2nd place Lizeli Olivier, Band 7 OT, DMRC Headley Court (Nominated by: Julie McRann and Jenni DuncanAnderson, OT colleagues)
The winners of the OT Awards being presented with thier cheques for £250 to use for CPD
helped to ensure this was a vibrant and worthwhile show that OTs found enjoyable and educational.
The Occupational Therapy Show Awards The inaugural Occupational Therapy Show Awards took place this year with entries flooding in from all over the country. The awards have been designed to recognise the amazing and innovative work that so many OTs undertake everyday – work that may otherwise go unrecognised. The opportunity to nominate colleagues was welcomed, the shortlist was created and the winners picked. The awards ceremony took place at the end of the first day of the Occupational Therapy Show in the Keynote Theatre and was well attended by nominated OTs, friends, colleagues and sponsors. Jen Gash, founder of OTCoach, was the driving force behind the Awards, coordinating the judging panel, 58 www.
Outstanding Senior OT Award Sponsored by AKW Ltd 1st Place Jacquel Runnalls, Senior Practice OT, London Borough of Waltham Forest (Nominated by: Joan Murphy, Housing Strategy and Implementation Manager) 2nd place Jade Cope, Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist, Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust (Nominated by: Leona McQuaid, Senior OT [on behalf of the Guys and St Thomas Orthopaedic Team])
Outstanding service / innovation Award Sponsored by The OT Magazine 1st Place The team from East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS): Sue Tracey – OT clinical specialist Rachel Bedwell - Advanced OT Cheryl Kenyon – Team Leader Lancashire Care
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Foundation Trust Gail Smith - Paramedic (Nominated by: Freya Sledding [OT Service Manager]) 2nd place Medway Community Healthcare, Rochester Healthy Living Centre: Samuel Lewis, Clare Fagg and Ruth Cadwallader (Nominated by: Carol Campbell, Head of Children’s Strategy)
Outstanding OT Assistant / OT Technical Instructor 1st place Philip Smith, OTA Nottinghamshire County Council (Nominated by: Jean Bates) 2nd place Jason Horeesorun, OT Assistant, Early Intervention in psychosis social inclusion, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (Nominated by: Kerry Palmer-Green) The OT Magazine were very proud to sponsor the Innovation Award and the team from East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust who won the award have shared their story in this issue, to find out more about the work they have been doing turn to page 43. We will be speaking to all the winners over the next few issues, to share the innovative work and dedication that secured them their awards. They may even inspire you to enter the awards this year. Visitors and exhibitors alike had great experiences at The Occupational Therapy Show, here are just a few comments: “I kept hearing about this show so I decided to come and visit myself. Unlike Naidex, this is focused on OTs which means we can concentrate on our own needs. The combination of the seminars and exhibition really works. I’ve been an OT for more than 20 years and it’s easy to think you’ve seen it all until you come to a show like this. You really need to handle products to get an idea of how they can be used and you just don’t get an opportunity to do that in your day to day work. This
show has been hugely beneficial.” Marney Walker, OT, ESCC “Occupational therapists are a core group for Dolphin Mobility and this year’s OT Show was the perfect event for us to launch the new Handi-Move 2800 ceiling motor and SureHands Body Support System. This latest addition to the Dolphin portfolio of hoisting solutions has been designed to fit discreetly in most domestic and care settings and is capable of offering the fastest lifting speed on the market. The feedback we received from OTs over the two days was very positive and we have been busy booking appointments and demonstrations as a result of meetings that took place at the show.” Craig Dunnage, Managing Director, Dolphin Mobility “I’ve only been able to come to this show because it’s free. I work in social services and they can’t pay for us to go to conferences. It’s been helpful in so many ways. The talks consolidate a lot of the learning that we do on the job and it’s been great for networking. My whole team is attending over the two days; it’s the only show we do. Very valuable.” Joanna Neish, OT, Surrey County Council “ The Occupational Therapy Show enabled us to showcase our range of lightweight manual wheelchairs and powerchairs to a significant number of occupational therapists and all the products on the stand were extremely well received.” Mark Duffield, General Manager, Karma Mobility “I’ve never been to an event which specifically targets OTs and I think it’s great. It’s easy to go with the flow when you’re at work, but here you can learn about all the latest innovations while earning CPD. You can only get so much information from product catalogues; I’ve really enjoyed handling the products and learning how we can use them. It’s a great show – I’ve loved every minute of it.” Lisa Snowdon, OT, Doncaster and Worksop NHS Foundation Trust. ■ www.
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DIGNITY BIBS
The functional and stylish solution for older children, teenagers and adults who have difficulties with drooling and dribbling. Hand made in Nottingham, UK BibblePlus Bandana Bibs are available in 4 sizes and come in a range of colours and designs to suit every taste and enhance any outfit. Our new range of practical feeding bibs are perfect for meal times and for those looking for something a little more avant-guard check out our super smart dining bibs
Bibbleplus+
Calvert Trust Exmoor enables people of any age and any disability to experience exciting, challenging, and enjoyable accessible activity holidays with family and friends.
At our five star, fully accessible residential centre on the edge of Exmoor National Park all activities and facilities are specifically designed and equipped to cater for everyone.
