An Occupational Therapist (Preceptorship) career story

I am an Occupational Therapist working within an assertive rehabilitation ward in high secure services where we provide occupational therapy assessment and treatment plans.

I provide assessment opportunities to identify the individual’s level of creative ability and provide a detailed occupational therapy intervention for their treatment needs based on four areas of occupational performance; social ability, work ability, use of free time and personal management. 

We also provide thorough risk assessments to support and manage positive risk-taking by supporting access to rehabilitation therapy workshops and educational services in the hospital Recovery College.

Before to working as an Occupational Therapist I spent three years as a teaching assistant providing 1:1 care to children and young adults with severe and complex learning difficulties. During this time I received my level 1 and 2 British Sign Language qualification.

I had previously worked at an Occupational Therapy 6 week summer camp for pre-school children in America where combined with my previous job I learnt the true value of Occupational Therapy and the benefits for those with complex learning difficulties.

I studied at Brunel University and graduated with a Masters with Honours in Occupational Therapy. During my studies I had placements in acute older adults physical health, community paediatrics, inpatient mental health combined with autism spectrum disorder and forensic mental health services.

I am currently in my first year as a newly qualified preceptee at Broadmoor hospital, a high secure forensic hospital where I also completed my final placement.

I believe effective communication is a key skill. As an Allied Health Professional, it's been essential when engaging with both patients and with the wider multi-disciplinary team.

I am passionate about the use of effective communication when sharing my clinical reasoning and justification for occupational therapy assessment and intervention. This is something I have developed throughout my placements and within my first three months as a Band 5 preceptee.

Another key skill as an Occupational Therapist and Allied Health Professional within a high secure service is thinking 'outside of the box when providing occupational therapy interventions based on the patient’s treatments needs (whilst working in line with local and trust wide policies and security protocols).

My new way of thinking has allowed me to successfully structure therapy sessions and activities to minimise the use of tools and materials - as many are prohibited on the wards. 

For my third practice placement I had the opportunity to work at the National Autism Unit based at Bethlem Royal Hospital. It was during this placement that I found my passion for working with mental health and learning difficulties particularly working with patients that had a forensic history. I was able to identify the occupational performance areas for the patients on my case load. I felt like I really made a difference to their mental health by supporting their engagement in meaningful activities and encouraging independent living skills.

This was pivotal as it determined where I looked for my first job as a newly qualified therapist.

I have worked closely with my clinical team to encourage a patient - who had previously declined to attend any off-ward activities for several years - to engage in art based session in a new area of the hospital. This has helped build the patient’s self-esteem, reduce their anxiety whilst drawing out enjoyment and fun in a meaningful activity. This encouraged future engagement in a patient that had previously disengaged with occupational therapy sessions; this is a positive step in their recovery and future hopes of a medium secure unit referral as they continue to build confidence and develop social and work ability skills.