Occupational therapy practice guidelines as a vehicle to implement service changes in forensic mental health

Cronin-Davis, Jane (2017) Occupational therapy practice guidelines as a vehicle to implement service changes in forensic mental health. In: Royal College of Occupational Therapy - Specialist Section - Mental Health Conference; 14-15 Sep 2017, Birmingham, U.K.. (Unpublished)

Abstract

The community of occupational therapists working in secure hospitals, both nationally and internationally has consistently called for an evidence-base and guidance to facilitate and articulate the valuable contribution and difference occupational therapy makes to service users in these settings. In response to this challenge, the Forensic Forum of College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section in Mental Health formed a working group to ensure practice guidance was published in 2012. The College of Occupational Therapists (2017) has now published its second edition of the practice guidance ‘Occupational therapists use of occupation-focused practice in secure hospitals’. It is accredited by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The impact that this publication has had on occupational therapy practice and the changes implemented in a private medium secure hospital will be presented during this paper. The focus will be on how occupational therapists in the hospital have been able to consider the forensic aspect of a service user’s occupational profile; and how the guidelines have provided a distinct and auditable framework for practice. For the final part of the presentation we will consider how the occupational therapists have been able to articulate to the rest of the multi-disciplinary team and service users in a more informed was using the critiqued evidence-base and the recommendations highlighted in the guidelines. College of Occupational Therapists (2017). Occupational therapists use of occupation-focused practice in secure hospitals (Second edition). College of Occupational Therapists: London.

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