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Stay with us for a few days, a week, or just for the day; however long you’re here you’ll discover it's what you CAN do that Counts!
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Revitalising respite holidays for disabled people and carers ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
24 hour on-call nursing care in a friendly holiday atmosphere Brilliant range of themed breaks and live entertainment Exciting accessible excursions Three holiday centres in the UK We work closely with Occupational Therapists, contact us today to discuss your client’s needs
Visit revitalise.org.uk Call 0303 303 0145 Email bookings@revitalise.org.uk
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New 2u0r16e brochow! out n Registered charity number 295072
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respite care
Taking a Break
C
aring is an incredibly demanding job both on your body and mind and it is essential for a carer’s well-being to take some well deserved time off.
Domiciliary care is when someone comes into a home and takes over for a while (for a few hours or sometimes overnight) allowing a carer to take some time to themselves.
Respite care is short-term or temporary care to allow a carer a rest from their normal duties, giving them a chance to relax and recharge.
There’s also residential respite, where the person being cared for is looked after by someone else for a while, either in residential or nursing care or on holiday.
It can also benefit the person being cared for, the standard of their care tends to improve after a break and can also give them the chance to experience fun activities or day trips.
For an occupational therapist, this means recognising when a break is needed and knowing where to signpost carers to. There are several places you can advise on depending on their requirements and what they hope to gain from the trip; is it a chance to relax or is it an opportunity to bond? Think carefully about what they want to gain from the trip, as well as their needs, › especially with regards to equipment.
There are a number of ways that carers can take a break from their caring roles, but a social worker or care manager can help decide what’s best for the situation.
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respite care
›
Revitalise Revitalise is the largest provider of respite holidays for disabled people and carers in the UK. Nobody else in the UK does what Revitalise does. By combining nurse-led care and the support of volunteers with imaginative excursions and activities in a relaxed environment, the charity gives its guests something truly unique – a break that feels like a proper holiday. Revitalise has conducted research into the important role that respite has to play in the caring relationship with some insightful results. 80% of carers said they found feelings of guilt to be a substantial barrier preventing them from accessing respite breaks for themselves and those they care for. As a result, a third of unpaid carers have never had any significant time away since they started caring. In contrast, 100% of carers agreed that taking proper breaks away are vital in sustaining a good relationship with those they care for, with nine out of 10 going on to say that it helped prevent the breakdown of the caring relationship. That’s why, the charity is clear in its assertion that access to good quality respite breaks on a regular basis for disabled people and their carers should be considered an absolute essential in enabling them to feel restored, while helping to sustain a positive relationship between carer and cared for. Revitalise Chief Executive, Chris Simmonds explained: “We must never forget that the majority of carers do what they do out of devotion to the person they care for, but without the lifeline of regular time off, carers risk reaching breaking point and facing the very real risk of becoming sick or disabled themselves. “Our research clearly shows that quality in respite is an absolutely crucial issue for carers. Guilt at letting go is clearly a huge psychological barrier for carers, but we have found that carers’ fears can be eased if the focus is on providing high quality care for their loved ones, combined with a dignified, stimulating environment and the chance to enjoy the company of others.” To find out more about Revitalise, who they support, or their breaks visit www.revitalise. org.uk or call 0303 303 0145.
Homelands Trust Lundin Links based charity, Homelands Trust-Fife offer their purpose-built, fully accessible self-catering lodges and Therapy/Activity centre, providing some much needed respite in many cases. 62 www.
June Grieg stayed at the Trust for five months whilst major repair work was being made to her home, when asked about her stay at Homelands she said: “It was my misfortune to have a house flood in April of this year. The accommodation is magnificent, super beds. Suitable for hoisting and a wet room again with hoist and tracking. Utility room, with washer and dryer. But the best thing is the space, lots of room to move around in my wheelchair. It has been my good fortune to stay here.” The Homelands estate has four wheelchair-accessible lodges, specifically designed to meet the needs of people with a range of disabilities and long-term health conditions. Specialist support equipment, such as ceiling tracking hoists, profiling beds, closo-mat toilets and riser/recliner chairs are provided to ensure all guests’ needs are met; as well as a wide variety of assistive equipment which can be used free of charge such as shower trolleys and shower/ commode chairs, etc. Guests staying at the lodges will not only have easy access to Fife’s stunning coastline they are also able to use the drop-in centre (The Paxton Centre), just a few yards away. The Paxton Centre is open to guests and day visitors alike, providing a wide range of group and individual activities such as seated exercise, health walks and counselling in addition to various other activities and one-off events. To contact Homeland’s Trust 01333 329 039.
