OT in the community Carley Jackson-Dart has been a community occupational therapist for Sunderland City Council for three and a half years. Here she explains the fast-paced nature of her role and why she loves the variety that comes with being a community occupational therapist
I
work with children and adults who have physical health problems, learning disabilities and mental health problems, supporting them to achieve safe and independent community living. I spend time in a variety of settings including domestic dwellings, residential and nursing homes, hospitals, short break care placements and day services. I provide a therapeutic response in planned and unplanned situations, often supporting customers who are experiencing a crisis that could result in a hospital admission without my immediate intervention. My role requires me to work closely with other professionals including physiotherapists, social workers, community nurses, GPs, practise nurses, home care providers and care teams in residential and nursing care settings. I have also had to develop my knowledge of complex equipment including specialist seating, beds, bathing and toileting equipment and this has helped me to become skilled in assessing and developing plans to support personal manual handling. When I meet a new customer, I work in partnership with them to establish the problems they feel are impacting their ability to achieve independence and look for solutions that will enable them to achieve the goals they identify for themselves. I also work closely with buildings surveyors in our Home Improvement Agency and develop plans to support the structural alteration of property or provision of fixed mechanical equipment. As a community occupational therapist, I have to have an excellent working knowledge of the Disabled Facilities Grant legislation and how to apply this to facilitate the provision of extensions to property, stairlifts, hoisting equipment etc. This knowledge ensures I can advocate effectively on behalf of my patients.
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