Occupational Therapy News OTnews July 2019 | Page 23

SOCIAL PRESCRIBING FEATURE also a framework for analysis to help the link worker to work out the relationship between the person, the environment and the occupation, and make good decisions with the service user about the right choice of activity. The choice of activity should be based on need and therapeutic potential, not merely on what’s available.’ The watchword with the tool and its associated training is ‘occupation science’, giving Sarah and the team the job of delivering big concepts with easy-to-use, everyday functionality. ‘The tool itself is very simple; it definitely wouldn’t look in any way new to an occupational therapist,’ says Sarah. ‘But it’s to be used in collaboration with a training package, so we can help link workers and other staff to properly understand the theoretical concepts and the value of occupation in relation to health and wellbeing, so we can win their hearts and minds. ‘The tool can then be adapted to however they wish to use it, with the understanding that in order for a referral to be therapeutic, you have got to identify an activity or occupation that is meaningful, important, valuable, accessible and has certain characteristics to be effective; it’s not just the case of somebody having anxiety so send them to a knitting group.’ The tool is now being piloted with Salford Community Volunteering Services (CVS), with link workers at the service helping co-create the next iteration of the tool, which will then be digitised for inclusion in the digital social prescribing platform Elemental. Says Sarah: ‘We’ve learned that the link workers are incredibly resourceful, talented and highly skilled people doing a difficult job. We’ve learned that they are very receptive to the concepts. ‘We’ve learned that the concepts are able to be explained easily. And we have learned that we need to do some more work to integrate our priorities and link worker priorities so the tool works for everyone. ‘However, one of the problems is there is no standardisation as to what different link workers’ jobs look like, or what they are paid, so one person is very different to another. ‘All the people we work with are all trained in communication skills, problem solving skills, goal setting of one type or another, but that doesn’t mean other link workers are the same.’ Once the pilot phase in Salford is complete, the team will continue to develop and adapt the tool in response to feedback, to ensure link workers everywhere can use it. The social prescribing agenda is continuing to develop apace, and the hub’s work features in the new social prescribing framework for allied health professionals. ‘It’s a useful tool for allied health professionals and from an occupational therapy point of view it affords recognition that we are involved in this agenda – it shows that different professions have different roles to play,’ says Sarah. Andrew Mickel, OTnews journalist, email: andrew.mickel@rcot. co.uk. Find out more at: www.hub.salford.ac.uk/ssph and www. twitter.com/SalfordSPx. The new framework is available at: www.bit. do/AHP-SP-framework. Join the experts As a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), you can join 1 a number of specialist sections dealing with different areas of practice. They give you access to a unique peer network, and the opportunity to share information and promote best practice. Specialist sections support RCOT to: • promote research and disseminate information • enable continuing professional development • provide expertise at local and national levels • advise and influence on behalf of the profession. Together, we help raise awareness of occupational therapy. Joining a specialist section means you have access to: • a UK-wide, specialist network of occupational therapists • expert professional knowledge and resources • professional development opportunities • clinical fora, dedicated to even more specialised areas of practice • opportunities to contribute to shaping policy, strategy and best practice guidelines. Find out more at rcot.co.uk/specialistsections or email [email protected] 1 There is a small annual fee to join a specialist section, which is additional to your annual RCOT membership fee. Fees do vary between specialist sections. You can find out more at rcot.co.uk/specialistsections The Royal College of Occupational Therapists Ltd is a registered charity in England and Wales (No. 275119) and in Scotland (No. SCO39573) and a company registered in England (No. 1347374) OTnews July 2019 23