Calvert Trust Calvert Trust Kielder offer fantastic respite care for adults with physical, learning or sensory disabilities, who require personal care and support whilst away from home. Accommodation is in single, double or twin rooms in the main centre, with en suite facilities including level entry showers or bathrooms and fitted with specialist equipment such as hoists, grab rails and shower seats. Additionally, several of the bedrooms have five-way profiling beds and a number are fitted with ceiling tracking hoists. All respite care bedrooms have an electronic call system with some offering Vibra alarms for extra reassurance. Guests are encouraged to take part in activities, safe in the knowledge that they will be supported by our professional care and activity teams. Kielder offers an excellent opportunity for both a carer and those being cared for to take a break; without
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concern from either parties about being cared for and having fun in the process. To arrange a visit or find out more, you can contact Calvert Trust Kielder on 01434 250 232 or visit www.calvert-trust. org.uk/kielder
Bupa Bupa also offer short temporary stays in many of their care home facilities. This can be a few days, or as long as six weeks or more. If you need to be cared for or need help with daily living, you might consider a short stay when your usual carer is on holiday or unwell, or if you simply fancy a change of scenery and routine. You may want help to recover from an illness or operation. As a carer, short stays offer you a vital chance to take a break from your day-to-day responsibilities and spend some time looking after your own needs. You can use short stay care on a residential or post-operative basis, or even as a trial visit before a permanent move to a home. www.bupa.co.uk
Further Afield Respite breaks may even be as exciting as a trip abroad, which may be suitable if the whole family wants to join in or a carer wants a break without worrying about compromising on the well-being of the person being cared for. I Need a Holiday Too offer wheelchair accessible holidays in Brittany, France. Set in an old cotton mill
along the Breton coast, there’s six purpose-built selfcontained apartments, all fully accessible for a disabled traveller or wheelchair user. They also offer support workers and adapted transport as well as a variety of equipment to help make your stay more comfortable. These can all be booked as part of a respite package because of the great staff and facilities on offer. For more information call 0800 949 6801. Accomable is a new online service to help people with a disability or mobility problem find accessible holiday properties. Co-founded by disabled entrepreneurs Srin Madipalli and Martyn Sibley, Accomable links people with physical disabilities to accessible accommodation worldwide. Accomable provides a detailed list of features offered by each property, meaning travellers can find out whether a property caters to their specific needs and requirements, including: • • • • • • •
Step-free access to property Step-free access to a bedroom Step-free access to a bathroom Roll in shower Grab rails in the bathroom Facilities for individuals with a visual impairment Facilities for individuals with a hearing impairment
Visit www.accomable.com for more information. ■
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L e g
L i f t e r
Nile Leg Lifter
Bariatric sizes available
Assist independent living Assists in single handed transfer of legs into bed. The Nile will fit most divans or community metal frame beds.
Contact for hire information Nile Leg Lifter
Timor Bed/Chair Effortless lifting of legs into bed assisting independence UK’s leading manufacturer of bespoke beds & cots
Bespoke to required width and length. Bariatric sizes available Timor Nurser for additional care needs
Timor Chair Bed
Timor Bed/Chair
Arabian Bandaging Stool Designed for community use. Designed to lift one leg at a time using one or both of the two horizontal actuator driven pads, allowing easy access around the complete circumference of the limb Arabian Bandaging Stool
Mawson Mobile Leg Lifter
Simple, Effortless, Cost Saving Leg Lifters
The Mawson is easily wheeled from bed to bed for multi use effortless transfer.
Mawson Mobile Leg Lifter
T: 01233 635353 E: sales@centrobed.com www.centrobed.com ad_pages_ot_magazine_jan_feb_16.indd 19
22/12/2015 00:24
EQuipment hire
Hiring equipment
Cheryll Hollis of specialist bed manufacturers, Centrobed, shares her advice on hiring equipment and looks at the circumstances in which this solution can be utilised.
Y
ou can now hire almost anything, from portable equipment like leg lifters, pillow lifters to specialist beds, chairs and mattresses, helping to assist in solving short or long term needs. The products available to hire can suit any age, from paediatric, bariatric/plus size to old age. No matter what situation you find your client in, there is generally a product you can hire. Hiring new equipment is a solution in a situation where you have not had the opportunity to use or assess its benefits because it is not available for prescribing. Hiring will give you the flexibility enabling you to evaluate this piece of equipment’s features and benefits for a client and also for future use. Cost saving is always at the forefront of everyone's mind and hiring equipment can be a good short term alternative to purchasing. Whilst purchasing has significant measurable short term recovery to outlay, hiring does have its place for short term, end of life and many other caring situations. Hiring equipment can also solve long and short term complex needs. Confidence in a product for professional, client and carer is of primary concern. How often do you purchase a piece of equipment that is never used? At Centrobed, we will always do a joint visit, if required to help with assessing the correct equipment prior to hiring or purchase. With equipment regularly needed in emergency situations, but not always
Timor Bed Chair
Tungsten 80 Stone Bed
available in the time frame you need it in - hiring short or long term could be an option to be explored. Hiring is ideal for: • Situations where there are budget constraints • Assessment before purchase • Interim care • Holiday hire • Hospital emergency discharge • Emergency care when equipment broken • New to the market equipment • End of life care Expensive purchases that can ultimately improve complex care needs and where proof is needed to support your assessment, can be resolved with hiring a cost effective solution. Clients with disabilities who want to go on holiday but the bed they need is not available where they are going, are not always aware that they can hire. Again, enabling improved quality of life. With the ever increasing need for specialist bariatric and plus size equipment Centrobed are able to offer a specialist bariatric/plus size bed taking up to 80 stone (500kg) in weight also a Timor bed chair that can enable independence. Both will help in reducing carer cost. ■ Visit www.centrobed.com for more information.
