Occupational Therapy News OTnews July 2019 | Page 50

FEATURE FORENSIC SERVICES Some of the patients’ comments included: ‘I really like this group, it makes me feel much better in myself’; ‘I feel more confident now’; and ‘I didn’t shout out today, I’m proud of that’. The wider impact The Interesting Group not only generated much enthusiasm in the session, but spread throughout the entire ward. Following the sessions there was always a positive atmosphere on the ward with much discussion initiated by patients with the nursing team. The ward multidisciplinary team would often ask: ‘So what’s the topic for the Interesting Group this week?’. The sharing of ideas and discussion within the wider team assisted the multidisciplinary team to understand the therapeutic aims of the group, enhancing understanding of the role of occupational therapy. Patients on the lower level of creative ability (Self- differentiation), were also involved after the main session on a one-to-one basis for a shorter session of 10 to 15 minutes. The aim of these sessions was to develop basic and elementary concept formation. For example, after a session on chillies and peppers, entitled ‘Is it hot or is it not?’, patients on the ‘Self-differentiation’ level were invited to try some of the peppers while they talked about the properties. The engagement of patients on different levels of creative ability and the involvement of the multidisciplinary team created opportunities for the whole community. Networking and sharing The Interesting Group has been shared within the VdTMoCA community and as a result has been introduced to various forensic mental health settings across the UK. Due to the success of the Interesting Group within the men’s medium secure IPU, the session was introduced in the men’s low secure IPU. I initially introduced the group alongside the occupational therapy team to support them during the introductory phase, withdrawing as the group became established. Corinne Dawes, senior occupational therapist, said: ‘As a therapist it is a joy to see the patients happy and engaged, they also learn how to talk with others in a group without realising it, how is that?’ Gemma Harley reported on implementing the Interesting Group at Southfield, a low secure forensic 50 OTnews July 2019 unit for men and women with complex mental health needs: ‘Service users were more comfortable as they were all working on similar aims, not feeling left behind, felt less judged by their peers and their abilities were not being under estimated’. The Interesting Group was also introduced in Broadmoor Hospital within the mental health pathway, specifically targeting patients on the ‘Self-presentation’ level who were not engaged in occupational therapy. Joanna Lawrence, senior occupational therapist, said: ‘Patients demonstrated increased levels of motivation, improvement in social communication and interaction skills, increasing a shared connectedness, and the group became embedded within their weekly routine.’ The group had further impact, seeing patients who rarely engaged in occupational therapy participate in a wider therapy programme. The Interesting Group has proven to be an effective therapeutic intervention for patients on the ‘Self-presentation’ level of creative ability, demonstrating improved concept formation, self- concept, self-confidence and interaction and communication skills. It has been successfully applied for people with a wide range of diagnosis and diverse occupational performance needs. References De Witt,P (2014). Occupational Therapy in Psychiatry in Mental Health. 4th Edition. United Kingdom. Wiley- Blackwell Publishers Du Toit V (2015) Patient volition and acton in occupational therapy: Theoretical foundations for the Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability (5th Ed). Pretoria; South Africa: The Vona and Marie du Toit Foundation Louise Jeffries, senior occupational therapist, Men’s Medium Secure IPU, St. Andrews Healthcare, Northampton, email: [email protected] © GettyImages/offstocker