InFocus Magazine 2007 - Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

09
Rachael Hartley, Occupational Therapist
Working jointly with other members of the team (doctors,
nurses, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and
social workers), attending meetings and case conferences.
Completing projects such as audits, service development and
presenting at groups (like the pulmonary rehabilitation group).
Why did you decide to become an Occupational Therapist?
I first discovered occupational therapy when a family member
became ill and received input from an occupational therapist (OT).
Seeing the positive outcomes made me interested to explore the
profession further, but it was later that I realised it fulfilled all of
my criteria. We help people realise functional independence and
promote a better quality of life. They can work in a variety of
settings including mental health the community or paediatrics.
In the hospital there is the opportunity to work in a number of
specialist areas depending on your interests.
What does your job entail?
The main aim of occupational therapy at the hospital is to
provide a safe and rapid discharge. We work closely with
medics, nurses, physiotherapists and social workers to achieve
this. I’m called on to provide:
Assessments of daily living (washing and dressing, meal
preparation) and transfer assessments (getting from A to B)
Cognitive assessments (assessing the functions of the brain)
Wheelchair and seating assessments
Assessment for and provision of equipment
Assessment for minor house adaptation – rails, raising
chairs/beds etc
Home assessments
Education and advice to family and carers about things
like hoisting patients who are no longer able to transfer
independently or safely.
What is the best part of your job?
It’s difficult to pick just one thing as there are so many aspects
of the job that I enjoy! The most rewarding part of the job
is contributing to an individual’s progress or achievement. It
takes time but your time, patience and effort as a therapist
allows many patients to achieve their goal(s). These goals might
be things like walking again, being able to prepare a meal
independently, or returning home safely. I also enjoy spending
time with the patient to find out what difficulties they are
experiencing, discuss any concerns, and try to understand how
this impacts on their life. I do a lot of problem-solving, which
keeps me on my feet!
What is the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part of the job is often the pace and
constant demand for hospital beds which can become quite
tiring! I think it’s important to have a healthy work/life balance
and remember why you initially became an OT.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to develop my knowledge on a specific interest area of
multiple sclerosis. I also hope to become accredited as a practice
educator for students. Long-term, I want to take a more senior
role within OT, which would involve greater responsibilities
within the team, taking on a more managerial and operational
role whilst continuing with a clinical caseload. OT is becoming
more and more recognised and I would encourage people to
consider it as a career path that can present many opportunities
and be very rewarding.
Occupational Therapist
What is a typical day like?
There is no typical day in acute medicine! I enjoy the
challenge of prioritising my day, which can often change
quite rapidly, so you have to remain quite flexible. Jobs
on my daily schedule might include:
Patient contact – completing assessments, carrying
out treatment interventions, monitoring progress,
providing training, information and advice and
facilitating a safe discharge from hospital.