Adapting an art group for deaf people
Occupational therapist Hannah Spreadbury-Troy and activity co-ordinator Paz Jordan share their experience of adapting an art group for deaf people on a mental health ward during the pandemic
I
am an occupational therapist working on an in-patient mental health ward for deaf people in London . I work closely with Paz Jordan , an activity co-ordinator . I am hearing and Paz is deaf and uses British Sign Language . Since June 2020 , we have facilitated an art group with an art charity called Hospital Rooms , delivered remotely via Zoom .
Bluebell Ward is an adult in-patient deaf mental health unit based in South West London and St George ’ s Mental Health NHS Trust .
The ward takes service users who are either born deaf or have lost their hearing early in life . The ward ’ s first language is British Sign Language and half the qualified nurses , healthcare assistants , two deputy ward managers , the social worker and activity co-ordinator are all deaf BSL users .
Hearing staff are expected to achieve level two BSL qualification within two years of employment . I have level three BSL qualification , which enables me to have conversations with BSL users . However , I still use BSL interpreters for complex language , assessments and groups .
The ward provides interventions in service users ’ first language , with an in-depth knowledge of the cultural identity of deaf people .
The ward takes people with mental health problems from the South of England , Cornwall , East Anglia , Devon , Wales and Ireland . Service users can present with complex needs , such as learning disability , autism , schizophrenia , mood disorders , anxiety and personality disorders . Many also have physical health problems like cerebral palsy and rare genetic disorders .
Left to right : Paz Jordan , activity co-ordinator , Bluebell , Phoebe Eustance , head of research , Hospital Rooms , Niamh White , co-founder , Hospital Rooms , Tim A Shaw , co-founder and artist , Hospital Rooms , Hannah Spreadbury-Troy , occupational therapist , Bluebell , in the activity room surrounded by art from the group
16 OTnews November 2021