Project Description

A review of Occupational Therapy models

Following a review of services within a North West mental health trust, models of Occupational Therapy had been subject to change. The changes took into account national and local drivers for change and recognised the valuable contribution to service delivery made by its Occupational Therapy staff as described in “Recovering Ordinary Lives, the Strategy for Mental Health Services 2007-2017” that clearly identifies:

The unique contribution Occupational Therapists make in shaping the way mental health services are designed and delivered in ways that meet the occupational needs of those who use our services, by promoting good mental health, assisting recovery and preventing mental ill-health through engagement in activity

The key changes proposed were in line with Mental health Policy Implementation Guidance as:-

  • A review and realignment of OT staff structured to foster an environment and culture of engagement and to maximise the time that staff spend therapeutically engaged with service users
  • Integration of qualified OT service into the individual in-patient areas to support care planning and in the determination and facilitation of a range of appropriate activity inputs into the ward
  • To raise visibility of qualified OT staff on wards and enhance availability for an accessible ward based occupational and activity service
  • For qualified OT staff to act as role models and provide leadership for unqualified staff within the wards so as to support activity within the ward areas
  • Flexible working of both OT staff and OT support to increase service access to include evening/weekend activities and opportunities on and off the ward
  • Staffing levels that incorporate structured engagement and practice development which can considerably diminish the use of bank and agency staff and be more acceptable to service users

These changes were intended to incorporate the OT provision within ward based and liaison services and were implemented in early April 2013.

JMB Health Consultancy were asked to review the new models by initially establishing a baseline, with on-going progress facilitation and a re-evaluation following an established implementation period.

This 12 month project saw the development of various reports derived through a range of methodologies including engagement exercises with service users, evidence based research, and a series of workshops and away days with staff and management.

If you would like to know more about the work we undertook, please feel free to contact us.