FEATURE STUDENT EDUCATION
© Andrija Nikolic via Getty Images this allowed them to see things were achievable when previously they did not think they would be .’
Moving forward The temporary occupational therapy service was reviewed at the end of the placement by the three students , placement tutor and educator . Julian comments that over the period of the placement the service ‘ was fully supported by the main mental health team in terms of referrals and learning opportunities .’
Thirty students were worked with directly from 50 referrals received . Julian says : ‘ The occupational therapy students increased the capacity and specialism of what the main service could offer in the most difficult of circumstances .
‘ The occupational therapy interventions allowed the Lancaster University students to develop ways of making the most of the limited occupation opportunities available to them , to build healthier routines , to overcome procrastination and develop time management skills .
‘ Important health and wellbeing promotion was developed by the occupational therapy students and shared throughout the university around ways to survive lockdown restrictions and isolation periods .’
The placement will be offered again as this new and exciting area of occupational therapy practice is being developed .
References
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occupation . In Sakellariou S ( ed ) and Pollard N ( ed ) Occupational therapies without borders : Integrating justice with practice . London : Elsevier
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Miles E and Trott W ( 2011 ) Collaborative working : Inside out , a series of personal perspectives on government effectiveness . Available at : www . Instituteforgovernment . org . uk / publications / collaborative-working [ accessed 29 December 2020 ]
Rudman D ( 2010 ) Occupational terminology : occupational possibilities , Journal of Occupational Science , 17 ( 1 ): 55-59
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Julian Morris , mental health adviser , University of Lancaster , Debbie Mahoney , Janet Regan and Abbie Pearson , occupational therapy students at the University of Cumbria , and Bel Youngson , senior lecturer in occupational therapy , University of Cumbria , email : annabel . youngson @ cumbria . ac . uk
As part of this project , Julian is interested in hearing about occupational therapy support services in other university settings . Anyone who has completed projects or research in this area can contact Julian Morris by email : j . morris @ lancaster . ac . uk
What the occupational therapy students learned :
• the importance of goal setting and outcome measures ;
• the importance of underpinning practice with theory ;
• articulation of the occupational therapy role ;
• how to operate effectively in the virtual world ; and
• how to promote health and wellbeing through occupation to survive lockdown .
28 OTnews May 2021