We caught up with Suzanne to find out a bit more about her and what we can expect to hear her speak about at this year's Annual Conference in Birmingham.
Q: What does occupational therapy mean to you?
As occupational therapists we are practical problem-solvers who can address both the physical and mental health needs of our patient groups. This means that occupational therapy has potentially the widest path of career opportunities of any of the 14 allied health professions I represent.
Q: Can you give us a sneak peek of what you’ll be talking about at Annual Conference this year?
My plenary will focus on leadership at every level in occupational therapy and what we are doing nationally to support this. I will also be highlighting a range of leaders across the UK within occupational therapy who I know personally, who will offer their own leadership insights to conference. I will also share my admiration for eminent senior thought leaders in the profession and occupational therapists who are inspiring leaders because of their clinical excellence. There may be some reflections on my career too!
Q: What do you think are the biggest challenges and opportunities ahead for the occupational therapy profession?
The NHS Long-Term Plan (LTP) in England (and similar policy direction in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) provides a range of significant opportunities and some challenges for occupational therapists.
The occupational therapist’s role is across the life course in a huge variety of settings. The profession’s unique selling point in delivery of the LTP is provided through the undergraduate training and the dual qualification in mental health and physical medicine. This places occupational therapy optimally to support the ‘triple integration’ agenda across primary and secondary care; physical and mental health services; and health with social care. All spaces that historically occupational therapists are experienced and skilled at working across.
The challenge for occupational therapists will be how to clearly articulate that offer to the system. The campaigns from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists promoting the #ValueOfOT have been particularly helpful in providing a basis for this. Occupational therapists will need to ensure that clinical outcomes of interventions are collected, evaluated and promoted across systems in order to evidence the impact of services.
Occupational therapists will be intrinsic to support the development of new service models across urgent care, community and intermediate care and be key members of the plans for expanded multidisciplinary teams within primary care.
As I travel the country visiting various AHP events and services, occupational therapists should no longer be sat on the back row, hoping that they will not be noticed or spoken to, which has at times been my observation. But should be present with an enquiring mind, ready to describe how the profession adds value for patients and services and where they envisage the profession developing over the next 10 years in support of the Long Term Plan and similar policy areas in the other home countries.
Occupational therapists need to embrace the pioneering values of Elizabeth Casson, and celebrate and highlight to leaders in the system we are working in, the developments within the profession and the great leaders we have amongst us at every level.
Q: Can you tell us something we don’t know about you?
I am a Galanthophile, a collector of snowdrops. I was excited to discover a variety ‘Lady Beatrix Stanley’ unexpectedly growing in my hedgerow this year. The snowdrops’ delicate shoots have the power to break through frozen ground. They are one of the first flowering plants that emerge in the spring and their appearance signifies to me renewal and optimism. And they are green and white!
Suzanne Rastrick will be speaking at this year's #RCOT2019 Annual Conference, which is taking place in Birmingham, 17-18 June 2019. Book your ticket today.