Above left to right : The ‘ sleep pack ’; Alice Dowling and Andrew Sims at Hafan-y-Coed Mental Health Unit , University Hospital Llandough
• Next steps and independence : routine , motivation and priorities .
• What does recovery look like for me ? Building blocks to recovery .
Alice says : ‘ I shared enthusiasm for these topics , as they draw on key occupational therapy principles around relationships , roles , routine , motivation and participation in occupation . Our work was rooted in experiences common to many inpatients , which Andrew highlights as a particular challenge in his journey .’
Andrew reflects : ‘ I became “ just ” an inpatient or diagnosis . I lost sight of other facets of my identity – roles , relationships and interests that make the bigger picture of who I am . It kept me in a place of mental ill-health for too long .’
Alice goes on : ‘ Our evaluation of the successful pilot demonstrated the need for a one-hour time limit and because of the regular movement of patients and new admissions , for the courses to ‘ stand-alone ’ from each other .
‘ We expanded our delivery into community houses and inpatient treatment wards , growing the curriculum to a 12-week schedule , allowing for evaluation before the secondment ended .’
Upholding the College ’ s fidelity to a co-productive model , the two regularly brought decisions back to the College team , whose combined lived experience and professional practice informed the roll out of courses on treatment wards .
‘ Some courses were rooted in existing College co-productions , others from the pilot ,’ Alice explains . ‘ We also co-produced new course material . We included space for students to decide what they would like us to deliver , to bring coproduction to the inpatient setting and represent the inpatient students ’ voice .’
Alice explains that the College is ‘ committed to addressing issues around digital poverty ’ s impact on health and wellbeing ’, so through an emerging programme , digital peers visited to support inpatient students to enrol and register for digital / hybrid courses featured in the College ’ s main curriculum .
Tablet devices were loaned to the wards to support future access . This enabled personal responsibility and motivation for continued participation .
‘ I applied for the secondment hoping to explore exciting new ways of utilising my occupational therapy skills , as I wanted to challenge myself to seek new opportunities for personal and professional development ,’ Alice reflects .
I applied for the secondment hoping to explore exciting new ways of utilising my occupational therapy skills , as I wanted to challenge myself to seek new opportunities for personal and professional development .”
July 2022 OTnews 35