Occupational Therapy News OTnews July 2019 | Page 11

NEWS Apprentice educators meet for the first time Apprenticeship forum meets for the first time The inaugural meeting of the Occupational Therapy Integrated Degree Apprenticeship Forum was held in June. Representatives from Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Chichester, Coventry University, University of East Anglia, University of Northampton and Sheffield Hallam University met together and were delighted to welcome Anita Cooper from the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust and representatives from RCOT. Meetings will be held three times a year with practice partners joining the membership of future meetings. Approximately 150 apprentices will be commencing pre-registration occupational therapy education over the next 12 months as programmes continue to launch across England. For more information email: [email protected] with ‘OT IDA forum’ in the subject line. There is more on the developing apprenticeship schemes on page 17. Front of house team wins Cosyfeet OT Award A band six locum occupational therapist working for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust has won the Cosyfeet OT Award 2019. Ann Drea Ann Drea works in a pilot front of house team which supports people to return home as quickly as possible. Her £1,000 award money will be used to purchase assessment equipment to facilitate a safe and speedy return home for clients referred by Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s A&E department and acute assessment unit. In the first three months of this year, the team received 401 referrals, resulting in 143 safer discharges and 116 instances of admission avoidance. Ann says: ‘Having a stock of assessment equipment for clients to try out with instruction will help us work more effectively. We can more readily involve clients and their support network in their safe return to self- management.’ For more information about the Cosyfeet OT Award, visit: www.cosyfeet.com/professionals/otaward. PREMIUM RANGE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES Supporting case workers, OTs and other healthcare professionals Lewis Reed is the leading UK vehicle supplier specialising in the conversion of luxurious wheelchair accessible vehicles to aid the mobility of wheelchair users. Call us on 0800 247 1001 or email [email protected] www.lewisreedgroup.co.uk N209 OTnews July 2019 11