The purpose of this annual campaign is to share what occupational therapy is all about and why it’s so important. Occupational therapy is often overshadowed by other ‘easier-to-understand’ professions, and so until everyone understands the life-changing power of occupational therapy, OT Week is here to stay.
This year’s theme is ‘The power of occupational therapy – transforming health and social care’. Commencing the first day of #OTWeek2024, the campaign will continue for the next 12 months, with the primary aim of highlighting the key role OTs play in helping people enjoy a better future.
In this short video our Chief Executive Douglas Blair wishes all our fantastic occupational therapists a fabulous OT Week, while recognising the contribution and impact they have, both in our Trust, and across the health and care system.
What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy (OT) enables people to do the occupations they want, need and like to do, and helps them manage their health and care needs. Occupations are meaningful activities that support physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
Occupational therapy saves money and reduces pressure on services and must be included in the strategic planning and allocation of resources to help manage health, education, housing and care needs in the UK.
What are occupational therapists?
As a profession, OTs are on the frontline of health equity and are uniquely placed to understand and tackle the challenges people face. OTs see health inequalities every day, supporting and helping those most in need.
They are experts in occupations and occupational science – this means the activities that we all complete in our daily lives – ranging from specific tasks such as self-care, to those life roles that we all have.
OTs work with their patients to look at how they approach these activities and to identify the barriers preventing them from completing these tasks or roles. Taking into account both their physical and mental health, they support them to be able to do the everyday activities they need or want to do to live a healthy and fulfilling life.
We have OTs working in both adult and children’s services across all our settings, not to mention our brilliant occupational therapy support staff, which includes OT Assistants and Technicians, Therapy Assistants and Therapy Practitioners.
To help demonstrate the wide range of activities and support our occupational therapists provide across the Trust, some of our fantastic OTs have produced these videos in which they speak about their roles and what they love about their jobs.
Meet our occupational therapists
We have OTs working in both adult and children’s services across all our settings, not to mention our brilliant occupational therapy support staff, which includes OT Assistants and Technicians, Therapy Assistants and Therapy Practitioners.
To help demonstrate the wide range of activities and support our occupational therapists provide across the Trust, some of our fantastic OTs have produced these videos in which they speak about their roles and what they love about their jobs.
Michelle: Perinatal Mental Health
Emma: Forensic Mental Health
Geraldine: Older People's Mental Health
Olly: Assertive Outreach Team
Tamara: Perinatal Mental Health
Kelly: Physical and mental health
Laura: Older People's Mental Health
Tom: Gloucester Recovery Service
Sammy: Student Occupational Therapist
Opportunities for Occupational Therapists within our Trust
- Band 3 Community Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Band 5 Community Occupational Therapist
- Band 5 Older People’s Inpatient Mental Health
- Band 6 Occupational Therapist – Complex Care at Home team
- Band 6 Occupational Therapist
To find out more about working for our Trust and the opportunities available, visit our website: Work for us > Glos Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust (ghc.nhs.uk)