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Helping our Heroes
H
elp for Heroes is undoubtedly a household name. The popular charity has leapt from strength to strength with a forever expanding online merchandise shop, supporting countless initiatives and fundraising events all over the country and creating more and more local rehabilitation centres for veterans suffering from both physical and psychological disorders.
Occupational therapy is a crucial part of what they do at these centres. Many of these brave men and women have been overseas and have seen awful things and,
more often than not, they come back, not only mentally scarred, but physically injured. Veterans who have been seriously injured have to then adjust to normal life, this can be very difficult and some need help with even the most basic of tasks. Occupational therapists are inundated with new and extreme caseloads, each Serviceman or woman as in need as the last. Rosie Curtis, the 26-year-old occupational therapist working in Tedworth House, the Tidworth-based Help for Heroes Recovery Centre, is just one of a large team of healthcare professionals that › www.
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› work within the field. This is her unique experience
working with some of our country’s bravest. “I have always been interested in healthcare. Originally, I wanted to be a physiotherapist and even looked at joining the military, but after completing some work experience as an occupational therapist, I fell in love with the profession. The mixture of science and craft really appealed to me and it offered such a huge amount of variety, so I set myself firmly on that career path. Working within a military environment is something that always appealed to me. There is something so unique about the military culture, it is completely different to civilian life. I was fortunate to meet Bryn Parry, Help for Heroes co-founder, and he explained to me about what happens within our Recovery Centres. I convinced him that occupational therapy could have a big role to play in the recovery of those men and women who had become wounded, injured or sick as a result of their service and he allowed me to complete a work placement at Tedworth House. Following that, I wrote a business plan to persuade Help for Heroes about how much of a difference occupational therapy could make and the rest is history. Working within the military culture is great. Servicemen and women and veterans have a real ‘can-do’ attitude and their determination to overcome adversity is so inspiring. The average age of men and women who get injured is just 22 years old; they have their whole life still ahead of them and have suffered potentially a lifechanging injury. However, their dedication to recovery and continuously positive outlook is just amazing and getting to work with them on things they’d never even considered before, like relaxation and sleep hygiene techniques, is both challenging and rewarding. I am in control of the interventions I want to use and have access to the resources needed to achieve this. What is also challenging is coming across veterans and Servicemen and women with a wide range of different injuries, sometime psychological and
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sometimes physical. No two days are ever the same. Most importantly however, is the daily inspiration I get from seeing our beneficiaries move forwards on their recovery pathway. One of the hardest parts of working for Help for Heroes is that there are so many military acronyms’ (Thank goodness for Google!) I work across both physical and psychological health with veterans and service personnel at all stages of their recovery. My main intervention is the use of a multi-sensory environment to improve relaxation and sleep.
Tedworth House is a Recovery Centre operated by Help for Heroes, the military charity that provides practical and direct support to injured Servicemen and women One client I will always remember is a 54-year-old man, Roy Taylor. He joined the navy in 1974 and spent most of his time in a submarine off the coast of Russia during the height of the Cold War. He suffers from PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and would frequently experience moodiness, introversion and anger. Roy was one of the first ex-servicemen to work with me and experience the Sensory Room. Within 20 minutes of being in the room, Roy was able to relax for the first time in years. We devised a new sleep and relaxation routine which he still uses now and he went from getting just one hour of sleep a night, to five. Before
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when he woke up he’d have to turn every light on in the house and check every window and door, making it very hard for his family to cope with his sleeplessness too. Now he can manage to stay in bed even if he does wake at 3 or 4am. He praised the effect a weighted blanket has had on him, something I introduced. People experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, paranoia or trauma have reported relief from the use of weighted blankets in particular. Roy says it gives him an extra sense of security.
One of Rosie’s clients, John Edwards, has no end of praise for her and the work that she does at the centre. He has benefited first hand from the therapy that Rosie and her team help the veterans through. He can’t thank her enough. He said:
It’s truly amazing to work with the veterans. They’re funny, inspirational and so determined to recover from whatever injury or illness they’ve sustained as a result of serving our country. I think there is generally still a lack of understanding as to what occupational therapy is and how it can be so beneficial to somebody’s recovery. The service is still so young so there is some way to go to educate people on the huge difference OT can make. There is never a normal day, I could be doing anything from one-to-one sessions in the Sensory Room, sleep hygiene class, completing somebody’s sensor y profile, group relaxation classes, animation sessions or be working on service development ideas. At the same time, I’m also working towards my PhD. A veteran could be using Tedworth House for adaptive sports, education courses, training, life skills, relaxation and career recovery or seeing a keyworker who helps with their welfare needs. Tedworth House is also home to the Phoenix Centre, a state of the art gym complex, so we get a lot of gym-goers too as sport is crucial to so many of the recoveries. I work in a large delivery team with a range of different professions from strength and conditioning, sport coaches and a horticultural therapist. The work we do all complements one another so that we are delivering the best support possible to the wounded, injured and sick men and women of the Armed Forces. ■
Rosie Curtis
“Before meeting Rosie at Help for Heroes, I thought OTs were about walking frames and hand rails, how narrow and limited a view that has transpired to be. Thankfully, that misconception has completely changed; indeed I think people are tiring of hearing me get excited of how grapefruit smelling oil helps relax me. As a PTSD sufferer, exacerbated by limiting knee and shoulder injuries, my default to exercise as a coping strategy felt lost. I, until now, had only connected my senses with negative memories and thoughts. Knowing what sensory triggers are negative is useful, though of significantly higher value has been identifying touch (weighted blanket), colours and shapes (bubble tube and blue light), sounds, and smells has been life changing. Military life had provided the routine I desperately needed, I had since become very disorganised and overwhelmed by the smallest of tasks. The simple process of getting up has now shifted from overwhelming to achievable. However, just putting these tools in place could have quickly been wasted if regular telephone meetings with Rosie had not taken place; mutually evaluating and adjusting my action plan. This developed the essential trust between us for me to feel safe enough to ‘give things a go’ and a safety net to rationalise the impact of setbacks. I am slowly feeling less reliant on others because I have structure and plans that work better for me, and some exercise has started to re-enter my life. Thank you for what OT has helped me achieve.” ■
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Social Media: Part One What does your digital identity look like?
