WHAT’S NEW

VACANCIES PUTTING “SIGNIFICANT STRESS” ON SOCIAL CARE OTS

New figures from Skills for Care show that vacancies for OT posts within council adult services departments has increased since last year, as has staff turnover, leading to warnings that this could cause “significant stress” on OTs working for councils.

Speaking to Community Care, RCOT professional adviser Lauren Walker noted that the College are aware that these are “significant staff shortages” within the social care sector that are causing stress in the form of increased workloads, which in turn negatively impacts remaining staff’s mental health.

She told Community Care: “Whilst the government has spoken of the need to address this workforce challenge, the solutions coming forward are merely sticking plasters when it is clear that more fundamental reform of social care is required.

“Last year we laid out a roadmap to solving the workforce crisis which included placing a greater focus on OTs and the contribution they can make to meeting the rehabilitation challenge and also in tackling delayed discharge.

“We also spoke of the need to focus on the reasons why people are leaving the social care workforce such as pay, flexible working patterns, workplace culture and the lack of parity with colleagues working in the NHS. As these figures so clearly demonstrate there remains a significant recruitment challenge and we need to be doing more to encourage people from all backgrounds to train as a care professional.”

Ot Supports Ukrainians With Complex Injuries

A WHO-backed rehabilitation centre in Ukraine is helping people who have been affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine through occupational therapy, with additional support from colleagues and organisations around the world.

A rehabilitation centre in Rivne, a city in the West of Ukraine, has been transformed into a national centre for spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury care, with vital equipment and funding supplied by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in the UK.

Yuliya Tereshkovich, one of around only 50 OTs in Ukraine, said that she feels her work in the centre is making a huge difference. “It’s just wonderful, I barely have words to describe it. I feel like the entire world is now present in Rivne,” Yuliya said, referring to the international consultants and foreign guests who have been visiting the centre, including Johanna Wangdell, an OT from Sweden.

“I’m so happy to have a mentor like Johanna, who shares her expertise with us completely free of charge and has all the answers to all our questions,” she said. “Most patients here are young, they’re around my age. I really want to keep finding ways to help them. In the meantime, we as occupational therapists will keep doing everything in our power to help these people achieve independence in selfcare. And we will build on that for their future needs.”

Wiltshire Farm Foods On The Hunt For Ots For Podcast

Specialist ready meal delivery service Wiltshire Farm Foods, who fork with OTs to provide nutritious and enjoyable meals for people who may have dietary requirements, are looking for OTs to join them on their podcast, The Dietician Diaries.

The podcast, titled “how can OTs make meals more enjoyable”, looks to include an OT with a discussion including their two company dietitians to explore what OTs can do to ensure patients are eating nutritious meals and enjoying mealtimes for people who may have dietary requirements, covering issues such as ensuring people enjoy meals while living with swallowing difficulties, kitchen assessments, and taking patients’ appetites and energy levels into account.

If you would like to be involved in this podcast episode to share your expertise in this area, please contact Katie Oliver by emailing Katie.Oliver@apetito.co.uk

COMPLETE CARE LAUNCHES “OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST RECOMMENDED” RANGE

Over 500 products on the Complete Care Shop will now sport their new green “OT Recommends” badges, showcasing that the product has been identified as offering the best functionality, ease of use, safety and value for money by its team of “over 60 fully qualified occupational therapists”.

The range of products, which includes mobility aids, bathing products, and daily living aids, was rigorously assessed against a number of key criteria, which included how well the product met its own claims, how easy it is to use, how much it stands up against UK safety standards, and how costeffective it is.

“Once our occupational therapists have evaluated the product against all the criteria and it has passed with flying colours, we are delighted to give it the ‘OT Recommended’ seal of approval to reassure our customers that they are spending their money wisely,” said Rachel Hutchinson, OT and clinical director at Complete Care Shop.

“We hope that an OT Recommended product can help customers to narrow down their search with confidence and then, to ensure it’s suitable for their specific needs, refer to our buying guides and help pages on the website. Products can be easily identified by the green OT Recommended badge on the product image.

“If customers require further personalised advice a free online chat and a telephone line connects directly to our Occupational Therapy team or there is a further option to book an hour’s private virtual assessment where the home and needs can be fully assessed.”

Supermarket Launches Adaptable Fashion Range

George at Asda has launched a new line of affordable adaptive clothing for younger people, following the success of its Easy Wear school range that was launched in September of last year.

The range of 24 pieces includes items with hidden hook and look fasteners on necklines, higher backs and longer legs on trousers, and holes to allow for easy access to feeding tubes or lines, and is available for ages three through 16.

George buying manager Vicki Radford employed the help of an award-winning deaf and blind artist, 14-year-old Ava Joliffe, to ensure the clothing was up-to-scratch for the people who might need it.

“It was really important to Ava that we designed our adapted collection in line with the main kidswear range, so children with disabilities can wear the same as their friends… and it was really important to us that these pieces remain competitively priced and affordable to all our customers,” said Vicki.

Bathroom Supplier Gives Back With Charity Discount

Accessible bath specialist G360 Bathrooms has partnered with the MS Society to offer a 10% discount on its accessible bath for people living with MS, with each discounted sale generating a donation from the specialist back to the charity.

Peter Eckhardt, CEO at Gainsborough Healthcare Group, said: “Ensuring everyone can bathe safely has been, and will always be, our priority. Awareness of this enabling promise will now be more widespread through the MS community as we proudly begin our new relationship with the MS Society. We are delighted to have been selected by the charity as its recommended easy access bath and bathroom provider. Our ethical, caring and consultative approach will uphold the values of the charity whilst delivering quality solutions that improve lives for good.”

G360, which is part of the Gainsborough Healthcare Group, offers a complete assessment, design and installation service, and can provide accessible baths, showers and wet rooms designed to fit the users’ needs.

Sam Walker, executive director of services and support at the MS Society, said: “We’re really pleased to be partnering with G360 Bathrooms. It’s great that if people are considering a G360 bathroom they now get a discount which could make a big difference. Living with MS can be relentless, painful and disabling, and for many people, access to an accessible bathroom is essential. We’re also incredibly grateful that we’ll receive a donation from every G360 Bathrooms purchase. These vital contributions will help us fund support services such as our free MS Helpline, and world-leading research to find treatments for everyone living with MS.”

“Working with Ava was a real joy; we’re all so proud of the pieces we’ve created together, and as a brand, are delighted to have been able to extend the range past schoolwear to encompass everyday dressing.”

The Easy On Easy Wear range is available in-store now, with pieces priced from £9.