As part of the celebration of Occupational Therapy Week, taking place from November 4 to 10, the University of Cumbria, in collaboration with Cumberland Council, is thrilled to unveil a state-of-the-art Occupational Therapy (OT) assessment clinic aimed at enhancing community wellness.
This clinic is designed to address the increasing demand from individuals seeking assistance from the local authority’s Adult Social Care teams while simultaneously cultivating the next generation of adept OT professionals who will serve the community effectively.
Occupational therapists are uniquely qualified allied health professionals, possessing dual training in both physical and mental health domains, thus enabling them to provide comprehensive care throughout diverse health and social care environments. Their primary objective centers on empowering individuals to participate in daily living activities, thereby enhancing their overall quality of life and well-being, whether in the comfort of their homes, at work, or in community settings.
The Adult Social Care Clinic is conveniently situated at the university’s Fusehill Street campus in Carlisle, operating under the expertise of qualified Cumberland Council occupational therapists, alongside BSc (Hons) and MSc Occupational Therapy students from the university’s Institute of Health. The clinic effectively utilizes specialized on-campus facilities typically reserved for training purposes, providing students with invaluable, hands-on experience in a simulated clinical environment.
With Cumbria’s elderly population continually increasing, the timely provision of occupational therapy services has never been more critical. The clinic not only offers quicker access to care for those who can visit the university location but also accommodates a greater number of patients in a structured clinic setting, significantly alleviating burdens on waiting lists and improving accessibility for those seeking assistance.
In alignment with the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, this clinic serves as a practical training ground for University of Cumbria OT students, allowing them to develop their professional capabilities through close collaboration with seasoned practitioners.
The University of Cumbria boasts a distinguished history of training allied health professionals, actively collaborating with local employers to strengthen the skills of the workforce while devising innovative strategies to tackle challenges faced by NHS and social care services head-on.
Susie Wilson, the Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy at the University of Cumbria, pictured, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative:
“We are delighted to partner with the Occupational Therapists in Adult Social Care in this exciting, contemporary service initiative which aims to offer fast track occupational therapy assessment for people in the Carlisle area.
“It provides an excellent authentic learning experience where students can actively engage and work alongside expert occupational therapists. This year, the focus of OT Week that runs until 10 November is ‘The Power of Occupational Therapy – Transforming Health and Social Care’.
“This is a brilliant example of a new way of working that aims to transform social care delivery for people locally.”
Doreen Singleton, Principal Occupational Therapist and Service Manager at Cumberland Council, added her insights:
“This clinic is a great example of a joint initiative which not only offers more choice and a timelier assessment for some of our customers who are waiting for our services, but also helps skill up our future potential workforce.
“Only by working together across the breadth of our social care, health and educational landscape can we maximize our potential to meet people’s needs. This initiative brings that added value now and hopefully for the future by further embedding practice opportunities within the educational setting.”
The launch of the OT clinic epitomizes the ongoing partnership between Cumberland Council and the University of Cumbria, both committed to enhancing NHS workforce capabilities and fortifying health and community services for the benefit of the wider public.
Additionally, Cumberland Council is collaborating with the university’s Institute of Health to spearhead the Cumberland Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), set to commence operations on January 1, 2024.
To learn more about occupational therapy, visit https://www.rcot.co.uk/about-occupational-therapy/what-is-occupational-therapy.
Details of Occupational Therapy programmes at the University of Cumbria are available at here, and information about upcoming open events can be found at https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/events/.
**Interview with Susie Wilson, Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy at the University of Cumbria**
**Interviewer**: Hi Susie, thank you for joining us today. With the launch of the new OT assessment clinic, can you share what inspired this initiative?
**Susie Wilson**: Absolutely, it’s a pleasure to be here! The inspiration behind this clinic stems from a growing demand for occupational therapy services in our community, particularly due to the increasing elderly population in Cumbria. We recognized an urgent need for quicker access to assessments for individuals waiting for Adult Social Care services. By collaborating with Cumberland Council, we aimed to create a solution that addresses this need while also training the next generation of occupational therapists.
**Interviewer**: This clinic not only provides assessment services but also serves as a training ground for students, correct?
**Susie Wilson**: Exactly. Students from our BSc (Hons) and MSc Occupational Therapy programs will work alongside experienced practitioners. This hands-on experience is invaluable, allowing them to apply their learning in a real-world setting. It’s an authentic learning environment that prepares them effectively for their future careers.
**Interviewer**: How do you see this new clinic impacting the local community?
**Susie Wilson**: We believe this clinic will significantly improve access to care for our community members. By offering quicker assessments, we can help ease the burden of waiting lists and ensure that individuals receive the support they require promptly. Additionally, it promotes a collaborative approach to healthcare by integrating services from social care and education, ultimately transforming health and social care delivery in the region.
**Interviewer**: With Occupational Therapy Week focusing on the theme “The Power of Occupational Therapy – Transforming Health and Social Care,” why is this message particularly significant now?
**Susie Wilson**: This theme resonates deeply with our initiative. Occupational therapy has a profound impact on individuals’ lives by helping them engage in daily activities and enhancing their overall well-being. By showcasing our new clinic during OT Week, we emphasize the essential role that occupational therapists play in transforming health and social care, making it a timely and relevant discussion for our community.
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Susie, for sharing these insights. It sounds like this clinic will be a vital resource for both the community and future occupational therapists.
**Susie Wilson**: Thank you for having me! We’re excited about the potential impact this clinic will have and look forward to seeing it grow and benefit our community in the years to come.
