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Feature
© PIKSEL via Getty Images
The bid and next steps
The initial bid was for a Band 6 occupational therapist ( 1 WTE ), a Band 4 assistant practitioner ( 1 WTE ) and a Band 3 administrative assistant ( 0.5 WTE ), who would form the team and respond to referrals from across the county of East Lothian .
It was amazing to hear that we were successful and it was a real boost to the rehabilitation service as a whole .
Our East Lothian Rehabilitation Service is an integrated team of occupational therapists , physiotherapists and support and administrative staff , sitting within ELHSCP , interfacing with primary and secondary care , and third sector colleagues .
The proposal was very much an addition to the existing pathways within the service and not simply an exit strategy .
By the very nature of those in a care-giving role touching each part of the service , we were aware this pathway would complement and require collaboration with each of the different teams from this unique perspective .
A variety of recruitment challenges and service pressures lay ahead of us , which hampered the commencement of the pathway . However , in October 2022 , pending a start date of a permanent
Band 6 occupational therapist , the clinical lead soft launched the pathway by accepting referrals from a community care worker with the specific remit of supporting unpaid care-givers , and the third sector organisation Carers of East Lothian .
This enabled the practical testing of referral processes , Trak ( electronic medical record ) processes , and of the therapeutic assessment and interventions .
Since the Band 6 commenced in post , we have used a Gantt chart to plan and deliver the expansion of the pathway , including presentations to other teams , including how to refer . As a result , referrals to the pathway increased dramatically and the current waiting list means we are unable to meet our response time targets .
We therefore find ourselves challenged with how to respond quickly to those identified as urgently needing occupational therapy assessment and intervention , due to the stress and distress experienced , or where the ‘ cared-for ’ is considered palliative .
This is balanced against our original , fundamental aim of intervening at an earlier point in a care-giving journey to enable caregivers to be resilient and maintain their own health and wellbeing .
December 2023 OTnews 37