Occupational Therapy News OTnews October 2019 | Page 21

AWARDS FEATURE MERIT AWARDS Merit Awards were introduced in 2008 to recognise excellence in the RCOT membership. This year, two members were given merit awards. ANITA COOPER: driving apprenticeships and developing the workforce Clinical lead – therapists and rehabilitation at the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust This year saw the first occupational therapy degree-level apprenticeships get underway, and Anita has been pivotal in their introduction. She saw the opportunity available through apprenticeships to develop a new route into occupational therapy and physiotherapy that would open opportunities not only to existing support workers, but also to those from less traditional academic backgrounds. Together with local stakeholders, she formed a national trailblazer group, mapped the apprenticeships to professional standards and ensured that, at the end of 2018, the standards and end point assessments of both programmes were approved for delivery by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. She has also been part of the steering group that reviewed the Rehabilitation Medicine Service, which had been running an expanded Community Outreach Team Service from four locations across Lincolnshire. The expansion aimed to provide an equitable service across the county, minimise hospital admissions and ensure patients received a timely discharge back to their homes from the rehabilitation unit. Anita said: ‘It is quite overwhelming to be recognised by our profession and receive this award. It was a wonderful celebration of some amazing occupational therapists and I am truly proud to have been part of it.’ LINDA GIBSON: pioneering digital support and leading change in stroke care Senior occupational therapist, Edinburgh Community Rehabilitation and Support Services Linda’s multifaceted career involves leadership in stroke care, working with other services to deliver the best possible outcomes for service users, including finding digital solutions that can make a real difference. She helped create and run the Edinburgh Community Stroke Service (ECSS), a multidisciplinary service for stroke-specific rehabilitation and support within the community based on individual rehabilitation needs and goals. Most recently, she helped support innovation in community rehabilitation, and collaborated with Blackwood Housing Association to install a full ‘smart home’ in the community centre, open to anyone looking to try new technologies. She also established what is believed to be the first digital technology occupational therapy post, helping those with degenerative conditions and delivering training and support to other occupational therapists in Edinburgh. She has also been involved in developing training resources, co-authoring the Stroke Training and Awareness Resources (STARS) Introduction to Physical Rehabilitation Modules. Linda said: ‘I would like to thank RCOT for organising the award ceremony and of course my colleagues who nominated me.   ‘It was an absolute honour and privilege to be part of this special occasion. It was very inspirational to hear everyone’s stories of achievement. If any occupational therapist is considering nominating a colleague for a future award then I would encourage them to do so. Being part of this was day was very special indeed.’ OTnews October 2019 21