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Recent literature has challenged the ways in which occupational therapy has been delivered in mainstream schools but consideration of practice in specialist schools, where all students have special educational needs or disabilities, is limited. This study aimed to address this gap by exploring occupational therapy practice in specialist schools in England. This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. The study had 6 occupational therapist participants. Three themes emerged from the data: Theme 1: “I’m going to be really honest with you, we’re not doing therapy” Theme 2: “We are not entirely part of the school community” Theme 3: “You shouldn’t have to try and make someone else the therapist”. The findings echo studies of occupational therapy in mainstream schools but offer new insights into the focus and delivery of occupational therapy in specialist schools. It is recommended that in England a new model of service provision is developed that integrates occupational therapists into specialist schools, creates more time in the classroom, facilitates therapist-teacher collaboration, and enables a broader scope of practice.

Introduction Mental health disorders and low levels of mental well-being can have a lasting effect on life satisfaction and contribution to society for children and adolescents, yet the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions is unknown. Methods A mixed methods systematic review was conducted including studies with children and adolescents aged 5–16 years, who had mental health difficulties, that evaluated occupational therapy interventions and focused on participation in everyday occupations as an outcome. Results The nine included studies were generally very low quality. The results could not be pooled due to heterogeneity. For children with Asperger’s syndrome, the Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance intervention had clinically significant improvements on occupational performance and social skills. For children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the Ultimate Guide to Play, Language and Friendship intervention improved playfulness and the Cognitive–Functional intervention had a statistically significant improvement on occupational performance and behaviour. Conclusion One intervention used by occupational therapists with children with Asperger’s syndrome and two interventions used with children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder had some evidence of effect. No evidence was identified for the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions for children and adolescents with other common mental health conditions.

Introduction While the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool has undergone psychometric development and testing and is widely used in mental health practice, only a few small-scale studies to date have examined its use in clinical practice. Method A national survey was conducted with United Kingdom occupational therapists working in mental health settings to evaluate the use of the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool. The survey included the modified version of the Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use (USE) questionnaire and two open-ended questions. The latter were coded through inductive content analysis and all responses were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software. Results n=105 questionnaires were analysed. The Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool was found to be a useful tool, with most therapists scoring it favourably on the usefulness (74.7%), ease of use (76.1%), ease of learning (81.2%) and satisfaction (80.6%) subscales. It was praised as a valuable outcome measure, guiding interventions and providing a comprehensive overview of assessed individuals. Time consumption, inaccessible terminology and lack of sensitivity to change were indicated as possible downfalls. Conclusion Therapists valued the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool as an assessment tool, but more importance should be placed on training to overcome some of the limitations identified here. Also, its suitability to the setting in which it is used should be considered before implementation in practice.

Background: Alcohol use is a significant risk factor for ill-health. Whilst many people complete treatment, only one third maintain their sobriety. Research has suggested that occupational engagement supports early recovery, but its role in sustained recovery is not known. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the occupational lives of individuals in sustained recovery from alcohol dependency. Methodology: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis methodology was used, utilising an occupational perspective. Participants were recruited from a substance-use recovery centre. Data was collected through interviews and analysed thematically. Findings: This study had three participants. Four themes emerged: 1. Shaping occupational lives, 2. Shifting coping strategies, 3. Finding a gateway to new social connections and a sense of belonging, 4. Establishing a new role in the context of recovery. Conclusion: Findings suggest that in sustained recovery occupations develop new meanings and purposes which have the potential to support recovery

Occupational formulation is a process of making sense of someone’s circumstances that is informed by occupational theories and concepts. This opinion piece presents occupational formulation as a st...

The question of this review is: what is the effectiveness of occupational therapy on participation in everyday occupations for children and adolescents with mental health difficulties? The objective is to identify the evidence of occupational therapy interventions that are occupation-based and/or occupation-focused.The quantitative component of the review will consider studies that evaluate the effectiveness of occupation-based and/or occupation-focused interventions; the qualitative component of this review will consider studies that investigate the experiences of these interventions, and the textual component of this review will consider publications that describe these occupational therapy interventions.The quantitative objective is to identify the effectiveness of occupational therapy on participation in everyday occupations for children and adolescents with mental health difficulties.The qualitative objective is to identify the experiences of occupational therapy interventions on participation for children and adolescents with mental health difficulties in everyday activities.The textual objective is to identify narrative, text and opinion about occupational therapy interventions on the participation of children and adolescents mental health that have yet to be subjected to empirical analysis.

This mixed-methods study investigated the impact of the Re-Animation Approach, a creative occupational therapy, on the well-being and occupational performance of three male patients in a forensic mental health setting. Quantitative data were gathered through goal attainment scaling (GAS) and qualitative data using semi-structured interviews. GAS t-scores demonstrated an over-achievement of expected outcomes in goals related to improving skills, well-being, and time use. Issues emerging from thematic analysis of the interviews are consistent with the GAS results. The Re-Animation Approach had a positive impact on participants’ health and well-being, addressed a range of occupational needs, and can be graded.

Forty-four Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) were introduced in NHS planning guidance in December 2015. Draft STP’s were published in late 2016. The plans bring together providers, commissioners, local government and third sector organisations to develop and deliver new models of care.1 These models aim to improve the quality, efficiency and sustainability of healthcare services, across England over the next five years. 2 Concerns have been raised about the impact of STPs on GP provision,3 on patient groups,4 and on the number of hospital beds.5 The purpose of this study was to identify the detail relating to rehabilitation, occupational therapy and physiotherapy in STPs. Occupational therapy and physiotherapy are two of 12 professional groups that make up Allied Health Professionals (AHPs). AHPs are the third largest workforce in health and care in England. A recent AHP strategy from NHS England6 has provided a blueprint by and for AHPs to contribute to future services, including STPs. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy7 have promoted STPs in order to move towards a model of health prevention and a rehabilitation system that supports collaboration and integration across local systems e.g. NHS trusts and local authorities. The Royal College of Occupational Therapists8 agreed that STPs can provide a vehicle for occupational therapists to deliver early action, prevent admission to hospital, and implement a reabling approach that improves patient outcomes and saves money.

Introduction Sleep difficulties are prevalent in borderline personality disorder; however, the experience of sleep for individuals with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder has not been considered from an occupational therapy perspective. Method This study adopted a qualitative methodology. Semi-structured interviews were utilised to explore how sleep is experienced by four women with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, in an inpatient setting. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Findings Through thematic analysis four themes were identified: ‘there isn’t a proper pattern or structure to my sleeps’, ‘sleep is getting away for me’, ‘before I came in [to the unit] my life–work balance was all chaotic’ and ‘I know the routine, but it doesn’t really seem to affect me’. These findings described the variety of problems experienced by participants with regard to sleep and the implications of sleep difficulties on occupational performance and participation. Conclusion Women with borderline personality disorder on an inpatient unit experienced a variety of sleep difficulties that impact on their ability to engage in occupations. Sleep and sleep difficulties should be explicitly addressed by occupational therapists and sleep interventions should be individually tailored; further research is required to examine occupational therapy interventions for sleep.