The benefits of joint input in social care
Physiotherapist Mark Adams and occupational therapist Kirti Gokal talk about the success of collaborative working as part of Leicester City Council ’ s Health Transfers Team
In January 2019 , Leicester City Council embarked
on a new venture to employ an established local authority occupational therapist and an agency physiotherapist to work jointly within the Health
Transfers Team .
Although the two professionals have worked jointly in the health setting successfully , this was a new initiative for the local authority .
The key function of the therapists is to support the work of the Health Transfers Team , ensuring patients are discharged safely from hospital . A 12-week pilot demonstrated the areas where physiotherapy input can aid the work that the occupational therapy service provides , such as improved decision-making timeframes , reduced care needs and less need for major adaptations .
So what are the benefits to having joint occupational therapy and physiotherapy input in social care ?
The council ’ s occupational therapy service has faced some difficulties when it is working with a person who requires physiotherapy input ; namely , the wait times for input and an inability to establish a person ’ s baseline level of mobility , when this is needed before recommending care packages , equipment or adaptations .
The impacts on the council include an increased need for packages of care , equipment and adaptations , as well as increases in occupational therapy staff ’ s workloads , and / or delays in picking up cases .
Additionally , there is a cost to the person . Delays in accessing physiotherapy input can lead to further deterioration in their abilities ( dependence ) and / or the need to wait longer for equipment and adaptations . These delays may put them at risk , so having timely access to a physiotherapist has addressed many of these issues .
In addition , other staff from adult social care have expressed how having access to a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist has enhanced their decision making and improved the patient ’ s journey .
Mark Adams is the physiotherapist within the team *, and says that his role ‘ hasn ’ t fundamentally changed ’, and that input ‘ continues to address strength , balance , function and participation ’.
‘ However ,’ he adds , ‘ when focusing on independence through the lens of someone ’ s social care needs , it leads to me targeting different goals . Some examples include when someone would like to decrease their dependence on formal care services , or the burden on their informal carers . With improved strength and
20 OTnews December 2020