H
ow digitally literate are yo u ? D o yo u k n ow t h e differences between Fa c e b o o k , Tw i t t e r a n d LinkedIn? Does your use of social media meet your professional body expec tations? In the first of this two-part column, Dawn Fraser looks at the importance of digital identities... Social media includes any website or internet based service that enables you to publish your own content (text, photos, videos or sound) and to share this with other people. Examples include, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube although there are many more. As we use more and more online services that allow user content and discussion, we leave behind a digital footprint. These footprints make up our digital identity. Unlike a face-to-face conversation over coffee, which is often later forgotten, what is put on the internet can stay around for a very long time, often indefinitely. We have an upcoming generation, which will be victims of the active online identities created in their youth. In real life (offline), our identity changes as we grow and develop. In a professional career such as occupational therapy, your previous online identity may not fit the future professional one you want to create. This may make it difficult to move from one identity i n t h e d i gi t a l wo r l d to a n o t h e r.
I’m an active user of social media both personally and professionally. Used correctly it’s a powerful tool. Sceptics of social media worry about the risks of being involved with it, although what does it actually say about somebody if they have no social media presence in today’s world? As an occupational therapist, you may find future service users or their families searching for you online. Too much public information therefore may not be appropriate. Would you want them to see your holiday pictures of you sunbathing on the beach for example? On the other hand, as a 21st century individual, you are likely to want to use social networking sites to keep in touch with friends and to keep you up to date with your profession. You therefore need to be mindful of the online identity you create for yourself. Keeping your professional and personal profiles separate can be useful, but ultimately always keep in mind - if you don’t want your mum, boss or neighbour to read it then you probably shouldn’t post it.
Social Media Challenges You can do this on your own but it would be great to pair up with another student. 1. Go to www.google.co.uk and type in each other’s names. • What have you found out about each other? • Does your digital identity reflect the image of yourself that you want to portray? • Does your digital identity meet with your professional body requirements? 2. Go to twitter.com (you do not need a Twitter account to do this). Using the search bar type in the following and see what information you can find. @ot_magazine @BAOTCOT @DawnFraser_OT @The_HCPC
In the next issue we will look at how social media can be used as a continuing professional development tool. In the meantime why not have a go at some of the following challenges:
@BAOTNYRegion – Northern and Yorkshire region @erbaot – Eastern Region @BAOTTrentRegion – Trent @LondonBAOT- London ■
Some of the BAOT regional networks have active twitter accounts. Here are the ones I know of, although there may be more. Why not look yours up and see what is happening in your locality?
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Events calendar
This year is jam packed full of conferences, events and training opportunities for OTs out there Moving and Handling People 2-3 February, London Celebrating 22 years, this CPD accredited event focuses on positive solutions for practitioners and clients. It is aimed at health and social care professionals, managing and providing hands-on practical care. The event enables practitioners to widen their experience and knowledge to deliver efficient, safe practice through improved performance and techniques. This essential event takes place at the Human Rights Action Centre offering practical, interactive workshops using the latest equipment as well as peer-to-peer networking and problem-solving. This years topics include single-handed care, dementia and touch, as well as a focus on the new Care Act. Book online at www.movingandhandlingpeople.co.uk
‘Kidz’ events Kidz in the Middle – 10 March, Coventry Kidz South – 9 June, Reading Kidz Wales – 7 July, Cardiff (NEW) Kidz Scotland – 15 September, Edinburgh Kidz Up North – 17 November, Manchester The ‘Kidz’ events from Disabled Living take place across the country, dedicated to children with disabilities and special needs, their parents, carers and professionals who work with them. Over 130 exhibitors offer information on mobility, funding, seating, beds,
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communication, access, education, toys, transport and much more. A full programme of CPD seminars runs alongside each exhibition. To find out more visit www.disabledliving.co.uk/Kidz/Welcome
Naidex 26-28 April, Birmingham New for Naidex 2016, the first day of the event is now limited to only trade visitors and healthcare professionals on the exhibition floor. Packed full of CPD accredited conference sessions, Naidex allows you to explore the marketplace and test the latest products to help maximise a patients quality of life. Over 200 exhibitors will showcase well-known brands and innovative products that will be seen for the first time at Naidex. The event also presents an opportunity to network and share knowledge with peers and fellow professionals and allows you to keep up to date with the latest developments and innovations within assistive technology. For more info on Naidex visit www.naidex.co.uk
Mobility Roadshow 26-28 May, Northamptonshire The Mobility Roadshow, organised by charity Mobility Choices, features the widest selection of accessible and adapted vehicles. This year, the three-day Mobility Roadshow takes place at Silverstone Circuit for the first time. The Roadshow allows you to test drive a wide range of adapted or
wheelchair accessible vehicles around the circuit. It allows you to try out the latest innovations from across the mobility sector. This event is free, to book your place visit www.mobilityroadshow. co.uk/page/signup
COT Conference 28-30 June, Harrogate The 40th Annual Conference is scheduled to take place at the Harrogate International Centre in June. The conference programme has not been revealed yet but as a delegate you will have the opportunity to meet and hear influential health and social care policy makers, interact with the foremost occupational therapy thinkers and practitioners, to contribute to discussions on the future direction of the profession and to explore new and different ways to develop their practice.
