Occupational Therapy News OTnews October 2019 | Page 23

AWARDS FEATURE
SHELAGH MORRIS OBE: A legacy of improved opportunities for AHPs
Recently-retired deputy chief allied health professions officer, NHS England
With a wide array of posts in practice and leadership over her career, it was no surprise when Shelagh
Morris was listed as one of the 10 leading occupational therapists in The Independent in 2002.
After early mental health posts and work in social services that helped establish a community
rehabilitation centre, she went on to work as a director of allied health professions in an acute trust. From
there, she went on to join the Department of Health and helped lay the groundwork for many key tenets
of how many occupational therapists work today, working across health and social care, leadership development and patient and
service user involvement. Her work helped to reduce waiting times and improve access for patients to a range of AHP services. She
subsequently moved on to NHS England, serving the last five years as the deputy chief allied health professions officer. She also led
work that resulted in 2016’s Commissioning Guidance for Rehabilitation, and led the project that resulted in AHP prescribing rights.
In RCOT, Shelagh was the chair of the Trent Regional Group for several years, and was a founder member of RCOTSS –
Learning Disabilities. Although retired, Shelagh continues to be involved with her professional body and has undertaken an RCOT-
commissioned scoping project on the use of medicines mechanisms by occupational therapists.​
Shelagh said: ‘A huge thank you to RCOT – it’s an incredible honour and I’m so proud to be part of an awards ceremony that
highlighted the inspirational work by occupational therapists to innovate and improve the health and wellbeing of populations,
communities and individuals.’
HAZEL WINNING: a voice for AHPs in Northern Ireland
Lead allied health professions officer, Department of Health, Northern Ireland
Hazel has served as Northern Ireland’s most senior adviser on all AHP matters, including occupational
therapy, for the last three years. It means all four lead or chief allied health professions officers in the UK
countries have been occupational therapists for the last few years.
After qualifying in Belfast, Hazel worked in a range of clinical roles across acute, community, adult
services, learning and physical disabilities and paediatrics, before moving into management and
leadership roles.
Since taking on the lead AHP officer role, Hazel has set the strategic direction for the AHP professions, and leads on the
development of policy in relation to professional standards and practice, quality and safety, and workforce development. Her work on
the workforce reviews for all AHPs helped set out the numbers and models for each occupational therapy service for the next decade.
Other work has included the development of First Contact posts, including the future of occupational therapists in first contact
mental health practitioner roles; the development of an Advanced AHP Practice Framework for Northern Ireland; and the launch
last year of an AHP e-learning model to make sure all health and social care staff know about the AHP colleagues.
Hazel was also a member of the RCOT Board: Northern Ireland before taking up the role at the Department of Health.
Hazel said: ‘I am so delighted to receive this award. I feel so privileged for my professional body to recognise my contribution to
the profession; it is a real honour.’
DR JENNY PRESTON MBE: leading change in neurological rehabilitation
Consultant occupational therapist, clinical lead neurological rehabilitation, NHS Ayrshire and Arran
Jenny’s commitment to occupational therapy and neurological rehabilitation was made clear when she was
appointed as a consultant occupational therapist in 2009, one of the few people to earn the title in the UK.
Jenny arrived at the post after advancing through the ranks of first the Grampian and then the Ayrshire
and Arran Health Boards. Her wealth of experience has meant she has taken on a range of roles in national
policy, including as a member of the National Advisory Committee for Neurological Conditions.
Her research focus has been on multiple sclerosis, and she also co-edited and contributed to the key
text Occupational therapy and neurological conditions, as well as supervising many other students.
At RCOT, she has been a member of the Research and Development Board and chaired the RCOTSS – Neurological Practice, as
well as helping revise the RCOT pre-registration standards.
And she is well-known on Twitter as one of the founding members of the monthly OTalk Research Twitter chats.
Jenny said: ‘It is a huge honour to be recognised by my profession for my commitment across all four pillars of occupational
therapy practice.  As occupational therapists we so often take for granted the enormous impact we have on the everyday lives of the
people we serve so recognition of my clinical practice at this level makes me feel incredibly proud.’
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