Occupational Therapy (Mental Health)
Last updated | 12/10/2009
About the Service:
Managed from Murray Royal Hospital, an Occupational Therapy Service is offered to people in the following care groups:
- Adults with acute mental health problems, as in-patients and outpatients.
- Adults with severe and or enduring mental health problems, as in-patients and outpatients, within hospital and community settings.
- Mentally disordered offenders in hospital based forensic services.
- Older persons with mental health problems, as in-patients, day patients and outpatients.
Occupational Therapy in mental health aims to help people reach their maximum level of function and independence in all aspects of daily life, including: personal independence, employment, social, recreational/leisure pursuits and interpersonal relationships.
Occupational Therapists can help people when they:
- May have lost confidence with things that they used to do.
- Find day to day activities difficult for a variety of reasons
- Would like to improve their ability to look after themselves or take part in community activities.
Occupational Therapists can work with people at home, in hospital or in the community. We work out with people a plan that meets their needs. We always respect individual’s privacy and what they want to do.
The Occupational Therapy Service in Mental Health operates in the following areas:
- General Adult Psychiatry, Murray Royal Hospital (Acute and Rehabilitation)
- Community Mental Health Team, Perth City
- Adult Forensic Psychiatry, Murray Royal Hospital
- Older Peoples’ Psychiatry (Older Peoples’ Community Mental Health Team), Murray Royal Hospital
Professional Standards:
All Occupational Therapists in Tayside work to professional standards based on national recommendations (British College of Occupational Therapists).
Internal audits are carried out on a regular basis. Performance appraisal of all staff (qualified and unqualified) is undertaken using Tayside Primary Care Trust Performance Appraisal criteria on an annual basis. Services are also audited by means of client satisfaction surveys and programme evaluation forms.
All qualified staff have a degree or diploma in Occupational Therapy and are registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC). All staff attend mandatory training on Moving and Handling, Infection Control, Food Hygiene, Fire and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. Mental Health staff also have annual input on calming/break-away techniques. All staff participate in in-service training and have one half day per month protected for Continued Professional Development.
How to Access the Service:
Operational Times/Days:
Most areas operate on a Monday to Friday basis between the hours of 8.30 am and 4.30 pm. (see “contacts” for further information).
Criteria for the Service:
Referral to the service may be from a variety of sources to qualified occupational therapists. Within hospital settings this can be from other members of the health care team or from individuals/carers themselves. In community settings, referrals can be made through centralised referral points – contact the team concerned for more information. Therapists must have access to the individual’s doctor or consultant psychiatrist. At times the service operates a waiting list and will prioritize services according to set criteria.
Details of referral process:
Contact the occupational therapy department at Murray Royal Hospital (telephone 01738 562370) for information about the referrals. Referral forms are available for General Adult and Forensic Psychiatry within Murray Royal Hospital and in Perth City Community Mental Health Team.
Frequently asked Questions:
Q: Who decides what an occupational therapy programme will involve?
A: An intervention plan will be devised with you by your therapist. This will be reviewed in agreed timeframe, with the opportunity to modify according to your current needs.
Q: Can I visit areas where occupational therapy is carried out, and what if I need transport?
A: Some work is done from the Occupational therapy department at Murray Royal, but this is primarily for people who are in the hospital as a patient. Often arrangements can be made to work with people in other environments, including their own homes. We can discuss with you any concerns you might have regarding transport. Talk to your occupational therapist for more information.
Q: Isn’t occupational therapy all about making baskets and stuffed toys? A: Things have changed over the years, and occupational therapists now work at the forefront of helping people regain and maintain valued life roles. Ordinary, every day activities are used by occupational therapists to help achieve this… so it is much more than what may have been used in the past!
Q: I need some equipment or adaptations for my home. Who looks after this?
A: Generally, we do not deal with equipment or adaptations in mental health settings, but we can put you in touch with people who do.
Contacts:
Perth and Kinross Occupational Therapy Service Manager:
Edith Macintosh
Rehabilitation Unit
Perth Royal Infirmary
Taymount Terrace
PH1 1NX
Telephone: (01738) 473720
Main Administration Office,
Rehabilitation Unit,
Perth Royal Infirmary:
Telephone: (01738) 473466
Head Occupational Therapist,
Adult Mental Health
Occupational Therapy Department
Murray Royal Hospital
PH2 7BH
Telephone (01738) 562338
Feedback Mechanisms:
All staff within the occupational therapy service are happy to receive comments/feedback about the service you receive. These can be done in person to the therapist you are dealing with, or by using the comments/suggestions box which is in the main occupational therapy department. All service users are able to discuss their intervention planning with therapists. There are also opportunities to give feedback via satisfaction surveys and formal evaluations e.g. a group programme feedback sheet.
The Occupational Therapy Service operates within NHS Tayside procedures for making complaints, which can be found at: http://www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk/comments/howto.htm
