The DFG is a UK government grant. It is awarded for the purpose of adapting homes to be safer and easier to be lived in by the disabled occupant/s. This may be due to a physical, mental or sensory health impairment that makes current living conditions difficult. The impact of inappropriate housing can have a significant impact on occupants health and wellbeing, and the provision of suitable adaptations can be lifechanging. 

Today is international Slow Art Day, a day to take the time to look slowly at art. Our attention spans are getting shorter as we are bombarded with increasing amounts of stimulation, and as a consequence we spend less quality time being present in any occupation. Slow Art Day aims take us away from that rush of everyday life, to spend time looking at art, slowly. 

With the local elections coming up on 2nd May it is important as Occupational Therapists that we reflect on our role in this. Voting itself is an occupation, one that we have the freedom to democratically participate in, and could be seen as a duty for our profession to engage in. Health and social care is political, including the way it is funded, and the wider political agendas and policies that can inadvertently influence health outcomes and inequalities. Politics affects every aspect of the physical and social landscapes that we live in, and can provide both opportunities and barriers to engage in meaningful occupations. 

This article was featured in the April edition of OT Today. 

There are no set guidelines or competencies to follow in order to be ready for a band 6 OT job, therefore it can be difficult knowing when and how to make this step. It is largely down to confidence and willingness to accept extra responsibility and complexity of caseload. If you are a band 5 and thinking of applying for a band 6 job, or wondering what you can do to prepare yourself for this role and/or the interview, here are some ideas to get you started.

Pets have such a positive impact on our wellbeing and health, and are an important part of the family for many of our clients. They can provide positive responsibility, giving motivation and purpose. However illness, disability and recovery from an injury or operation can impact on the ability to care for pets, and should be considered as part of a holistic OT assessment. 

The financial costs of workforce attrition are high. They include training new students, the costs and administration involved with employing and supporting new starters in an organisation, and the costs of employing temporary agency and bank staff to fill gaps. Further, there is a knock on effect on the workload and stress of remaining staff.

Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is an arts-based teaching tool to promote cognitive growth and reflection. Through looking at artworks with teacher facilitated discussion, students develop skills such as critical thinking, curiosity and communication. The purpose isn’t to learn the history of the work of art but to use it as a basis for looking, describing, analysing and interpreting. Initially developed for use in museum education, the value has since been recognised for other professions too.

Life Coaching has many overlaps with Occupational Therapy theory, placing the client at the centre and looking holistically at their aspirations and barriers to goals. Life Coaching has its own models that are useful to base therapy conversations around, and which can be useful tools for Occupational Therapists to add to our toolboxes too. This is an introduction to two of these.