Occupation

Abstracts
Posters
Hook A, University of Salford
Occupational Therapists (OTs) are interested in the meaning
and value people place on their occupations and why people
choose to engage with occupations that may be detrimental to
health and wellbeing. Of particular interest is the transition from
unhealthy to healthy occupations.
The first year post-diagnosis for Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (DMT2)
is a crucial period of time where individuals should be supported
to modify lifestyle in ways to develop and embrace selfservice
users people will know I work here now and I now have
something to show my family about the work I do at the farm.
The intervention has also increased positive public perception
and community awareness you can really see the effort that’s
gone into doing this and it’s a really visual experience to see
people you don’t expect to see doing this type of work.
Resources left behind have further supported individuals to take
ownership in creating more wall art to be sold at the farm shop.
The intervention demonstrates the value of third sector
placements and their contribution to organisations which have
previously lacked OT provisions.
References
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. (2015). Care Act: easy read version.
[Online]. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/
uploads/attachment_data/file/365345/Making_Sure_the_Care_
Act_Works_EASY_READ.pdf
HARDEEP, A and McCarthy, A. (2014). Current attitudes towards
disabled people. [Online]. http://www.scope.org.uk/Scope/
media/Images/Publication%20Directory/Current-attitudestowards-disabled-people.pdf?ext=.pdf
Keywords
Learning disability, Service improvement or transformation, New
or emerging roles, Voluntary/third sector services
Contact E-mail Addresses
rhaythorne@hotmail.co.uk
Author Biographies
Rebecca Haythorne is a third year MSC student at Sheffield
Hallam University training to be an Occupational Therapist.
Rebecca’s previous work experience has included: acute mental
health, older adults community mental health, specialist
eating disorders and learning disabilities. Rebecca is currently
completing her research thesis which is looking into occupational
therapy practice in the forensic environment: a service user
perspective. Rebecca will be graduating in May 2016.
P62
Garden partners: occupation and participation
opportunities in a spinal injuries centre
Whitmarsh C, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Introduction: The physical impairments of people with spinal
cord injury increase their risk of occupational injustice, including
occupational alienation, deprivation and imbalance, as described
by Townsend & Wilcock (2004).
Gardening is a meaningful occupation for many and its
therapeutic potential has long been acknowledged (e.g.
Soderback et al 2004, Soopramanien 2013). Occupational
therapists have traditionally employed it and continue to do so,
as an occupation-based intervention and to promote inclusion
(e.g. Diamant & Waterhouse 2010, Wagenfeld & Atchison
2014).
Methods: A garden was established at the spinal treatment
centre by a dedicated charity, with the aim of providing a
sanctuary and creative and therapeutic activities for patients,
families and staff.
Skilled, enthusiastic volunteers maintain the garden, work with
patients in gardening themed therapy sessions and fund-raising
activities and host regular events in the garden.
Results/Conclusions: The garden is popular and initial patient
satisfaction evaluation has been very positive. Developments
planned include qualitative evaluation of patient experience
and therapeutic benefits, wellbeing sessions in the garden
in collaboration with psychologists and closer links between
rehabilitation goals and garden activities.
The charity also plans gardens for other spinal centres.
Impact on service users: A gardening partnership between
patients, therapists, volunteers and community supporters has
started to enrich increasingly discharge-focussed rehabilitation
through meaningful occupation and participation.
Implications for Occupational Therapy: The occupational science
principle of occupational justice can be addressed and the
benefits of co-occupation realised through the therapeutic use
of a gardening environment and community.
References
Diamant E, Waterhouse A (2010) Gardening and belonging:
reflections on how social and therapeutic horticulture may
facilitate health, wellbeing and inclusion. British Journal of
Occupational Therapy, 73(2), 84–88.
Soderback I, Soderstrom M, Schälander E (2004) Horticultural
therapy: the healing garden and gardening in rehabilitation
measures at Danderyd hospital rehabilitation clinic Sweden.
Developmental Rehabilitation, 7(4), 245–260.
Soopramanien A (2013) Garden therapy as a rehabilitation tool.
Expert Witness Journal, 01.
Townsend E, Wilcock A (2004) When people cannot participate:
occupational deprivation. In: Christiansen CH, Townsend EA
Introduction to occupation. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson
Education, Inc. 243–273.
Wagenfeld A, Atchison B (2014) Putting the occupation
back in occupational therapy: a survey of occupational
therapy practitioners’ use of gardening as an intervention.
The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2(4), Article 4,
doi:10.15453/2168-6408.1128.
Keywords
Long term conditions, Service improvement or transformation,
Occupational science, NHS
Contact E-mail Addresses
catherine.whitmarsh@salisbury.nhs.uk
Author Biographies
I have a background in primarily physical rehabilitation across
a variety of settings and now lead a team of Occupational
Therapists and Physiotherapists in The Duke of Cornwall
Spinal Treatment Centre in Salisbury. Professionally, I have
taken a particular interest in occupational science and patient
experience and amongst my personal interests are gardening
and conservation work.
P63
Occupational therapy may be vital in diabetes T2
self-management
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