Posted on: 4 November 2024
It is Community Services Month at CNWL! Throughout November we are highlighting our wonderful physical health community services and all the fantastic work they do. Each week of November will have a theme, this week is unplanned care.
We speak to two Occupational Therapists (OTs), Vidya and Nora, who work in unplanned care services about their career journey and the profound impact they make on patients’ lives.
Unplanned care services support patients with a condition or injury, which could have been caused by a stroke or an accident like a fall, that is not imminently life threatening but could worsen if left untreated.
Vidya and Nora work in the Urgent Community Response (UCR) team which helps to avoid admissions to hospital by treating patients quickly in their own homes, enabling them to recover in familiar environments. Nora said, “Home can be the best medicine.”
Occupational therapists support patients by identifying the barriers that can make tasks difficult and find practical solutions by utilising a person's strengths. E.g. support someone to get dressed by themselves after an injury or install hospital beds. Vidya said, “Our goal is to promote independence and seamlessly transition patients to other services for continued care.”
One common misconception is that OTs only provide equipment. Vidya explained, "Yes, equipment is important but our role encompasses much more." OT’s have skills in mental health assessment, cognition, and physical health. OTs in Urgent Community Response are equipped to meet the diverse needs of patients in crisis.
This week is also national OT week, a campaign dedicated to celebrating the life-changing power of occupational therapy.
Nora
Vidya
How did you get into being an Occupational Therapist (OT)?
“I went from school, college and straight to university to do my degree in OT. To be honest with you, I did not fully understand what OT was until I actually started studying it at university level. I just knew that I wanted to do something that would help others in their time of need, I wanted to make a difference to people’s lives and that is exactly what I do!
My passion for such a career came from when my father suffered with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cancer and passed with it when I was much younger. At that point I wished I could do something to help him, but I couldn’t – I didn’t know what I could help him with to improve his quality of life.
Now when I look back at how he suffered, I can see that he would have appreciated OT input – just that little bit of input which would have improved his quality of life during his journey.
When I now provide OT interventions to patients, I gain the satisfaction knowing that their life is enhanced with my input and seeing that one smile at the end of the session – makes me feel rewarded and makes me realise just how proud my father would be.”
“I was a Health Care Assistant before becoming an Occupational Therapist. During this time, I enjoyed learning about people’s lives and what drives them. By doing this, I often witnessed their strengths and resilience, which until today I always find so inspiring.
Growing up, my dad endured several health issues and I remember being drawn to the compassionate care given to him, which was not always the norm at the time. I knew as a kid I wanted to become someone people can lean onto in difficult times. After completing the Access course for Nursing and Social Care, I entered the university for Occupational Therapy as a matured student. It was not easy, but being able to step into people’s lives for a few moments, and help them and their families in difficult times is so worthwhile. And although our shifts can be long sometimes, when I come home and we talk about our days, I realise how rewarding our role here is and that we often can make such a difference”
Vidya and Nora work collaboratively with other professions across their team including nurses, physiotherapists, safeguarding teams and healthcare assistants.
Working in unplanned care, both have to quickly identify immediate needs, adapting their approach to each patient’s vulnerability, strengths and urgency of care.
Every day begins with a multidisciplinary team meeting where Vidya and Nora review each patient’s history, assess their needs, and determine who will provide support. They spend the day not only addressing patients’ therapeutic goals but also coordinating with GPs, arranging necessary equipment, and liaising with families and other healthcare providers to support a patient’s holistic wellbeing.
Sometimes, this also means managing unsafe home environments, where the team works closely with social services to mitigate risks and improve living conditions.
What is rewarding about being an OT?
Nora:
"From conducting blood tests to organizing same-day treatments, we get to make a difference very quickly and avoid admissions whenever safe to do so."
Vidya:
Vidya shared the story of a 70-year-old woman with motor neurone disease, referred to the team by palliative care. "With some equipment, careful assessment, and a lot of collaboration, we helped her maintain independence, dignity, and comfort in her own home."
The role of OTs in Urgent Community Response is evolving, Vidya and Nora are now able to handle broader responsibilities, reducing the need for multiple visits and ensuring patients receive timely interventions. Nora hopes for a future where OTs in Urgent Community Response can become non-medical prescribers, further enhancing the efficiency and scope of their care.
Teaching and learning are also integral to Nora’s and Vidya’s role. "We get involved in training – whether it's in-house or working with students – and we gain so much from sharing knowledge with our colleagues," Nora said.
Frederick Nxumalo, Rapid Response Team Lead and Nora and Vidya’s manager, had some advice for aspiring OTs: “Do it! Go ahead, spread your wings and fly.”
Nora and Vidya recommend gaining experience in a hospital setting first to build foundational skills that will be invaluable in any setting. “Occupational Therapy training is versatile,” Vidya explained. "Whether you end up in community or Urgent Community Response, your skills will always allow you to take a holistic view and enhance the care you provide."