FEATURE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH
Social while distant
Rosalyn Daly shares some practical advice from her own experience of running online groups during the pandemic
Since April 2020 , occupational therapists within adult community mental health in Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust have been running virtual groups in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions .
The trust has embraced innovative ways of working to provide services to those who are difficult to reach during the pandemic .
Traditionally , groups have normally been held in person . As occupational therapists , we have had to adapt to ensure people can access the services they need . After some trials of running online groups , we presented our work to fellow occupational therapists within the trust in the summer of 2020 , to provide advice on implementing virtual groups in their own settings .
The first virtual group was named ‘ Social While Distant ’ – a play on words of the advice at the time to socially distance – and we felt that promoting social inclusion via the online space was crucial during a time of physical distancing .
The intention was to make the group as interactive and occupation-focused as possible . Recovery Through Activity ( Parkinson 2014 ) is used as the overarching framework for community group work within the trust ; for example , in self-care sessions , the Wellness Toolbox – an aspect of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan ( WRAP ) by Mary Ellen Copeland – is often incorporated .
Service users are encouraged to creatively decorate their Wellness Toolbox and include in it various sensory items that help support them to feel well , such as a game , a book , perfume , skin care and snacks .
Session topics have included : sleep and relaxation ; physical exercise ; healthy eating ; hobbies and interests ; creativity and learning ; self esteem ; assertiveness ; anxiety management ; goal setting ; selfcare ; and motivation .
administrative team on board to help with sending email invitation links .
Keep track of referrals via a waiting list on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet . Allocate a member of the occupational therapy team to telephone the service user and explain the content of the group , so that they can give informed consent to participate .
Remember to document the service user ’ s email address , so that resources can be sent to them before and after the session , and so that they can be invited to the groups . It is helpful to send a group poster to the service user so they can review it and decide if the group is a good fit for them .
Be mindful of sending group emails individually , or via blind carbon copy to maintain confidentiality of email addresses .
The service user should sign the consent form before joining the group , which includes information on group rules , confidentiality , contingency planning and so forth .
It has been beneficial for group members to complete an Interest Checklist , so that the group can be tailored to meet their interests if there are common themes identified .
Offer service users a one-to-one video call to ensure they are familiar with the functions of the video platform you decide to use . This can also help ease their anxiety as they can recognise a familiar face when joining the group .
And finally , utilise pre- and post-group surveys to measure changes .
Eligibility criteria can include : having a goal to engage in activities in the community ; willingness to work as part of a group ; risk assessment is up to date ; and having access to online meeting platforms
Practical advice for running an online group When running an online group , there can be a substantial amount of pre-group work to complete , and it can be beneficial to have a member of the
What does a session look like ?: Typically , six service users in a group is ideal , with two facilitators : one to lead the session and another on hand for technical support .
46 OTnews August 2021