Hello everyone! Today, I’m hoping to illustrate the power of evidence-based occupational therapy.
Meet My Client: Understanding Their Challenges
Let's start by getting to know my client a little better. They are a wonderful individual with a learning disability and anxiety. They also have several specific phobias, including loud noises (phonophobia), certain smells (olfactophobia), and balloons (globophobia). These challenges can make everyday life daunting, but it’s never stopped them from wanting to contribute to their community.
The Occupational Profile: An Evidence-Based Approach
Our journey began with a deep dive into their occupational profile. This is essentially an exploration of their identity, strengths, and interests. It's a crucial step in occupational therapy as it helps us understand what motivates our clients and where their potential lies. This approach is backed by evidence that suggests understanding a client's occupational profile can significantly improve therapy outcomes.
The Search for Volunteer Roles: A Client-Centred Process
Once we had a clear picture of their occupational profile, we began searching for suitable volunteer roles. As my client isn't tech-savvy, I wrote down potential roles on cards, along with key words to describe them. This visual aid helped them to categorise the roles into those they were interested in, those they weren’t, and those they wanted to learn more about. This client-centred process is a key principle in occupational therapy and is supported by evidence showing its effectiveness in improving client engagement and satisfaction.
From Interest to Application: The Power of Preparation
After narrowing down their interests, we contacted the relevant organisations directly and arranged visits. I supported them during these visits, which eventually led to an application and interview. To prepare for the interview, I identified potential questions and we prepared responses. I accompanied them to the interviews, providing input only when necessary. This preparation phase is a crucial part of the process, and evidence suggests that it can significantly improve the chances of success.
Success: A Role in the Local Library
I'm thrilled to share that my client was successful in obtaining a volunteer role at their local library! We've since explored their responsibilities and created visual resources and simple steps to support them in their role. They wear a sunflower lanyard, ear defenders, and has a sign that asks others not to disturb them.
Building Skills and Independence: Evidence-Based Techniques
Our journey doesn't end here. We're using a technique called 'fading prompts' to gradually build their skills and independence. We're also working on improving their visual scanning abilities and boosting their confidence in speaking with others.
Training and Support for Staff: An Essential Component
To ensure my client's success, I’ve provided guidelines and prompts for supporting staff to help them understand how best to support them in their role. Evidence shows that this kind of support can significantly improve a client's experience and success in their role.
Working on Functional Tolerance: A Gradual Approach
Currently, my client can manage 60 minutes of volunteering one day a week. Our goal is to gradually increase this to two hours over two days a week. This gradual approach is supported by evidence suggesting that it can help improve functional tolerance over time.
Watch this space to find out more about our journey. It's a testament to the incredible resilience of our clients and the power of evidence-based occupational therapy.
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