relationships with all stakeholders in and outside the trust .
I am also the trust co-chair for the Race Equality Network and enthusiastic about challenging inequality .
I am proud to be part of LSCFT , because the organisation always looks at how we can improve and embed personalised care to ensure the vision , values and strategic priorities are applied . Personalised care relates to how we engage with each other – our service users , carers and staff .
I chose the occupational therapy profession because it ’ s a rewarding career . I enjoy helping people – the profession allows me to support people . It is also a profession that looks at the whole person and I like that !
As a clinician , I always keep three things in mind when working with service users and carers . First , we provide high-quality care that is evidencebased to our patients . Ensuring our processes are leaner , we can release the time clinicians spend with service users in delivering person-centred interventions rather than on paperwork .
We are also working collaboratively to integrate all the services to avoid duplication . Collaborating with local authorities and third sectors is part of this .
The second thing I think about is patient satisfaction , and the third is patient safety .
Some of my mentors are not occupational therapists and a good mentor is someone who believes in you and your ability . It ’ s also important to know your ally ; those sharing advice on mentorship and leadership , who will celebrate your success , and those who can be candid with you .
You must believe in yourself ; I am not leaving with doubt . Always do your best and believe your best is good enough . We can all make a difference . I strive to be a blessing to everyone that I meet within my profession .
Finally , I am genuinely inspired by the remarkable lives of these three Black women . Their stories are a testament to their strength and resilience :
• My mother : education and hard work are vital for making a significant impact in life , and she made sure I understood this , even though she didn ’ t have the opportunity for formal education herself .
• Oprah Winfrey , who said : ‘ Self-esteem means knowing you are the dream ’.
• Maya Angelou , who said : ‘ Success is liking yourself , liking what you do and liking how you do it ’ and ‘ If you are always trying to be normal , you will never know how amazing you can be !’
Words MARGARET MICHAEL , OT Consultant , Associate Director for AHP , Co-Chair for Race Equality Network , Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust came to England for a better life , to give me the opportunities they never had .
They are the shoulders of resilience on which I stand and feel it is my duty to continue the legacy that they began . So , feeling like a failing occupational therapist , I could not give up at the first hurdle , or at any hurdle for that matter .
There is a lot of reference to occupational therapists not representing the diversity found in the population they serve , thus driving for greater diversity in the profession . I am Black and the population I serve is majority white .
I am aware that being Black has negative connotations , such as being untrustworthy . I work with older people , who can be described as vulnerable , and to ensure these vulnerable people know that they can trust me , and I am not there to take advantage , I always make sure I wear and show my badge on arrival .
I often venture to remote parts of the county , where I am not expecting to see people that look like me . I ’ m mindful that people may think I am in their community for negative occupations . However , if I am donning my badge and logo t-shirt , I feel more accepted and trusted .
I ’ ve always loved my role and regardless of the weight of preparing to be accepted at each visit , I was raised to respect my elders , regardless of colour or creed .
Being raised in a Christian household , I ’ ve seen my OT role as a calling in my life and a gift that was given to me from God . I work in the community I was born , so I feel like I am giving back . There is a Jamaican saying , ‘ one hand washes the other , and together they wash the face ’, highlighting the importance of mutual support and collective responsibility within the community .
Black history means a lot to me , especially as my parents came from Jamaica , and with them they brought a work ethic that continues to inspire me .
Words SHERLYN GRAHAM
October 2023 OTnews 19