Occupational Therapy News OTnews October 2019 | Page 8

NEWS
Capitalise on occupational therapy
workforce to support children,
says latest ILSM report
Services need to be designed so that children with additional
learning and support needs can access occupational therapy
skills and expertise when they need it, according to the latest of
RCOT’s Improving Lives, Saving Money reports.
Occupational therapy: Unlocking the potential of children and
young people outlines the many roles that occupational therapists
play in improving the lives of children and young people with
physical, learning and mental health needs at home, at school or
work and during their free time.
The report also shows how occupational therapists are key to
promoting collaboration between health, social care, education
and the voluntary sector. Their approach to working with children
and their parents focuses on making personal and environmental
changes that to allow the child to fulfil their potential.
Roles including providing routines to promote physical and
mental health into children’s daily routines and activities, and
developing partnerships between parents, teachers and the
community to address children’s needs early in their education.
The strengths of occupational therapists at working across
traditional service boundaries to address children’s physical and
mental health needs, adopting a strengths-based approach that
fosters self-management and independence and anticipating the
changing needs of children, young people and their carers to
facilitate positive transitions are also outlined.
Julia Scott, RCOT chief executive, said: ‘As parents and
as a society we all want children to lead full and happy lives,
participating in the occupations they need and want to do, be
that at home, at school and at play. Yet, the number of children
and young people with special educational needs and disabilities
in the UK is rising.
‘Sadly, many young people with additional learning and
support needs are denied equality of opportunity and the
support they need to realise their potential. This is absolutely
unacceptable – the expectation that they should have access to
the same opportunities and experiences as their peers is rightly
embedded in UK policy.
‘This report shows that to meet societal demands there needs
to be more collaboration between health, social care, education
and the voluntary sector. As a workforce used to working across
a range of service provider settings occupational therapists are
key to driving this forward and promoting collaboration between
different sectors.
‘In addition, a better balance of provision at a universal,
targeted and specialist level is needed. Occupational therapists
can deliver this approach and this report outlines best practice for
commissioning services.’
Read this and all the Improving Lives, Saving Money reports
at: www.rcot.co.uk/ilsm.
8 OTnews October 2019
Leading social care MP sees value of
occupational therapy
Eleanor Smith (front row, second from right) meets with members
A leading MP on adult social care joined RCOT and
occupational therapists in Wolverhampton to hear how they are
making a difference to people’s lives and relieving the pressure
on social care throughout the region.
Eleanor Smith is MP for Wolverhampton South West and
chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Adult Social
Care, which brings together MPs and peers of all parties.
The services showcased ranged from social care
occupational therapists in GP practices to a mobile assessment
service and a one-stop shop in the centre of Wolverhampton
providing advice and key pieces of assistive technology.
Eleanor heard how occupational therapists are establishing
new services where people can make informed decisions on
the support they need, the importance of early intervention for
prevention, and the findings in RCOT’s latest Improving Lives,
Saving Money report on social care.
Karin Orman, RCOT assistant director – professional
practice, said: ‘We were delighted that Ms Smith was able to
visit her local services in Wolverhampton and it was great be
able to share with her an insight into the range of innovative
services provided.
‘As we await developments from the new government on
social care policy, I hope she will take the message of the value
of occupational therapy back to Westminster and share it with
her colleagues in the APPG and the Labour Party.
‘Occupational therapy spans across primary, secondary
and community care, working with people of all ages and
addressing mental and physical health and wellbeing.
Our Improving Lives, Saving Money reports consistently
demonstrate the value of occupational therapy in delivering
person-centred health and social care. The fantastic
occupational therapists in the West Midlands are a great
example of this and it’s been a delight to meet them here.’
Read the Improving Lives, Saving Money report, Relieving
the pressure on social care: the value of occupational therapy,
at: www.rcot.co.uk/ilsm.