Thursday 14 October 2021 is #AHPday…
Our trust AHPs hold a unique set of knowledge, skills and approaches to help patients take control of their own health and wellbeing.
They include dietitians, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and art psychotherapists.
AHPs are the third largest clinical workforce in the NHS and they are important members of our multidisciplinary teams providing support to our patients and carers.
To mark AHPs’ Day, we want to celebrate a few of the success of our own Allied Health Professions.
Occupational therapy
Our first occupational therapy post recruited into regional prisons has gone from strength to strength. The role has had great success supporting those in prison with mental health needs to develop purposeful routines and daily living skills, and has paved the way for future posts. Aspects of the service and examples of good practice including reducing occupational deprivation during COVID-19, have been written up for publication in OT news and specialist section newsletters, which has highlighted the need for occupational therapy within Health and Justice.
Dietetics
Our programme within secure inpatient services to support those who are overweight or living with obesity has received national recognition. The success of this programme will allow dietitians and other professionals to gain insight and knowledge of how to establish a weight management service in such a unique setting.
Speech and language therapy
Our speech and language therapists who work into north east prisons, police liaison and diversion and forensic community outreach teams, picked up a NEPACS award recently for their work in creating resources and assessment tools to support people who have communication and swallowing needs. Nepacs (North East Prison After Care Society) is a north east charity which promotes a positive future for prisoners, offenders and their families.
Physiotherapy
Our physiotherapy team have developed a new model of student education in collaboration with Teesside University. Due to social distancing restrictions, the team have adapted their model to offer six physiotherapy students a fully virtual leadership and service development placement, which includes a mixture of virtual workshops, lectures, group and 1:1 supervision.
Our art psychotherapy team are working on an arts project that is being led by people we care for. ‘Hope’ will be a digital montage of the tree of life, made up of 2000 images from across the trust and will be available for public viewing.
