Learning disability
Kinga Czekaj and Jennifer Thayre reflect on their efforts to promote occupational balance within an inpatient learning disability unit .
Learning disability
Feature
Promoting occupational balance
Kinga Czekaj and Jennifer Thayre reflect on their efforts to promote occupational balance within an inpatient learning disability unit .
O
ccupational balance is one of the original concepts underlying the practice of occupational therapy . Backman ( 2004 ) states that occupational balance is ‘ a relative state , recognisable by a happy or pleasant integration of life activities and demands ’.
Research suggests that individuals with learning disability are ‘ at higher risk of experiencing occupational deprivation , compared to the rest of the population ’ ( Jones , Jarvis and Stewart 2024 ). This may be due to dependency on others for support with engagement in activities , social isolation and learning disability service provision ( DH 2001 ).
With occupational imbalance also being a risk for individuals who spend long periods of time within institutions , the therapy team at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust ’ s Daisy Unit , felt that there was a need to create opportunities and promote the improvement of occupational balance for their service users .
The therapy team supported with occupational balance on the unit by :
• Frequently gathering service user voices to help support participation in their preferred activities , work towards identified goals and provide opportunity for them to feedback to the team .
• Exposing service users to a variety of different activities – providing opportunities for them to try new things and expand their interests .
• Supporting with positive risk taking – helping to empower service users and their support staff .
• Advocating for occupational balance during multidisciplinary team meetings .
• Educating the wider team on occupational balance and the research surrounding improving health and wellbeing .
• Facilitation of daily group sessions – providing an opportunity for service users to engage in meaningful activities , as well as build new skills .
• Creating weekly and daily timetables for service users and their support team to help plan dayto-day activities .
The team also supported weekend activities . With minimal therapy input on the weekends the therapy team have worked with support staff to help them deliver group sessions on the weekend .
This was done by using support workers ’ strengths and OT skills in grading the activities to ensure that they are suitable for each of the service users . Resources and instructions are created , as well as the OT providing one-to-one support to support workers to ensure that they feel confident to deliver group activities on the weekend .
Feedback from service users and staff
Jennifer Thayre comments : ‘ As an occupational therapy apprentice on placement within the Daisy unit , I have been inspired by the creativity of the therapy team in promoting occupational balance .’
‘ The unit developed a weekly programme , with a variety of facilitated group sessions that aimed to support social ability , skill development , sensory exploration and increasing access to try new occupations .
40 OTnews January 2025