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Xxxxxxxx
For more information visit www.cotannualconference.org.uk.
PMG Conference 18-20 July, Birmingham PMG’s annual conference provides an educational programme, industry exhibition and networking events for delegates. This event focuses on the posture and mobility needs of wheelchair users. Not all of the programme for the event has been announced yet, but you still have a chance to submit a paper for discussion at the conference. Visit www.pmguk.co.uk/pmg-conf2016.html to find out more and sign up for the event.
Independent Living Scotland 5-6 October, Glasgow With free entry, this event offers the
perfect opportunity to discover just what new products and services are available to the Scottish market. Over 100 exhibitors will be showcasing their most innovative and inspirational products to aid independence; daily living aids, mobility and adapted vehicles or access and adaption.
mental health, children and families and innovation in practice and shaping the future. At the 2015 show The OT Magazine sponsored the Innovation Award; you can read more about the awards on Page 56. Visit www.theotshow.com for more on 2016’s show.
Visit www.independentlivingscotland.org for more information.
Occupational Therapy Adaptation Conference (OTAC)
The OT Show
11 April, Reading and 7 December, Newcastle The Occupational Therapy Adaptation Conference (OTAC) showcases an excellent array of exhibitors as well as a variety of seminars on offer to help learn, discover and network. Free for all occupational therapists it offers a great opportunity to talk to product manufacturers and service providers on a one-to-one basis. Visit www.otac.org.uk
23-24 November, Birmingham The UK’s largest dedicated CPD education and trade event just for occupational therapists will return for 2016. With a total of 60 hours professional development to be obtained over the two day show; the conference programme, stretches across four separate streams, covering clinical areas including; physical,
for more information. ■
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www.alf-morris-lecture.org.uk
The Alf Morris Lecture 2016
with Jackie Ashley & Andrew Marr Thursday 17th March from 6.00pm The Shaw Theatre and the Pullman St Pancras Hotel, London NW1 2AJ
Stroke of fate: the politics of recovery The broadcasters and journalists, Jackie Ashley and Andrew Marr, will speak for the very first time about the impact on their shared lives of the major stroke that Andrew survived in 2013. In a discussion ranging from personal experience to national policy, they will address the importance of practical help in keeping people with disabilities independent. Ticket prices start at ÂŁ25.00, or entry can be secured with a voluntary donation to The Alf Morris Fund for Independent Living. Book now at www.alf-morris-lecture.org.uk or call 020 7432 8006.
www.movingandhandlingpeople.co.uk
Morris Lecture 2016 A5 Ad.indd 1
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The essential learning event for moving and handling in healthcare goes nationwide Moving & Handling People brings its CPD-certified mix of practical workshops, best-practice seminars and peer-to-peer problem-solving to new audiences. Moving & Handling People South Tuesday 2nd & Wednesday 3rd February 2016 The Human Rights Action Centre, London and
Moving & Handling People North Wednesday 21st & Thursday 22nd September 2016 Newcastle Racecourse, Newcastle upon Tyne (includes entry to DNEX 2016, Disability North’s daily living equipment exhibition) Book now at www.movingandhandlingpeople.co.uk Disabled Living Foundation Tel 020 7289 6111 Email mhp@dlf.org.uk Web www.dlf.org.uk Reg Charity No 290069 11/9/2015 4:03:25 PM
22/12/2015 16:11
INDEPENDENT OT
Tackling Tax as an Independent OT
T
By Jason Piper
he fact that we have to pay tax is a given and understood by all. However, what some fail to understand is the true complexity of the system and the fact that missing key dates for making a return or paying a tax bill can open up a huge can of worms.
