Black History Month
Margaret Michael shares her career journey so far , her thoughts on leadership and mentoring and names the three Black women who have been the most inspirational .
Black History Month
Feature
The people who have inspired me the most
Margaret Michael shares her career journey so far , her thoughts on leadership and mentoring and names the three Black women who have been the most inspirational .
Margaret Michael
I hail from Ibadan , Nigeria and grew up as one of 10 siblings . In 1987 , I migrated to the UK and landed my first job as a cleaner , while pursuing my dream of becoming a company administrator . In 1994 , I later delved into occupational therapy training , which I did alongside my work at Homerton Teaching Hospital in London .
Upon completing my training in 1999 , I secured my first qualified post with the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust . I then moved to East London NHS Foundation Trust as a senior OT and onto the Northeast London MH NHS Foundation Trust , where I served as a senior OT and clinical specialist for the day hospital .
I then moved to Lancashire in 2005 , to support my husband when he was completing his specialist training in public health . My husband suggested I would be suited to occupational therapy , due to my caring nature and positive personality traits . I investigated this career and felt that it was a profession in which I could make a difference .
My current role for Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust ( LSCFT ) is as a Consultant Occupational Therapist / Associate Director . This involves working with lead AHPs across Fylde Coast , ensuring that AHPs are delivering quality and safe services , leading on projects , and developing strong working
The shoulders of resilience on which I stand
I joined adult social care in 2015 , after graduating the previous year . I fell into it by chance , having spent months prior to graduation searching NHS jobs for hospital posts . But I found the transition from student to newly qualified occupational therapist very difficult .
My team was very social worker heavy , with one occupational therapist to approximately eight social workers . This was very different to the dynamics in the hospital , where the occupational therapy remit was clear and not generic .
I struggled to understand my role and the difference between an occupational therapist and a social worker and I experienced imposter syndrome , as I felt overwhelmed with role blurring and professional identify .
I got a lot of support from my team ; however , I didn ’ t realise it was not the support I needed to develop the skills I knew I was lacking . Comments were made that made me feel inferior and unworthy and I experienced a number of issues that I kept to myself about how ‘ stupid ’ I felt as a newly qualified occupational therapist .
Today , I remember this feeling each time I have a student on placement and they
Sherlyn Graham query asking ‘ stupid questions ’. I knew how it felt to feel ‘ stupid ’, so I always reiterate ‘ there is no such question as a stupid question ’, or ‘ if you don ’ t ask questions , how do I know you ’ re learning ?’ For me , belonging is so important for development and growth .
Being the youngest of nine children , raised by Jamaican born parents . I was made aware from an early age that I had to work hard and not to give up . My parents were not academic people and
18 OTnews October 2023