Occupational Therapy News OTnews January 2019 | Page 8

NEWS
Occupational therapist named Landscape Artist of the Year
Jen Gash, an independent occupational therapist and coach from
Bristol, has beaten 1,600 fellow painters to be named Sky Landscape
Artist of the Year.
A total of 48 artists made it to the televised heats, hosted by
Stephen Mangan and Joan Bakewell, which are broadcast to around
750,000 people. Jen beat the competition after a series of painting
challenges across England.
‘I’m not a very competitive person to be honest but some part of
me switched on,’ says Jen.
‘I applied in 2015 and 2016, but had not got through, so I was
completely chuffed to bits just to get through to the heats. Mine was
in Broadstairs; I’m from Kent originally so that was a good start. It was
such a nice day and the crew were a real laugh, but I just approached
it as that – I didn’t expect to go further as the other artists were
amazing.’
After winning the Broadstairs heat, Jen went on to win painting
challenges at Felixstowe and Brighton, before winning the finals at
Greenwich.
The win was followed by an hour-long special following Jen
complete her prize – a £10,000 commission from the Imperial War
Museum, following in the footsteps of World War One painter Stanley
Spencer in Macedonia.
Jen’s commissioned painting was displayed at the museum’s
London galleries, before relocating to IWM North in Manchester.
Says Jen: ‘Time will tell what it means for my art career. I’ve
painted all my life, but doing occupational therapy, it has always
been a second career. I’ve never given it my fullest time and it’s just
staggering to have won. Even with the news out about the win, I’m
having to watch the programme back and go, “that’s you”.’
More of Jen’s paintings are available at www.jengash.co.uk.
Engage people on health beyond the NHS, says King’s Fund report
UK health policy needs to take on a population health approach
that promotes wellbeing and reduces health inequalities, a report by
the King’s Fund think tank has recommended.
It advises that it was essential to see a shift to engage people
and communities beyond the NHS and local authority settings, in
the public, voluntary and business sectors.
Evidence from the Kings Fund on the public perception of the
NHS suggests that the public are willing and expect to take greater
responsibility for their health than health professionals recognise.
Karin Orman, RCOT lead professional adviser, said: ‘We
know occupational therapists are natural catalysts for creating
partnerships as we know how to work across sectors. We are
already seeing examples of occupational therapy services moving
from predominantly delivering one-to-one sessions to offering
broader targeted advice and expertise, training and mentoring
others to deliver on aspects of traditional practice. Where it
happens, the profession will extend its reach, minimise the need
for waiting lists and ensure that support offered to an individual is
enabling and not fostering dependency.
8 OTnews January 2019
‘We discussed this report and occupational therapy with
commissioners and GPs at the King’s Fund conference and
there was a clear indication that GPs are open to widening their
services and understood what occupational therapy could offer
their local population.’
Partnership working has featured heavily in RCOT’s Improving
Lives, Saving Money campaign. The Scottish edition of the
Living, Not Existing report on older people include a project by
the Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership to co-
produce strength and balance groups. On completing a 12-week
course, members of the group are invited and supported to join
a Carers Stable and Able Group run by Sport Aberdeen.
Occupational therapy staff provide support to the Sport
Aberdeen group, to offer continuity and participants who have
made the transition are invited to return to the AHP-led group
to talk about their journey and encourage new starters to keep
going.
The King’s Fund report is available at: www.bit.ly/2RiZmx5.
More on Living, Not Existing is available at www.bit.ly/2xCejlV.