Occupation

Abstracts
Posters
Siegal, R. D, Germer, C. P and Olendzki, A. (2008) Mindfulness:
What is it? Where does it come from? Available: http://www.
mindfulselfcompassion.org/articles/nicamb_mindfulness.pdf. Last
accessed 16/09/15
Keywords
Forensic practice, Service improvement or transformation, New
or emerging roles, Inter-agency
Contact E-mail Addresses
sally.laws@merseycare.nhs.uk
Author Biographies
Sally Laws, Occupational Therapist working within a forensic
setting on the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway. I am
passionate about the value engagement in meaningful
occupation can have on restoring purpose and value for an
individual and am currently developing my own practice through
training in mindfulness.
Debbie Brennand, Senior Occupational Therapist working within
a forensic setting on the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway.
Previous experience in Personality Disorder within high and
medium secure health. Particular interest in the contribution
of Occupational Therapy within the Personality Disorder client
group.
P46
Developing a vocational social enterprise in the
forensic mental health setting
Lane N, Oxford NHS Foundation Trust
In 2014, the Thames Valley Forensic Mental Health Service relaunched
its vocational work scheme. The scheme was entitled
‘The Employment Skills Scheme’ (TESS). Under TESS the service
users of Woodlands House, a low secure mixed forensic ward in
Aylesbury have created a car washing business, currently open to
hospital staff. Each week a group of service users wash cars with
support from Occupational Therapy staff.
A specifically designed self-assessment outcome measure was
completed at week 4 and 11. Members were asked to rate
their abilities within the following fields – Team Working and
communication, Responsibility and Commitment, Organisation
and Planning, Safety and Quality of Product. Results from the
Within Team Working and communication, Responsibility and
Commitment and Quality of the product showed that all group
members noticed an increase in their skills as a result of the
project. In relation to Organisation and Planning and Safety
no change was acknowledged by members. Therapists noted
improvements in all areas and had rated patients lower at the
start of the project within most fields.
Currently, three service users engage in this social enterprise
each week. There are many more that wish to join and with its
expansion it would be hoped to recruit more workers into this
enterprise. Feedback from service users have said: “It has given
me confidence to get back into a work environment” and “It’s
great to be able to offer a service to others as well as developing
new skills myself”.
It has been identified that those in a forensic mental health
setting face many barriers in gaining employment and engaging
with meaningful productive roles upon discharge (Dunn and
Seymour 2008). In 2013, the employment rate of people with
severe and enduring mental health was 7.3%. This was the
lowest rate in all the disability groups (HSCIC 2013 as cited
in Centre for Mental Health 2013). Occupational therapy can
implement and apply the Government strategy in enabling
service users to access and sustain suitable employment (Inman
et al 2007).
References
Dunn C & Seymour A (2008) Forensic Psychiatry and Vocational
Rehabilitation: Where are we at? British Journal of Occupational
Therapy. 71(10) 448–450.
Centre for Mental Health (2013) Briefing 47: Barriers to
employment London: Centre for Mental Health.
Inman J, McGurk E & Chadwick J (2007) Is Vocational
Rehabilitation a Transition to recovery? British Journal of
Occupational Therapy. 70 (20) 60–66.
Keywords
Forensic practice, Practice development, Innovative practice, NHS
Contact E-mail Addresses
Niamh.Lane@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Author Biographies
Louise Maxwell has worked in Forensic Mental for nearly 5 years
and previously worked in Older Adults. Louise is passionate
about helping people to carry out activities that are meaningful
to them in order for them to live fulfilling lives, promoting
recovering, and supporting people to live as independently as
possible in the community.
Niamh Lane graduated last year with an MSc in Occupational
Therapy. She began working in forensics mental health 6 months
ago. Niamh has a keen interest in this area and has a passion
for promoting recovery through integration and returning to the
community.
P47
Occupational therapy in a male prison within the
offender personality disorder pathway
Brennand D 2 , Laws S 1 , The Beacon 1 , HMP Garth 2
Although Occupational Therapy is acknowledged as a core part
of service provision within secure services (DoH, 2002 & DoH,
2007) it has not been a traditional role within the prison service.
The role of Occupational Therapy within forensic settings has
been defined as helping people to engage in occupations which
give their life meaning and value and mitigating alienation
and anti-social behaviour (Couldrick, 2003). Duncan (2008)
additionally suggested that Occupational Therapy should assist
people to develop their interpersonal capacity, pro-social values,
their personal identity and skills for life participation. There is a
current research need to gather further evidence in supporting
the effectiveness of the role of Occupational Therapy within the
Personality Disorder client group.
Professor Livesley (2013) has identified that the elements
contributing to change within the Personality Disorder
client group are: 50% the individual 40% relationships and
interactions with others and 10% specific treatment measures.
This would support the effectiveness of day to day Occupational
Therapy input in significantly contributing to change in this client
group.
This poster will provide an overview and discussion points
regarding outcome measures and evidence base for
Occupational Therapists working within this area of service
development. Focus will be given to promoting an environment
which enables occupational engagement whilst maximising
potential to develop and apply pro-social skills. This is achieved
through collaborative working to identify and reduce risk
behaviours through group and individual intervention to allow
for the application of person centred practice. The promotion
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