Multi-Professional Support for Independence

Occupational Therapists

• Considers meaningful occupations to optimise health and wellbeing.

• Helps the person to adapt how they do things (person), what they do (task) and where they do it (environment).

• Trained in activity analysis & occupation.

• Works in: health, social services, housing, schools, prisons, vocational settings, charities.

• Works with: all ages, people with physical, mental, social or developmental difficulties

Physiotherapists

• Use physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore physical, psychological and social well-being.

• Work particularly with people neuro- muscular, musculo-skeletal, cardio- vascular and respiratory conditions

• Use manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, electro-physical modalities

• Work in: acute, rehabilitation, workplace, community, clinics

• Works with: all age groups

Podiatrists

• Provide assessment, evaluation and foot care.

• Specialists in biomechanics wound-care, foot deformities, nail-care.

• Some specialise in surgery – e.g. nail surgery.

• Work in: in acute and long term settings

• Works with: diabetes, MS, RA, cerebral palsy, peripheral arterial disease and peripheral nerve damage

Orthoptists

• Diagnosis and treatment of eye defects

• Work in: acute, community in health & education

• Work with: premature children with retinopathy those with squints, lazy eyes those with eye movement defects due to diabetes, hypertension, endocrine dysfunction, cancer, trauma, stroke

• Work as part of ophthalmic speciality teams dealing with glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration.

Paramedics

• Senior ambulance service healthcare professionals at accident sites or in medical emergencies.

• Responsible for assessing the patients condition and provides essential treatment.

• Use high-tech equipment including defibrillators, spinal and traction splints, intravenous drips.

• Administer oxygen and drugs when necessary

• Work in: accident/ medical emergency sites, GP surgeries

• Works with: anyone

Speech & Language Therapists

• Help people overcome (or adapt to) disorders of speech, language, communication and swallowing.

• Work across life span

• Work in: many settings: schools, acute hospital, community.

• Works with: children & adults with neurological conditions, learning disabilities, cleft palate

Radiographers

• Diagnostic: use techniques to produce high-quality images to diagnose and injury or disease

• Diagnostic imaging is part of majority of care pathways, breast screening, ultrasound monitoring in pregnancy.

• Therapeutic: play vital role in treatment of cancer

• Only health professional qualified to plan and deliver radiotherapy

• Work in: hospital; mobile screening units

• Works with: anyone

Prosthetists & Orthotists

• Prosthetists Gait analysis & engineering solutions to match as closely as possible the missing limb.

• Orthotists Gait analysis & engineering solutions, provide splints, braces and special footwear (orthotics)

• Work in: Hospitals, private clinics

• Works with: prothestists limb loss: congenital limb difference, diabetes, vascular disease, trauma. Military personnel form a significant part of caseload. Orthotists diabetes, arthritis, cerebral palsy, stroke, spina bifida, scoliosis

Dieticians

• Assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems.

• Use scientific research on food, health and disease to enable people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices

• Work in: hospitals, care homes, wider community

• Works with : Work at individual and public health level

Arts Therapists

• Comprise art, music and drama therapists

• Work using the psychological and social benefits of the arts.

• Contribute to overall well-being of communities and reduce social stigma surrounding mental health issues

• Work in: community, hospital, early years, education

• Works with: Support people with range of physical, communication and mental health issues

Approaches Used in Rehabilitation

• Compensatory/Adaptive

• Educational

• Bio-mechanical

• Neurodevelopmental

• Developmental

• Behavioural

• Cognitive –behavioural

• Sensori-integrative

• Psychodynamic

World Health Organization (WHO)

• Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO, 1946)

Wellbeing

• General term encompassing all human life domains

• Used to describe quality of people’s lives

• Includes physical, mental, social factors

• Factors make up what might be called a “good life” (in ICF, 2001)

Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)

• Health Condition (disorder/disease)

• Body function & structure (Impairment)

• Activities (Limitation)

• Participation (Restriction)

• Environmental Factors

• Personal Factors

Occupational Therapy & Amputation

• Work across health and social care as part of MDT

• Fatigue management/ energy & pacing skills

• Emotional support for people and their carers

• Advice re home adaptations & special equipment

• Employment support including advice re environmental adaptations, task modification, fatigue management and pacing skills

• Practical advice on helping people to do the things that matter to them (meaningful Occupations).

• Advice on staying active – links between activity, health & well-being

• Joint working with other members of the MDT

Team

• Together

• Everyone

• Achieves

• More