Wellbeing, assessment and trauma: the wide work of oc
therapy in staff wellbeing and occupational health durin
The COVID-19 pandemic is placing a heavy burden on health and s
so how are NHS organisations taking care of those on the frontline?
Paul Dunning is an occupational therapist and head of staff healt
wellbeing at Swansea Bay University Health Board, providing staff w
occupational health services to 13,000 staff.
The occupational health team – which includes occupational the
been tasked with assessing staff for COVID-19, as well as extending
of its wellbeing service, developing a trauma pathway to proactively
during their work, and a bereavement pathway to support staff throu
‘I’ve always been clear there’s a role for occupational therapists
health,’ says Paul. As well as the two occupational therapists workin
sessional basis, some of the 29 extra staff brought in to help undert
COVID-19 telephone assessments and referral for testing have been
therapists too.
They come with excellent skills for the job, says Paul: ‘It is obviou
for people experiencing what can be frightening symptoms and diffic
issues and the anxiety that goes with this. The occupational therapis
been adept at reassuring people, recognising their anxiety and supp
compassionate approach.’
For the wellbeing service, the usual eight-hours-a-weekday serv
overhauled to a seven-day service working from 7am to 9pm in just
days. ‘As everywhere across health and social care right now, incred
have happened that would normally take years of consultations, me
papers,’ says Paul. ‘It’s amazing what has been achieved in such a
time.’
The service has also developed a new trauma pathway, support
army colleagues who have provided input into the health board’s res
pandemic. A condensed version of the trauma risk management pro
are being delivered by 10 trainers in one-hour training sessions to te
with frontline groups and with an eye on eventually training all staff –
the early signs of trauma.
‘It’s an early intervention/preventative approach rather than waitin
down the road when someone may develop PTSD,’ says Paul.
Sadly, a bereavement pathway has also had to be developed to
teams and individuals coping with loss. While it has so far not been
the wellbeing team – made up of occupational therapists, staff coun
consultant clinical psychologist – make sure that fast-access suppo
when it is needed.
More generally, Paul says that having occupational therapists on
helped with the massive upheaval that the wider staff have experien
‘The occupational therapists in occupational health generally have a
background and work with staff experiencing anxiety and depressio
‘Their skills have been useful in helping staff and managers to thin
huge ramifications of being redeployed to
where you have no relationships with colle
new managers.
‘Work and new roles can be been ver
unpredictable, so they can help consider
adjustments and how the right support ca
manage their new, stressful environments