Domestic abuse occupational therapy project : a response to COVID-19
Kim Jones and Lucy Clarke explain how they further developed a domestic abuse occupational therapy project , but this time in response to COVID-19
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After the success of a final year placement project with a local charity providing support to men , women and children who have experienced , or are experiencing , domestic abuse ( Jones 2020 ), occupational therapist Kim Jones joined forces with mental health clinical lead occupational therapist Lucy Clarke to propel the domestic abuse occupational therapy service into its first year .
Following the completion of the project , funded by The Elizabeth Casson Trust and hosted through Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board , they shared the growth of the project , its impact on individuals recovering from domestic abuse , and outcomes , through a Bevan Exemplar ( Clarke and Jones 2021 ).
Reports indicate that during the pandemic calls to the National Domestic Abuse helpline increased by 49 per cent , with lockdown jeopardising service users ’ physical and emotional wellbeing , which affected daily social and cognitive function , relationships , employment and daily living skills .
Oliver et al estimate the cost of domestic abuse to the economy to be around £ 34,015 per victim , per year ( 2019 ). Our intention was to provide rehabilitation , through occupational therapy , to victims of domestic abuse , allowing them to reengage in daily social , educational , occupational , behavioural and cognitive activities , and helping to rebuild their identity and life .
Aims of the project The aims of this project , based at and in collaboration with the Domestic Abuse Safety Unit ( DASU ), were to provide upstream , mental health rehabilitation and early intervention .
We used a person-centred approach to help people identify goals that they wished to achieve and used engagement with important activities and roles to develop lost occupational identity , embed selfmanagement techniques and improve wellbeing .
We used social prescribing across community and third sector partners wherever possible during the pandemic . The project looks to :
• provide early intervention and mental health rehabilitation ’ upstream ’;
• use a person-centred approach to identify individually meaningful occupational goals ;
• enable development of occupational identity through meaningful activity and roles within home , family and community life ;
• embed self-management strategies to support wellbeing into daily routines ; and
• harness a network of health , social care and
18 OTnews October 2021