Occupational Therapy News OTnews May 2020 | Page 60

PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES
Updated falls guideline published by RCOT
RCOT has published the second
edition of the practice guideline
Occupational therapy in the
prevention and management of
falls in adults, developed by the
RCOT Specialist Section – Older
People.
The guideline provides
specific evidence-based
recommendations that
describe the most appropriate
care or action to be taken by
occupational therapists working
with adults who have fallen, are
at risk of falling or are fearful of
falling. It is applicable to occupational therapists working in all four UK
nations.
Updates to the guideline are based on a review of new evidence
collected since the first edition was published in 2015. Two new
evidence-based recommendations have been added and new
supporting evidence has been included with other recommendations.
Amendments have also been made to statements and the role
occupational therapists can play in this topic area.
Members and other occupational therapy professionals should
make sure they are now using the second edition of the practice
guideline. It is available for free download from the RCOT website and
as a hard copy for purchase.
In addition, three implementation tools are available to support
occupational therapists using the guideline:
• a quick reference and implementation guide provides a summary
of the recommendations along with suggestions for applying
them in practice;
• an audit form allows members to evaluate their own practice
against the evidence-based recommendations; and
• a continuing professional development session presentation can
be used or adapted to deliver a continuing professional
development session focused on the practice guideline.
The updated guideline, together with the implementation tools, is
available at: rcot.co.uk/falls-guideline.
New digital resource launched for
occupational therapists
In a world where the use of digital tools for health and care delivery is
increasingly vital – and never more so than during social distancing in
the COVID-19 pandemic – all occupational therapists should have the
right digital literacy skills. RCOT has therefore launched a new digital
resource that will help you to capitalise on the benefits digital brings to
your workplace and area of practice.
Access the digital resource on the RCOT website at: www.rcot.
co.uk/node/3507.
60 OTnews May 2020
AWARD
Occupational therapist wins
positive practice award
for enhancing service user
experience
Lead occupational therapist Tori Wolfendale has
recently won a positive practice award for enhancing
service user experience in secure services in Mersey
Care NHS Foundation Trust.
These awards recognise the good work,
commitment to caring, personal and collective
achievement of everyone connected to mental health,
learning disability, addiction and community services
the length and breadth of Mersey Care’s footprint.
Tori was nominated for the award by colleagues for
being a ‘fantastic advocate for occupational therapy’
and showing ‘motivation, passion and enthusiasm to
improve the lives of individuals with mental illness in
secure settings’.
She has been involved with a number of initiatives,
including: the brand new Life Rooms Secure initiative;
engaging service users and staff in collaborative
discussions around strategies to reduce seclusion
rates; piloting the Vona du Toit Model of Creative
Ability (VdTMoCA), with agreement to roll it out across
the whole of high secure services; leading on the
implementation of peer support schemes.
Tori has also completed a full review of the
occupational therapy referral service within Ashworth
Hospital, to ensure that an equitable service is
provided.
As part of the nomination process, one college
said: ‘Tori has really improved the lives of patients
within secure and specialist learning disability division.
Tori’s journey hasn’t always been easy, as she has
supported some shifts and changes in thinking. Her
courage and commitment is admirable… in the short
space of time she has been employed by Mersey Care
she has made a huge difference to patients’ lives.
‘She demonstrates the trust’s values every single
day and is a real asset to the service. I am excited to
see what other improvements and initiatives she has
for the service.’
Of receiving the award Tori told OTnews: ‘I feel
really honoured to receive this award. Fortunately for
me the service that I work in is extremely supportive
and the team are fantastic, so it makes my role
enjoyable. I feel really lucky and proud to be in the
position I am in. So really, just thank you to my team
and colleagues.’