OTnews August 2020 | Page 53

MENTAL HEALTH REPORT This document provides some guidance for occupational therapists and the wider multidisciplinary team, based on therapists’ experiences of good practice while communicating challenges and practice issues, which can be discussed/addressed locally. As in many mental health services, there can be a lack of understanding of occupational therapy in PICUs, and subsequently a lack of valuing its complexity and contribution. This is a significant problem which can be effectively addressed by occupational therapists actively contributing to the efforts to explore, understand, develop and improve PICU services. Over the coming year, the network will be: • debating occupational therapy staffing in PICU (adult and CAMHS), including recommended banding, supervision, ratio to caseload; • critically discussing the evidence base and interventions; • exploring research and publication opportunities; • developing resources for occupational therapists in PICUs; • providing workshops; • exploring case studies and case formulations; • identifying how to articulate the complexity of occupational therapy in PICUs; and • developing knowledge of the assessments and outcome measures used in PICUs. In support of the network’s activities and to address the need for research and publication on PICU occupational therapy, NAPICU is collaborating with St George’s, University of London, specifically with Dr Jane Cronin-Davis, associate professor/programme lead occupational therapy. This is an exciting opportunity. The launch and initial activities were open to all occupational therapy staff, in order to gauge the need and interest in a network, but in order to develop working network relationships and attend to large pieces of work, it progresses as a NAPICU members only network. However, all COVID-19-related documents are freely available to non-members. Dr Wendy Sherwood, NAPICU executive committee lead for occupational therapy. If you would like more information, email: [email protected], or visit: www.napicu.org.uk. To find out if your ward is a NAPICU member, entitling its occupational therapy staff to membership, contact: [email protected]. The Forensic Forum is a sub group of the Specialist Section – Mental Health that exchanges information, evidence, views and ideas relevant to occupational therapists working in forensic mental health. By facilitating this exchange the Forensic Forum aims to advance practice and support clinicians through the following objectives: • support and facilitate communication between members via a range of platforms; • provide and promote networking activities relevant to forensic occupational therapists; • support development of clinical knowledge and skills among forensic occupational therapists through educational opportunities, such as study days and conferences; and • develop the occupational evidence base in forensic occupational therapy by supporting research and enhancing research capacity. A committee co-ordinates activities dedicated to these objectives and the Forensic Forum is represented on the National Executive Committee of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section – Mental Health. For information visit: www.rcot.co.uk/about-us/specialist-sections/ mental-health-rcot-ss. SPECIALIST SECTION ©GettyImages/iMrSquid OTnews August 2020 53