Income Tax Starting with the much maligned income tax, it’s clear that the tax you pay is going to depend on the profits made by your business, and for established businesses will (for the foreseeable future, at least) be paid in two estimated instalments; 31 January of the tax year you’re in (ie. up to 5 April) and 31 July immediately following, with a balancing payment on 31 January after the tax year, at the same time as the return is due. The instalments are based on your previous year’s
return, and set at half of last year’s liability. If you know that’s not going to be appropriate (for example, you’ve made a lot less, or a lot more, this year) then you should contact HMRC using Form SA300 to revise the amount up or down – that won’t affect the interest due/payable on over or underpayments once the position’s finalised, but it will stop HMRC chasing in the mean time. Bear in mind that HMRC don’t send out payment reminders any more either, so you need to make sure it’s in your diary. With a nod to helping small businesses, those making up to £82,000 per year can apply HMRC’s cash basis for tax, which means that their taxable profit will automatically be based on the tax year. There’s a surprisingly long list of businesses who can’t use the cash basis at all, and many others for whom it won’t be helpful (for example, if you have more than £500 of interest/bank charges, or keep high › www.
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INDEPENDENT OT
› levels of stock) so you may need to check with a
professional adviser if it’s worth it. There’s more detail at http://bit.ly/1A0berI.
Corporation Tax If you’ve incorporated your business, then the first line of tax will be on any profits retained in the business. The current rate is 20% - so for every five pounds of profit the business makes, you must set aside one to pay the tax. The tax return is due within a year of your accounting period end (accounts date), but the payment is due before that, nine months and one day from the accounts date. However, since the Companies House annual return filing deadline is nine months from the accounts date there’s no reason not to finalise your tax return around the same time. HMRC only have 12 months from the date they receive a return to enquire into it, so the sooner you submit the sooner you can be sure they won’t investigate it. There’s no particular advantage to paying the tax early though, as HMRC’s paid interest rate isn’t particularly high.
PAYE If you have employees then you’ll need to run Real Time Information (RTI) reporting for PAYE on employee payments, but be aware of the possible pitfalls and the filing deadlines which apply. It may well make sense to appoint a payroll agent to do the actual filing using a powerful payroll package that they can justify buying, but remember you’ll still need to get all the payroll information to them in line with their timetables for processing. If you do subcontract that bit of your responsibilities as an employer, make sure you have a written agreement and that both sides know what is to be done, who by and when. RTI works on the basis of FPS (Full Payment Submissions) which have to be made every time you pay employees, and include details of your entire workforce and every change since the last FPS (ie the latest payroll) and EPS (Employers Payment Summary) filings, which cover claims for statutory payments such as sick pay or maternity pay and any “nil return” months. The basic rule is that an FPS has to be submitted every time some or all employees are paid, unless you are one of the “microemployers” (less than nine employees) who enjoys the concession to file monthly up until April 2016. If you haven’t made any salary payments at all from 6th of one month to 5th of the next then you’ll need to file an EPS “nil return” to keep the system ticking over. 76 www.
As for paying over the PAYE you’ve withheld on HMRC’s behalf, that needs to be with them by 22nd of the month for that tax month’s salaries (ie. up to 5th of that month), or by 19th if paying by cheque. Remember to allow three working days for payments by BACS, online debit/credit card, direct debit or debit card, cash or cheque at Post Office, bank or building society (or cheques posted direct to HMRC); if you miss that, then online or telephone banking can clear on the same day. If your monthly PAYE bill is less that £1,500 then you may be able to arrange to pay quarterly; you’ll have to contact HMRC to set that up and it won’t affect RTI filing.
Pensions auto-enrolment If you’ve got employees, then you now need to enrol them into a workplace pension. You should already
Setting up a scheme is complex. If you’re not absolutely confident from the guidance available online that you can handle all the aspects of it then you must seek advice have had a letter from the Pensions Regulator setting out the basics and telling you your staging date, which is the last date by which you have to have a scheme in place. If you’ve forgotten the date you can go to the Regulator’s website at http://bit.ly/1EuooiJ with your PAYE scheme to confirm the date. Setting up a scheme is complex. If you’re not absolutely confident from the guidance available online that you can handle all the aspects of it then you must seek advice. Ignoring the legal obligations you now have to your employees can trigger huge fines and you’ll have to make up any contributions. Once the scheme is running you’ll need to report on it in line with the rest of the PAYE information, and while contributions are paid over to the scheme provider, rather than HMRC, the legal deadlines run in parallel to the PAYE ones, so it would make sense to align the two processes in your business as well. ■ The Author Jason Piper is senior manager for Tax and Business Law at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
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RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING SENSIBLESTAFFING Recruiting Occupational Therapists
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RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING Band 6 rotational and Band 7 Occupational Therapists Find yourself surrounded by exceptional clinical leaders at one of the world’s finest hospitals for Occupational Therapists to work and build their careers.
