Occupation

Abstracts
P164
Auditing major adaptations to improve customer
outcomes
Way A, Finch H, West Sussex County Council
When adapting homes occupational therapists based in the
Independent Living Service (ILS) in this local authority have
very limited feedback from our customers. Close working
relationships exist with our 7 District/Borough Councils, however
it was recognised that there was no mechanism for 3 way
feedback between customers, the ILS and the District/Borough
Councils/housing providers.
A customer focused audit was developed looking at the impact
of major adaptations. Inspiration for this audit was taken from
‘Developing a housing adaptation genome project’ Heywood
and Awang (2011) which highlighted a distinct lack of evidence
about the effectiveness of housing adaptations, and the need to
develop a strong evidence base to support investment in housing
adaptations.
The audit aims are to:
• understand outcomes from the customers’ perspective
• to develop further understanding of the importance of
housing adaptations for our customers with permanent and
substantial disabilities, in light of the government’s Well Being
agenda and the Care Act 2014
• inform OT practice and improve service delivery
• feedback to District/Borough Councils to improve customer
experience.
Method:
• A letter and questionnaire were devised in consultation with
customers/carers and OT staff.
• Ethical governance was sought but not required.
• Questionnaires sent to all customers having major adaptations,
return are anonymous.
The audit will continue as routine ‘business as usual’. All
components of the questionnaire results are analysed and
reported on regularly, particularly focussing on aspects of
customers’ experiences. To date results indicate that for the
vast majority of customers, outcomes have been achieved
or exceeded. As the audit progresses, it is hoped that
improvements in outcomes and service delivery for customers
needing major adaptations will be evident. This poster will share
the audit process, results and development of an action plan on
the learning and outcomes.
References
Heywood F, Awang D (2011) Developing a housing adaptation
genome project. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(4),
200–203
Department of Health (2014) ‘Care Act’, London: DH www.
legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014
http://www.scie.org.uk/care-act-2014/assessment-and-eligibility/
eligibility/how-is-wellbeing-understood.asp
Keywords
Social Care, Audit, Practice – present and future, Social Care
Contact E-mail Addresses
ann.way@westsussex.gov.uk
Author Biographies
Ann Way, Team Manager working for West Sussex County
Council in the Independent Living Service for the last 12 years.
Posters
Helen Finch, Senior Occupational Therapist working for West
Sussex County Council in the Independent Living Service for the
last 15 years.
P165
Challenging perceptions of disability to promote
inclusivity and social change
Simons M, The University of Northampton
Whilst attitudes towards disabled people have improved
since 2005 (DWP, 2011), the need to continue to challenge
perceptions and promote disability inclusivity was identified
from a previous study (Simons, 2012), as an important step in
encouraging universal understanding and promoting an inclusive
learning culture within occupational therapy students education.
In 2011 a series of workshops were created over the 3 year
undergraduate programme with service user involvement, to
challenge student perception of disability, which supports HCPC
Standards of Education and Training Guidance (2014) to embed
service user involvement in education programmes. Furthermore,
in 2014, the opportunity for students to undertake British
Sign Language (BSL) training was also introduced to enable
students to have the confidence to engage effectively through
volunteering activity with the local deaf community, as part of
the university’s core value to inspire change and transform lives
(University of Northampton, 2015).
Student evaluation of the workshops and BSL training and
volunteering was conducted through focus groups, as part
of modular evaluation. Students confirmed that through the
workshop debates and training, personal and professional
awareness of disability were enhanced and issues for service
users were heightened, whilst promoting the values of the
university, to support innovation for positive social change.
References
DWP (2011), Public perceptions of disabled people: evidence
from British Social Attitudes survey 2009. (Online) https://www.
gov.uk/government/publications/public-perceptions-of-disabledpeople-evidence-from-the-british-social-attitudes-survey-2009
(accessed 14/9/2015)
HCPC (2014) Standard for Education and Training Guidance.
(online) http://www.hcpcuk.org/assets/nts/10001A9D
Standardsofeducationandtrainingguidanceforeducationproviders.
pdf (accessed 14/9/2015)
University of Northampton (2015) Strategic Plan 2015–
2020. (online) http://www.northampton.ac.uk/Downloads/
Strategic%20Plan%202015-2020.pdf (accessed 14/9/2015)
Simons M.S. (2012) The lived university experiences for disabled
occupational therapy students COT Annual Conference Glasgow
2012.
Keywords
Students, Practice development, Education and learning,
Education
Contact E-mail Addresses
sara.simons@northampton.ac.uk
Author Biographies
Sara has worked in education since 1998 with previous
experience in management and mental health.
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