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Since being the clinical practice facilitator occupational therapy post holder , I have seen firsthand what a difference this role can make on an individual and department level .”
• Management of frailty , led by a consultant in health for older people .
• Management of challenging conversations , delivered by therapy service leads .
• Management of palliation and end of life discharges , led by a palliative care consultant .
Initially this programme was implemented by the Band 7 occupational therapy clinical leads group . Now it is an established six-monthly programme managed by the clinical practice facilitator .
The clinical practice facilitator now also reviews annual weekend working competencies alongside supporting training needs associated with weekend rota working .
Hannah Jacks , Head of Acute Occupational Therapy Services , Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital ( Eastern Services ), says about the clinical practice facilitator role : ‘ The introduction of the clinical practice facilitator role here has been instrumental in demonstrating that , as a trust , we are committed to supporting occupational therapy education for both students and the occupational therapy workforce , especially our new graduates .
‘ The occupational therapy education week showcases the unique skills and contributions of occupational therapists to care delivery within the hospital setting , to ensure that the increasing complexities of our patients are met . Both of these initiatives have been key to our recruitment and retention of new staff .’
Solei Naisbett Jones , current clinical practice facilitator , adds : ‘ I have seen first-hand what a difference this role can make on an individual and department level .
‘ From working alongside newly qualified occupational therapists offering pastoral and clinical guidance while they transition through the rotations , to supporting clinical lead occupational therapists by facilitating occupational therapyspecific training , this role ensures new starters or returning occupational therapists feel welcomed and valued .
‘ A particular highlight for me was the hospital scavenger hunt , which aimed to make finding their
way around the acute setting feel more familiar but in a fun way .’
While Isabelle Konnaris , a Band 5 rotational occupational therapist says : ‘ Solei ’ s role as clinical practice facilitator has been fundamental in supporting my transition into the acute setting , helping my professional development and also providing training through supervision , as well as on the wards with assessments and equipment use .’
After several years of having a clinical practice facilitator in post , it would be a challenge to support groups of staff without this post being available . Alongside this we are now three years on from the development of regular and specific training programmes for newly qualified occupational therapists in the acute setting .
We continue to see the benefit of this , not only for the staff that have gone through having clinical practice facilitator support and for those that have attended this bespoke training week . That support has improved our ability to recruit and helped us understand and plan our future training needs .
My fellow Band 7 clinical leads and I are extremely grateful for our current and past clinical practice facilitator post holders and are proud to be working in an organisation that has led the way on this .
We have moved away from solely relying on traditional teaching methods and have put into practice learnings from our multidisciplinary team colleagues ( nurses and physiotherapists ). We have integrated the clinical practice facilitator role and occupational therapy training programme into the culture of our acute occupational therapy services to support our current and future workforce .
Words FLORA SMITH , Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist , Health for Older People , Royal Devon University Hospital , flora . smith1 @ nhs . net
54 OTnews December 2023