PRINCESS ROYAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Princess Royal University Hospital, part of the world-famous King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
DENMARK HILL
ORPINGTON
This is an opportunity to become part of our dedicated workforce in a Trust where innovation and the desire to make a difference are key in what attracts people from the UK and around the world to join our esteemed Trust. As part of the King’s College NHS Foundation Trust, you’ll join our varied rotations, working alongside expert therapists in various specialities, like A&E, Stroke and Neuro rehab. King’s provides excellent professional development and training opportunities. Located in the popular south east of England, the Princess Royal University and Orpington hospitals both offer a modern and friendly working environment with a close community feel. With major investments in our OT departments and an established track record in research and development, they’re the ideal destinations to advance your career. To find out about our exciting opportunities or for further details please email matthew.bourne@nhs.net See our opportunities at: http://jobs.kch.nhs.uk/
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*Community Paediatrics is our newest course available and we would like to offer a 10% discount for this date. Please quote OTMAG to receive the discount. For a full list of courses please visit our web site at www.somektraining.co.uk, or contact us at admin@somektraining.co.uk or call 01494 799967
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RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING
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Occupational Therapist
Hesley Group Therapeutic Services - to be based at Low Laithes Hesley Hall, Central Services, Doncaster Salary: £25,083 (dependent on experience) • 37.5 hrS/wk
No ordinary career no ordinary company
Established in 1975, the Hesley Group provides flexible, specialist residential services and schools. We aim to offer the best possible care, education and vocational opportunities for young people and adults, with autism and/or a learning disability and complex needs including behaviour which may challenge. Our current team of Occupational Therapists make a significant contribution to our capacity to provide effective person-centred support for our clients. We are currently seeking an Occupational Therapist, to be based within our Adults Service at Low Laithes, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire. You will work as part of dedicated multi-disciplinary teams that includes Speech and Language Therapists, Psychologists, Applied Behaviour Analysts and Care teams. You will be a part of a larger OT service based across five different sites. This post would ideally suit someone with eighteen months/two years’ clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist, particularly if you have been working in autism or learning difficulties or more general mental health services. We would also consider someone newly qualified with relevant practice placement experience and confidence to work on a daily basis as a lone practitioner within an MDT setting. We are seeking a dynamic, motivated person willing to demonstrate a commitment to an evolving service and delivering effective and evidenced service initiatives. In return you will receive outstanding Continuing Professional Development opportunities, clinical support and managerial clinical and peer supervision. For an informal discussion and/or to arrange a visit regarding this opportunity, please contact Rachel O’Sullivan, Lead Occupational Therapist, or Anna Backhouse, Director of Therapeutic Services, both available on 01302 866906. For more information on any of our vacancies or to apply online, visit our website at www.hesleygroup.co.uk/content/current-vacancies Alternatively, for an application pack please email: recruitment@hesleygroup.co.uk stating your full name and address or telephone 01302 861666 quoting reference ho/12/ot/15. Closing date for postal and online applications: noon, Friday 15th January 2016. Online applications submitted after 12pm (noon) on the closing date will be rejected by the system. Hesley Group is an Equal Opportunities employer. This post is subject to an enhanced level disclosure and barring check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
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22/12/2015 16:15
RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING
Barts Health Staff Bank
Barts Health Staff Bank
Recruiting Occupational Therapist Case Managers Do you have part-time hours available?
Start the year as a Barts Bank OT
Enjoy flexibility? Unite Professionals Ltd are a national case management company dedicated to providing a client-centred, bespoke and flexible service. What is Case Management?
If you want to work at Barts Health, but still want control of your working hours, the Staff Bank is for you.
It is a collaborative process which:
We have a need for OT’s in multiple specialisms, so when you join the Bank, you really can control when you work.
•
Assesses
•
Plans
In particular, we need Community, Neurology and TORVAT OT’s.
•
Implements
•
Co-ordinates
•
Monitors
•
Evaluates …
In order to work on the Bank, you need six months clinical experience. So if you want to work at the Trust, but still want to control your shift patterns, call
Salaried positions and associate case management work available
the options and services required to meet an individual’s health care, educational and employment need. The case manager acts as the client’s advocate to communicate with all relevant professionals involved in the delivery and observation of rehab goals, to ensure the client receives appropriate treatment delivered at the intensity and duration required.
0333 577 3392
and register today.
Case Managers will have a minimum of 6 years post OT qualification experience, excellent communication and assessment skills. Unite Professionals Ltd provide regular clinical supervision, CPD opportunities, admin support and a full induction programme.
Changing lives through working together
P1770 OT magazine Advert_02.indd 1
Join our expanding team of
Experienced Occupational Therapists
For more information email Katrina Coyle at katrinac@uniteprofessionals.co.uk or visit us at www.uniteprofessionals.co.uk @UniteProf
14/12/2015 13:52
medico-legal consultancy
Occupational therapists play a key role acting as expert witnesses in clinical negligence / personal injury litigation. We require experienced OTs who are confident, have excellent communication skills (verbal & written), enjoy a challenge, are intrigued by the forensic nature of this work, and above all are keen to learn new skills. We offer: Regular work on a case by case basis to fit in with other work commitments Excellent remuneration Full & on-going training, supervision on every case & support You will work on a self employed, flexible basis, alongside your “day job” – want to know more about how this works? Email recruitment@somek.com to request an information pack You will be working at a senior level with a minimum of 8 years post qualification experience as an OT and/or case manager Somek & Associates, run by OTs, is the largest provider of HP expert witnesses in the UK, renowned and respected in the field
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22/12/2015 16:17
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21/12/2015 22:56
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22/12/2015 00:25
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22/12/2015 08/12/2015 00:25 12:36