Helen commenced on the first cohort at Coventry University as a d
occupational therapist in September 2020, rotating every six mont
teams and attending university once a week.
During COVID-19, her role has changed to working longer shift
on a variety of wards and being trained in the correct use of Perso
Equipment (PPE) and to assist with the proning of patients, both n
As a result of the changes, Helen feels that she has been expos
opportunities for her ‘to take the lead’ in caseload discussions and
she starts to develop her clinical reasoning skills.
She has also attended several white boards and engaged with
professions, assisting with the development of her prioritisation sk
Helen has had to adapt quickly to change, manage academic d
and cope with personal anxieties. After using the trust’s wellbeing
met with her mentor and set goals to manage her academic work
found herself in a better frame of mind.
Helen reflects that it has been important to remember that her p
afraid of the pandemic, and the importance of her role to make a d
patient experience through meaningful conversations, particularly
relatives is difficult at this time.
Prior to the pandemic, Paula was based in the outpatient pain m
sessions, where the overall aim was to assist individuals to furthe
improve their function, despite having one or more long term con
Following the trust’s response to COVID-19, alongside the ps
an emotional wellbeing service, to support trust staff, given the e
experiencing at work and home.
Such a response had been highlighted to senior leadership fro
to go ahead, with support to develop the infrastructure from the
Paula identified having moved from a familiar role herself, to a
quickly learn, adapt and develop a new service draws parallels w
staff members have recounted during the sessions.
During sessions with staff, Paula has used her occupational th
skills to explore how each person is functioning, what has chang
their productivity, routines and motivation.
Exploring risk issues, managing anxiety and individuals’ desire
function in the ways that they were used to, have been understa
Establishing what is important for the person to address has b
Unconditional positive regard and the relevance or not of imposin
solutions on the individual, but utilising a shared co-production t
approach to help each person consider how to move forward ha
central.
Often this has been linked to encouraging people to re-invest
hobbies, creatively considering how these could be adapted dur
lockdown period.
In advocating to others the fact that we may need more supp
Paula has ensured that she invests in her own clinical supervisio
beneficial in managing her own sense of wellbeing and ability to