Occupational Therapy Week 2023
Occupational Therapy Week (OT Week) is a national awareness raising campaign dedicated to celebrating the life changing power of occupational therapy.
Run by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, OT Week will take place from November 6 – November 12, and we want to share what occupational therapy is all about and why it’s important.
This week, we will be explaining occupations in the context of occupational therapy.
In the context of occupational therapy, what are occupations?
An occupation is any activity that we need, want or like to do to live and to look after our physical and mental health, and our emotional and spiritual wellbeing. We do occupations from the moment we are born, on our own or with others.
Occupation isn’t just your job or activities of daily living. An occupation can be self-care, such as washing, eating or sleeping; productive, such as work, study, caring or domestic activities; and leisure, such as playing sports, hobbies or socialising.
Occupations are the building blocks of life. But why do they matter?
Occupations are essential to living. They give our lives meaning, purpose and structure. They help shape who we are, connect us with others and help create our identity and sense of belonging. Through occupation we enhance our health and quality of life.
Focusing on occupation leads to improvements in our ability to do the things we need and want to do, our social relationships, communication and connections as well as our mood, rest and sleep.
Occupational therapy puts quality into your life
Occupational therapists see beyond diagnoses and limitations to hopes and aspirations. They look at relationships between your occupations, the challenges you face and your environment.
Occupational therapy helps you live your best life at home, at work – and everywhere else.
For more information visit:
Royal College of Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapists within the Vale
Vale Occupational Therapists are employed within Social Services, provide functional assessments for disabled people, regardless of age. This is in order to help them reach their maximum level of independence in their own home.
They can help them by teaching new techniques to achieve independence and/or help people arrange equipment and/or adaptations.
Referrals
You can make a referral for an Occupational Therapy assessment by writing to or calling Contact OneVale. Referrals can be made by individuals, family and friends, as well as from other professionals.
Due to the high volume of referrals for Occupational Therapy Services, prioritisation is necessary.
High priority is given to people when:
- Someone has a terminal illness
- There are safety issues in providing care
- There is a breakdown in someone’s care arrangements, which puts and individual at risk
Reasons for Referrals
- Difficulties with managing personal care, such as getting to the toilet, bathing, dressing, or eating
- Problems with mobility and access to essential facilities, such as climbing steps and stairs access to and from the home or access within the home
- Difficulties with carrying out transfers such as getting on and off chairs, or into and out of bed
For further information, please visit the Occupational Therapy Page:
Vale Occupational Therapy
To make a referral, please contact C1V at: