RCOT visits NELFT to see occupational therapy impact in action
Last week, Gary Waltham and I visited North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) to meet occupational therapists from across the organisation and hear more about the innovative work taking place across a wide range of services.
The visit brought together occupational therapists working across children's services, community rehabilitation, mental health, specialist regional services and patient safety. It provided an excellent opportunity to see the breadth of occupational therapy practice and the impact practitioners are having for individuals, communities and services.
Throughout the day, we heard inspiring examples of occupational therapists leading service improvement and transformation. Teams shared how they are improving access to children's occupational therapy support, reducing waiting times, streamlining sensory pathways and developing new approaches to help people receive the right support more quickly.
We also learned about innovative work supporting people living with dementia, including therapeutic walking groups and ecotherapy initiatives that promote participation, connection and wellbeing. Other presentations highlighted the role occupational therapists play in community rehabilitation, helping people regain independence and confidence following illness or injury.
One session explored occupational therapy's contribution to patient safety. It demonstrated how occupational therapists can use their skills in systems thinking, risk management, human factors and service improvement to help organisations learn from incidents and improve the quality and safety of care.
The visit also showcased the profession's contribution within specialist regional services, including wheelchair services, prosthetics, environmental controls and assistive technology, helping people live as independently as possible and participate in everyday life.
A consistent theme throughout the day was the ability of occupational therapists to combine person-centred practice with system-level thinking, finding practical solutions that improve both individual outcomes and service delivery.
We ended the day by learning more about NELFT's involvement in the Hospital Rooms charity, a national initiative that works with artists, patients and NHS staff to transform mental health settings through art and creativity. It was fantastic to see the remarkable difference these projects can make, creating more welcoming and therapeutic environments that support wellbeing, participation and recovery.
It was a fitting end to a visit that showcased occupational therapy at its best: innovative, person-centred and focused on enabling participation in all aspects of life.
A huge thank you to Joanne Tyler and all the occupational therapists and colleagues who shared their work with us. We left feeling energised by the innovation, leadership and impact being demonstrated across NELFT every day.