Think big and shout loud if you want to change the system
As part of the Improving Lives , Saving Money campaign , in 2019 , RCOT produced a key report that recommended occupational therapists should advise on the design of prison environments , to enable vulnerable prisoners to engage in rehabilitation , educational and vocational services .
In a collaborative panel discussion , occupational therapists and HM Prison and Probation Service ( HMPPS ) leaders talked about a project they are working on together around national regime changes within the prison systems across England and Wales .
The Future Regime Design Team involves designing a regime that delivers the right service , to the right person , at the right time ( increased personalisation ) and making every activity matter ( reconceptualising purposeful activity ).
Emma Nicklin , Associate Director of Allied Health Professions and Trust-wide Head of Profession for Occupational Therapy , Central and North West London NHS Trust , kicked off discussion .
‘ The occupational needs of prisoners are really obvious when you step foot in a prison ,’ she said . ‘ You can see the impact of a lack of meaningful occupation and how deprived occupationally the prison service is .’
The occupational needs of prisoners are really obvious when you step foot in a prison .”
She explained how occupational therapists ‘ can really see people ’ s strengths ’ and used an example of working with ‘ heavy duty drug dealers ’ in prisons , who are ‘ hugely skilled in their communication and business management [ and ] in the way they negotiate that world ’.
As an occupational therapist , she stressed , you can really understand how those skills can be used differently and in a pro-social way . ‘ The link between stopping re-offending and meaningful occupation is really obvious .’
With a vision for doing things differently and a drive to changing the system , she told delegates that having the language and confidence to talk to leaders is vitally important , alongside finding allies to support you in changing the system and having influence .
Emma Holmes , Lead Occupational Therapist for Health and Justice Services , Central and North West
London NHS Foundation Trust , added : ‘ Thinking outside the box and being creative is so important to bringing about change . If you Chris Gunderson see how things are done , it ’ s healthy to question that [ and ask ] is this the right way to do it in a non-threatening way ?’
She said : ‘ We all have the ability to influence .’ Chris Gunderson , Head of HMPPS Future Regime Design ( FRD ), Transforming Delivery in
Emma Holmes
Prisons Programme , HMPPS , joined the discussion to talk about the project aims and the Time Well Spent vision .
He said : ‘ It ’ s ambitious . It ’ s all around the right services to the right person , it ’ s all about greater personalisation and it ’ s about not just doing activities that appear
Emma Nicklin to offer a value to everybody and to make judgements that everybody needs the same , but to replicate the things we need in society , but in a personalised way .’
Jennifer Stickney , Advanced Occupational Therapy Practitioner at STRIVE , advised anyone who wants to exert real influence to be ‘ passionate ’ about the area you are working in , and that ‘ believing that what you are doing is going to make a significant difference helps other people to see that too .’
She urged people to ‘ seize every opportunity ’ and to work flexibly and creatively and to be an advocate of the profession and look at how your environment can change for the better .
Her key message was to ‘ understand your allies and how you can create relationships with them and try to understand the politics of what ’ s going on around you , so you can pitch yourself in the right place at the right time .’
She concluded : ‘ Be aware of other people ’ s agendas around you and use this so you can make headway in what you are doing ... and finally , just love what you do , because if you love it , other people will do too .’
20 OTnews July 2022